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FATWA FACTORY: Now photography is un-Islamic

September 11, 2013 13:53 IST

After blood donation, firecrackers, yoga and even starlet Veena Malik, India’s very own fatwa factory, Darul Uloom in Deoband has issued a new decree that terms "photography as unlawful and a sin".

Says Mufti Abdul Qasim Nomani, Mohtamim (Vice-Chancellor) of Darul Uloom Deoband, "Photography is un-Islamic. Muslims are not allowed to get their photos clicked unless it is for an identity card or for making a passport."

Ironically, Saudi Arabia, which follows the Wahabi school that aspires to return to the earliest fundamental sources of Islam, allows photography in the holiest of Islamic cities Mecca and beams live coverage through the year.

But that doesn’t seem to deter Darul Uloom.

"Let them do it. We do not allow it. Not everything they do is correct."

Spurned by the decree was an engineering graduate who queried the religious body about his passion for photography and desire to pursue it as a career.

Click on MORE to see other decrees of the Fatwa Factory...