Ruling on digital pictures

الاستفتاء

I want to know about the legal status of digital pictures in the Shari’ah, when they are kept inside of one’s cellphone, camera or computers. Please briefly inform about the legal status of digital pictures kept in soft copy.

الجواب حامدا و مصلیا

According to our research, as long as a digital image has not been printed out, it does not count as such a picture that has been prohibited according to the Shari’ah, regardless of whether it is on a cellphone, computer or any other device. However, if the picture is of illegitimate content (such as pictures of non-mahrem women, etc.), tell it will not be permissible to look at such pictures on one’s cellphone and other devices, just like it will not be permissible to look at such things externally.
And Allah knows best.