A photograph for private examinations

Question

Nowadays hundreds of Muslim male and female students sit private examinations (as external candidates), for which a photograph is compulsory. So is it permissible to have one’s photograph taken in this way or not?

Answer

Having one’s photograph taken is not permissible. If, however, there is such compulsion that one cannot manage without it, that is an excuse: to the extent of the compulsion there will be latitude, but even then repentance (tawba) and seeking forgiveness (istighfar) are necessary.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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