Is It Permissible for a Woman to Accept a Scholarship That Requires Publishing Her Photograph in Islamic Hijab for Promotional Purposes?

Question: Assalamu alaikum, I have a question regarding a scholarship. As part of accepting it, they ask for a photo of me to use for promotional or marketing purposes (such as on their website or social media). Is it permissible in Islam to agree to this provided the photo of me is with proper hijab as a Muslimah? I have seen different opinions about photographs for women, including that they may be allowed when there is a legitimate worldly or religious benefit. Would accepting the scholarship under these circumstances be permissible? JazakAllah

Summary:

First: The basic ruling, according to a number of scholars رحمهم الله, is that photographing animate beings is prohibited except in cases of necessity or a recognized need. They have used as evidence the authentic hadiths containing severe warnings against image-makers. According to this opinion, taking a personal photograph of a woman merely for advertising and marketing a scholarship is not considered an Islamic necessity that makes photography permissible. Second: Publishing a woman's photograph on websites and social media for promotional purposes raises another issue, which is the exposure of a woman to non-mahram men and the possible temptation that may result from this, or the possibility of her photograph being used in ways she does not approve of. Merely wearing the hijab is not sufficient to establish the permissibility of publishing the photograph in every situation, although wearing the Islamic hijab is obligatory upon her. Third: Regarding mixed-gender education, prohibited mixing between men and women, along with any accompanying unlawful display of beauty, seclusion, or impermissible relationships, is not permissible. Shaykh Ibn Baz رحمه الله and other scholars strongly emphasized the prohibition of mixing between men and women in educational institutions, especially when knowledge can be acquired in a separate and safe environment. However, a distinction must be made between prohibited mixing and the mere presence of men and women in a public place while observing Islamic guidelines. Fourth: It is not permissible for a woman to agree to a prohibited condition in order to obtain a scholarship, because a scholarship is a worldly benefit, and a worldly benefit alone does not make permissible what Allah has prohibited. Fifth: The questioner should request that the scholarship provider exempt her from the condition of publishing her photograph, or accept an official photograph for identity verification without publishing it, or use her name or academic achievements instead of her photograph.

Answer:

First: The ruling on photography without necessity:

From the Sunnah:

Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.It is authentically reported from Abdullah ibn Masud رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"The people who will receive the severest punishment on the Day of Resurrection are the image-makers."
Narrated by al-Bukhari and MuslimIbn Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrated that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
"Every image-maker will be in the Fire. For every image he made, a soul will be created for him, which will punish him in Hell."
These hadiths indicate the severity of the warning concerning prohibited image-making.

Photographing animate beings is prohibited, as stated in the fatwas of scholars, with exceptions only for cases of necessity or recognized need, such as passport photographs, identity cards, and similar documents. As for photographing a woman and publishing her photograph for advertising and marketing a scholarship, this is not among the Islamic necessities that make photography permissible. Therefore, it is not permissible for her to agree to this merely to obtain the scholarship, even if she is wearing the Islamic hijab. A distinction must be made between photographs required for official documents when needed and publishing photographs on websites and social media for advertising and marketing purposes. The former is permissible due to a recognized need, while the latter is not permissible according to this scholarly opinion. Second: The ruling on publishing a woman's photograph while wearing the Islamic hijab:

From the Qur'an:

[Surah an-Nur: 31]
"And not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof."
[Surah al-Ahzab: 59]
"O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments."
[Surah al-Ahzab: 33]
"And do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance."
These verses indicate the obligation of hijab and covering oneself, and the prohibition of displaying beauty and unlawful adornment before non-mahram men. If the photograph is published on a website or social media, it becomes accessible to a wide audience and may be copied, republished, or used for other purposes. Therefore, a distinction must be made between photographing a woman for a recognized need, such as identity verification, and publishing her photograph for advertising and marketing. The need to verify identity does not necessarily make publishing the photograph to the public permissible. Furthermore, the issue of exposing the face and hands before non-mahram men is a matter over which jurists have differed. Therefore, it is not correct to consider every photograph of a woman wearing hijab equivalent to unlawful display of beauty merely because it is a photograph.

