Is it permissible for people to convict someone of a crime based on surveillance camera footage or photos, while the investigation is still ongoing and the case is not entirely clear?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
"Deciding on crimes and proving accusations is the responsibility of the judiciary and specialized agencies, not individual people. Contemporary imaging does not rise to the level of a evidence for establishing hudud (punishments), but it is a strong indication that the judge can use. It must be strengthened with other indications after consideration and scrutiny, and taking circumstances into account. This depends on the judge's astuteness, intelligence, and keen observation."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/180101
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 180101
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy