There is no way to prevent seeing someone’s display picture on WhatsApp. There is a small picture attached to every contact, which is usually a picture of an animal or the person. Whenever someone calls you on WhatsApp, the picture attached to that person’s contact appears on your screen. Since this is the case, would it be permissible to use WhatsApp? We also benefit in our Deen through WhatsApp from listening to Islamic content.
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
As long as the image taken from a digital camera or a cellphone is not printed out, it does not fall under the category of images that has been prohibited as per Shari’ah. However, it the image consists of unlawful things (such as; non-mahrem women etc.) it will not be permissible to view, just as it is not permissible to view such things in reality. Similarly, it is not permissible to view such images on Facebook, WhatsApp and other such mobile applications. However, if the image consists of animals and people, rather than unlawful things, it will be permissible to view.