Third: Statements of scholars who prohibited photographing animate beings except in cases of necessity or recognized need: A number of contemporary scholars held that photography falls under the general meaning of the ahadith prohibiting the depiction of animate beings and that it is not permissible except in cases of necessity or recognized need. Authentic ahadith established from the Prophet ﷺ indicate the prohibition of depicting animate beings and contain severe warnings against image-makers. Among these ahadith are the following:

From the Sunnah:

Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.Abdullah ibn Masud رضي الله عنه: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The people who will receive the severest punishment on the Day of Resurrection are the image-makers."
Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Every image-maker will be in the Fire. For every image he made, a soul will be created for him, which will punish him in Hell."
Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Those who make these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection. It will be said to them: 'Give life to what you have created.'"
Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.Aisha رضي الله عنها: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The people who will receive the severest punishment on the Day of Resurrection are those who imitate the creation of Allah."
Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.Abu Talhah رضي الله عنه: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image."
Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Whoever makes an image in this world will be required on the Day of Resurrection to breathe a soul into it, but he will not be able to do so."
Narrated by al-Bukhari in his Sahih.Abu Juhayfah رضي الله عنه:
"And he cursed the image-makers."
These are the statements of those who held the opinion of prohibition, and they do not represent all scholars, because contemporary scholars have differed regarding this issue. According to this opinion, photography for commercial advertising or marketing purposes does not fall under the necessities that make it permissible.

Fourth: Statements of a group of contemporary scholars regarding the prohibition of photographing animate beings: A group of contemporary scholars held that photographing animate beings is prohibited except in cases of necessity or recognized need. Among them are: - Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al al-Shaykh رحمه الله. - Shaykh Abdul Aziz ibn Baz رحمه الله. - Shaykh Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani رحمه الله. - Shaykh Muqbil ibn Hadi al-Wadii رحمه الله. - Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan حفظه الله. May Allah preserve those among them who are alive and have mercy upon those who have passed away. Fifth: The ruling on mixed-gender education:

From the Qur'an:

[Surah an-Nur: 30]
"Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts."
[Surah an-Nur: 31]
"And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts."

From the Sunnah:

Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.It is narrated from Uqbah ibn Amir رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Beware of entering upon women."
Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.It is narrated from Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"No man should be alone with a woman except in the presence of a mahram."
These texts indicate the obligation of avoiding the causes of temptation and the prohibition of seclusion between a man and a non-mahram woman.

From the Scholars:

Shaykh Ibn Baz رحمه الله said:
"Mixed-gender education between males and females is not permissible because of the great temptation and severe consequences involved."
He also said regarding the ruling on women studying in mixed-gender universities:
"It is not permissible for her to study alongside male students while mixing with young men."
He explained that she must seek education in a non-mixed environment, even if that requires leaving mixed-gender education until an alternative becomes available. Accordingly, if the scholarship requires mixed-gender education in the manner prohibited by Shaykh Ibn Baz رحمه الله, then this is a separate issue from the ruling on photography and must be considered when deciding whether to accept the scholarship.

Fifth: Does obtaining the scholarship constitute a necessity that makes photography permissible?

From the Qur'an:

[Surah al-Anam: 119]
"While He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled."
Shaykh Ibn Baz رحمه الله explained in his fatwa: That photography is permissible in cases of necessity, such as photographs for passports, official documents, and academic certificates that cannot be obtained without a photograph. There is a clear distinction between a photograph required for identity verification and one published for advertising and marketing purposes. The latter does not become a necessity merely because the scholarship provider makes it a condition. Nothing in the question indicates that the questioner is in a situation of Islamic necessity requiring this scholarship or that she cannot obtain education through any other means.

Sixth: What should the questioner do? The questioner should request that the scholarship provider exempt her from publishing her photograph, or accept mentioning her name, field of study, and academic achievements instead, or use a symbolic image that does not depict animate beings. She should also verify the nature of the education and whether it takes place in a women-only environment, through distance learning, or involves prohibited mixing between men and women. If the scholarship provider agrees to remove the condition of publishing her photograph, and the education itself is permissible and does not involve any other Islamic prohibitions, then accepting the scholarship is permissible in principle. Conclusion: The stronger opinion, according to the view that prohibits photography without necessity, which is the position chosen by Shaykh Ibn Baz and Shaykh al-Albani رحمهما الله, is that it is not permissible for the questioner to agree to publish her personal photograph for advertising and marketing purposes merely to obtain the scholarship, even if she is wearing the Islamic hijab. Furthermore, mixed-gender education in a prohibited manner is not permissible. Shaykh Ibn Baz رحمه الله explicitly prohibited studying in mixed-gender universities, even if the woman wears the hijab. Accordingly, we advise the questioner not to agree to the condition of publishing her photograph and to seek a scholarship that does not require this, as well as an educational environment free from Islamic prohibitions. However, if she can obtain an exemption from the condition of publishing her photograph and the education itself is permissible, then there is no harm in her accepting the scholarship.

And Allah knows best.

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Is It Permissible for a Woman to Accept a Scholarship That Requires Publishing Her Photograph in Islamic Hijab for Promotional Purposes?

Summary:

From the Sunnah:

From the Qur'an:

From the Sunnah:

From the Qur'an:

From the Sunnah:

From the Scholars:

From the Qur'an:

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