BENEFIT 296: Looking In The Mirror

Question: If someone looks in the mirror and his image is reflected in the mirror, and he looks at that image is this considered مضاهاة لخلق الله (an attempt to imitate Allāh's creation)? Sheikh Albani rahimahullah responds: No, and may Allāh bless you. But, we will say that if that image was CAPTURED and given PERMANENT FORM, then it would have become a picture. As for this image in the mirror, I know that the scholars of the Muslims used to look at themselves in the mirror and arrange their hair. So, this is a case of incorrect comparison قياس مع الفارق (comparing something with that which is not similar to it). This image (in the mirror) is not PERMANENT. [Here someone began to compare the image in the mirror to television and video.] Sheikh Albani rahimahullah responds: ...You were saying what is the difference between the reflection in the mirror and television or video? We say the difference is very much. We say to you now: stand in the mirror: come now and give me the image which you saw in the mirror. You are not able to do so. But, if it was given permanent form, it would become like a video and be forbidden. The harm comes from it having PERMANENT FORM, not from that which has no permanence. [This is part of a discussion that was transcribed from a cassette tape and then translated. The whole discussion can be found in the book 'The Islamic Legal Ruling Concerning Tasweer' by Abu Muhammad A.R. Shakir] https://t.me/almanhajussalafi/1098