Uncovering the Ears on a Passport

Question

Assalamu alaykum,

What is the ruling concerning displaying the ears of a female in the photo which must be submitted in order to receive a passport according to the laws which are applied where she lives, keeping in mind that there is no other way to receive a passport?

Answer 1

Waalykum assalam, 

According to Grand Ayatollah Sayyid al-Sistani (may the Almighty prolong his life):

It is permissible to be photographed by a woman, and to then submit the photo to the specialized employee [in this regard].

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According to Grand Ayatollah Sayyid al-Khamenei (may the Almighty prolong his life):

It is not permissible to uncover [that which is obligatory upon the female to cover] in front of a foreign male [i.e. one whom is not permitted to see her without full hijab;  al-ajnabi] in order to be photographed unless the photographer is a woman or a mahram [i.e. a person one  is never permitted to marry on account of being related to them in a particular way, such as being their parent or sibling], even in the proposed question.

May the Almighty grant you tawfeeq in all of your affairs