Regarding this issue, the unanimous ruling of all the Muftis of South Asia (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) is:

   “All photos are also haraam. The prohibitions sounded in the Saheeh Hadeeth for pictures are equally applicable to these photos. Some 'Ulamaa of Egypt and 'Arabia have differed on this. But the 'Ulamaa of South Asia have no difference of opinion regarding this matter whatsoever, i.e. they all unanimously agree that whether the pictures are digital, non-digital or hand-made, all pictures of living beings are haraam.”

    However, the seniors of the Ummah practically flout the verdict of their Muftis. There no longer exists aversion for the camera photos in their minds. This is a big tragedy. I often say to the Akaabireen that if the ruling has changed & the camera photos have become permissible than ask all the Daarul Iftaa's to issue the ruling of its permissibility first. Thereafter may they have photos taken.

The present state of affairs is in fact a mockery of Deen. Common people say:

     ‘Look ! Muftis issue the Fatwaa (of prohibition) while the Hadhrats who have their photos taken in gatherings act in conflict.‘

If importance and significance concerning even one Deeni matter is eliminated from the hearts of the masses, then all the other Deeni matters will suffer the same fate.

Moreover some businessmen without thinking of the consequences have started   selling photos of the seniors. Now the photos of Hadhrat
Thanwi, Hadhrat Madani, Maulana Zafar 'Uthmaani and many more other Buzurgs are being flagrantly sold. What will be the result of this ? Everyone can understand this. It is my request to the seniors, for the sake of ALLAAH have mercy on the  Deen. If you don't have any value left in your hearts for Deen then at least please do not destroy the masses.” 

(End of the Fatwa)

COMMENT BY MUJLISUL ULAMA

“The photos of Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali  Thanvi,  Hadhrat Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani ,etc.” : This should not be misconstrued. These true Akaabireen NEVER  indulged in the Kabeerah (Major) sin of photography. Their photos are either passport pictures or snaps taken by some misguided miscreant without the knowledge of these noble Ulama.

Those who  have been referred to as ‘seniors’, but who  stoop to the despicable  level of  intentionally having their photos taken, or not taking measures to prevent  their  photos  being taken or act like dumb devils feeling pleased with their  photos, hence their silence – they are not Seniors in the true sense of the term. On the contrary, they are  mudhilleen (those who mislead the masses). About these mudhilleen  ‘seniors’, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:

   “Verily, I fear for my Ummah the aimmah mudhilleen.”

When a  person  constantly dwells in an environment of najaasat, he becomes desensitized to its abhorrent stench  and  harm. The stench
of faeces then becomes ‘fragrant’  as a consequence of the imbalance in his olfactory sense. This is the fate  which these misguided ‘seniors’ are suffering. Najaasat has become fragrant to them, hence not a semblance of revulsion for the major sin of picture-making remains in their hearts. They belong to the fraternity of the ulama-e-soo’.