Senior Saudi Cleric Saleh Al-Fawzan: Taking Pictures with (or without) Cats Is Forbidden

Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fazwan, a member of the Saudi Council of Senior Scholars, was recently asked about the "new trend of taking pictures with cats [which] has been spreading among people who want to be like the Westerners." His response was that "taking pictures is prohibited if not for a necessity - not with cats, not with dogs, not with wolves, not with anything." The video was posted on April 17 on several YouTube channels dedicated to the rulings of Saudi scholars.

Moderator: "Someone asked you the following question: A new trend of taking pictures with cats has been spreading among people, who want to be like Westerners...

Saleh Al-Fawzan: "What?!"

Moderator: "A new trend of taking pictures with cats..."

Al-Fawzan: "With what?"

Moderator: "With cats."

Al-Fawzan: "What do you mean pictures with cats? Taking pictures is prohibited. The cats don't matter here. "

Moderator: "They are taking pictures with them, Sheikh. It's a new trend."

Al-Fawzan: "How?"

Moderator: "They are taking pictures with them. It's a new trend."

Al-Fawzan: "Explain this trend to me. Taking pictures is prohibited if not for a necessity - not with cats, not with dogs, not with wolves, not with anything."