What is the Shar'i status of a Muslim who claims that photos of people and animals are halaal?

Answer

Hadhrat Maulana Yusuf Ludhyaanvi (rahmatullah alayh) answers this question succinctly, saying: "Pictures are haraam. Undoubtedly they are haraam. It is Qat'i (absolutely) haraam. It may not be made lawful by any interpretation. No one's interpretation can transform a haraam into halaal. It is the incumbent obligation of the (Islamic) government to abstain from printing currency notes with pictures. It is the compulsory obligation of Muslims to demand that the government refrains from this sin." The halaalizers of a Qat'i Haraam lose their Imaan. Alas! There are no Islamic governments existing today.