Is it permissible to operate a business where one will be selling wi-fi internet subscriptions?
Question
Is it permissible to operate a business where one will be selling wi-fi internet subscriptions. Customers would purchase an allotment of time to use. The dilemna is that most of the users will be non-muslims and they may be visting sites such as Facebook, Instragram or other non-halal websites such as music, movies etc.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh
In principle, it is permissible to sell any item that has dual or multiple purposes, some of which are permissible and others prohibited. The responsibility of the abuse will rest on the purchaser/end-user and not on the seller. The sale of internet subscriptions is analogous to that of selling radios, viz. one may listen to the recitation of the Qur’an while another may listen to music. Therefore it is permissible for one to sell internet subscriptions. However if one is certain that such subscriptions will be used for impermissible activities, then one should not sell such items. [1]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Ismail Desai,
Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
1 ألا ترى أن العصير والخشب الذي يتخذ منه المعازف لا يكره بيعه لأنه لا معصية في عينها وكذا لا يكره بيع الجارية المغنية والكبش النطوح والديك المقاتل والحمامة الطيارة لأنه ليس عينها منكرا وإنما المنكر في استعماله المحظور (تبيين الحقائق 4/199)
- Answered by
- Ismail Desai
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