Title: If Pictures & Photography is Forbidden then why do Muslims get their Pictures Taken? Question: I always thought that the Islamic law forbids depicting people. But I often see (esp. in election times, now in Iran) that people are depicted. How is this to be explained? Answer: I do agree with you that most of the Muslim scholars are of the opinion that a pictorial depiction of living things is prohibited in Islam [1] . I also agree with you that those who do hold such depiction to be prohibited should, at least avoid their own pictures from being taken. However, we see that such people are generally more interested in making the right path more and more difficult for others and finding faults in others, but always find a 'very viable' excuse for their own deviations from their own interpretation of Islam. It was indeed the likes of such people, who were addressed by Jesus (pbuh) in the following words: Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. (Matthew 7: 3 - 5) You have asked, how the referred deviation would be explained. I really do not have an answer to this question. I think this question should be addressed to a person who holds the opinion that a pictorial depiction of living things is prohibited in Islam, and yet does not mind getting his photographs taken. 20 th February 2000 [1] Although I do not consider this opinion to be correct, for details, please refer to one of my earlier respnses titled ' Pictures and Photography '.