Selling magazines, movies, etc.
Question
Is it permissible for me to sell movies in my shop? Also, some customers have asked me to start selling magazines. The magazines they want are mostly filled with pictures of almost naked women. Is it ok for me to sell magazines like this if I make sure I don’t read it myself?
Answer
Pictures of all animate objects are haraam and forbidden in Islam. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “The people who will receive the severest punishment on the Day of Judgment are the picture makers (of animate objects).” Hence it is not permissible for a person to sell in his store movies, magazines containing pictures of nude people or other magazines which contain pictures of animate objects.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
إن أشد الناس عذابا عند الله يوم القيامة المصورون (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 5950)
فتاوى محمودية 24/167
- Answered by
- Mufti Zakaria Makada
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
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