Question:
Using this AI, you can upload a photo of a person and ask the AI to modify it (e.g., make me look like a doctor, make me look like receiving a degree, etc.). The AI generates a realistic image. Is this permissible in Islam? Does it fall under the prohibition of image-making?
Answer:
When new technology emerges, some scholars immediately declare it Haram without understanding the technology. This happened with cameras, photography, and video recording. Initially, many said photography and video were Haram.
Now, the same people use cameras and videos for their sermons and broadcasts. The nature of these modern devices is that the images they produce are not permanent like a painted picture or a sculpture. They are more like reflections in a mirror. A mirror shows your image, but the image is not permanent or tangible.
The image on a screen or phone is also temporary and dependent on the device. It disappears when the device is turned off. It is not a physical, permanent image. The prohibition in Islam is primarily for creating physical, permanent images (like statues, paintings, drawings) that compete with Allahﷻ’s creation.
The images on screens are fleeting reflections. The underlying ruling is based on what you can see directly. If you can look at something directly (like a person, a tree), you can take a picture or video of it. If you cannot look at something directly (like a private part, or a non-Mahram woman with lust), you cannot take a picture/video of it either.
As for AI-generated images of things that don’t exist, they are virtual and not real. They don’t have a physical presence. However, one must avoid using this technology for deception (e.g., creating a fake image of yourself with a leader to claim you met them, or creating false evidence).
If it’s for harmless fun or illustration, clearly stating it’s AI-generated, it is less problematic. The primary concern with AI images is not the image itself (as it’s not a permanent physical idol), but the potential for lying and deception.
Applying the Principle to AI:
– The images generated by AI on a screen are also virtual, temporary reflections. They fall under the same ruling as a photograph on a phone. They are not considered the prohibited type of Tasweer.
– The Real Issue is Deception (Ghadr/Kadhib): The primary sin here is not “image-making” but lying and deception.
– Haram: Using AI to create a fake image of yourself with a leader to show people and claim you met them. This is a lie.
– Haram: Creating a fake video of someone committing a crime to defame them. This is a major sin.
Permissible: Using AI to generate an image for a clear, non-deceptive purpose (e.g., “This is what a doctor’s coat looks like on me” for a personal project, or for educational illustrations), as long as you clarify it is AI-generated.
Rule for Viewing: The same ruling applies as looking into a mirror. If you can look at something directly (a building, a tree), you can see its image on a screen. If you cannot look at something directly (a non-Mahram woman with desire, or a nude scene), you cannot look at it on a screen either.
Haram Image-Making (Tasweer): The severe prohibitions in Hadith refer to creating a physical, permanent, tangible image that competes with Allahﷻ’s creation. This includes statues, sculptures, paintings, and drawings on paper or cloth. This object has a physical existence independent of a device. You can hold it, move it, and it remains.
Modern Devices (Camera, Phone, Screen): The images on a screen are not physical or permanent. They are temporary reflections, similar to a mirror. A mirror shows your reflection, but the reflection is not a physical object. If the screen breaks or the battery dies, the image vanishes. You cannot hold the image in your hand.
Conclusion: AI-generated images on a screen are not the prohibited form of Tasweer. Avoid using them for deception or for viewing prohibited content. Using them for harmless, clear purposes is permissible.
If you use it to deceive people, that is Haram. If you use it for a clear, non-deceptive purpose (like teaching, illustration), and the output is not an object of worship, it is generally permissible. The core principle is to avoid Shirk and deception.
