Friday 19 Ramadan 1445 - 29 March 2024
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Selling cameras to those who will use them for haraam pictures

Question

My husband is selling digital cameras for a living. Some of his buyers are photographers who also do nude photography. Is is permissable for him to sell cameras to such people knowing what they will be using it for? 

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

It is not permissible to sell anything that will be used for haraam purposes, or which one thinks will most likely be used for such purposes. This includes selling cameras to people who will use them for haraam purposes. See the answer to question no. 10668 concerning the ruling on picture making. Undoubtedly selling them to people who will take nude pictures is even more haraam, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“…but do not help one another in sin and transgression…”

[al-Maa'idah 5:2]

Undoubtedly, taking such pictures with them is one of the means of spreading evil and immorality in society; whoever sells these cameras to them is undoubtedly helping them in spreading evil, and helping others to do haraam is also haraam.

Selling digital cameras (which do not produce fixed images) to those who will take good pictures (beneficial pictures), such as Islamic lectures and khutbahs, or permissible things such as trees, rivers and natural scenes, is OK. Every Muslim businessman has to fear Allaah and be sincere towards his Muslim brothers, and he should not sell anything except that which is good for them and will benefit them. He should keep away from that which is evil and harmful to them. The things that are halaal are sufficient so there is no need for anything that is haraam. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).

And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine

[al-Talaaq 65:2-3]

And Allaah knows best.

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Source: Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid