Viewing the Face of the Deceased and Taking Photos of the Deceased

1. It is only permissible for mahram women of a deceased male to see his face.
2. Similarly only the mahram males may view the face of a deceased female.[1]
3. It is not permissible to take photos of people who are living or people who have passed away. Hence, taking a photo of the deceased before he is buried is haraam. Severe, grave warnings have been sounded in the Mubaarak Hadith for those who are involved in the major sin of picture-making. It is reported in the Hadith that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

إن أشد الناس عذابا عند الله يوم القيامة المصورون[2]

Those involved in picture-making will be subjected to the worst forms of punishment on the Day of Qiyaamah.

[1] صحيح البخاري 2/880 ، صحيح مسلم /201
[2] إذا كان الناظر إلى الرجل الأجنبي هو المرأة وفيما إذا كان الناظر إلى المرأة الأجنبية هو الرجل قال فليجتنب بجهده وهو دليل الحرمة وهو الصحيح في الفصلين جميعا (الفتاوى الهندية 5/327) انظر أيضا فتاوى رحيمية 5/ 121