A: This is a controversial issue and subject to different views. Recording lectures on audio cassettes, where there is no need for visualizing images, is permissible. Yet, sometimes there is a need for recording videos so that the identity of the speaker can be clearly known. There may be other reasons which make recording a necessity. Nevertheless, I have great reservation about visual recording due to the Hadiths narrated regarding the ruling on Taswir (painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography) of animate beings and the severe warning associated to this.

However, a group Muslim of scholars nowadays viewed that there is no harm in this if there is some warranting public interest. But I myself am reluctant to approve this practice due to the great danger in Taswir (painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography) and the pertinent directions given in authentic Hadiths that are mentioned in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al­Bukhari and Muslim) as well as other collections. These Hadiths make it quite clear that The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection will be those who make images. In fact, the Hadiths that curse Musawwirs (those who make pictures and statues, or photographs of living beings), are numerous. May Allah grant us success!