Is it permissible to buy phone cards with pictures of women on them?

Praise be to Allah.

It is not permissible for the companies that produce phone cards to put pictures of women on them, and it is not permissible for printers to print these cards, because these pictures degrade women and make them like products to be marketed, and because they are a source of temptation for young men who may be provoked and tempted into doing evil deeds. 

With regard to the one who buys these cards to sell them, if the image is what the purchaser wants and he will keep it, then it is not permissible to buy them or sell them. If the image is not what is wanted and the card will eventually be thrown into the trash, then it is permissible to buy them and sell them. 

Most of these cards are bought to be used for phone calls, not because there are pictures on them. 

If he can erase the picture or remove it without affecting the sale, then he should do that. If he can find other cards which have no pictures, then he should not ignore them and buy the first kind, rather he and others should refrain from buying them; perhaps not buying them will put pressure on them and they will stop putting pictures of women on these cards. 

See also the answer to question no: 44029

For information on the fatwas on making pictures of women and on women’s pictures in magazines, please see the answer to questions no. 47244, 3107 and 7636. 

And Allaah knows best.