What is the ruling on working as a video content reviewer and leaving objectionable material that the company thinks does not need to be erased?

Question 429342

What is the ruling on working for a company that reviews the content of videos that are uploaded on some platforms? The reviewer reviews the video and decides if there is anything wrong in it, or it does not comply with company policies, and he evaluates videos that are not in compliance with company policies and guidelines only.

For example, he erases videos in which there is more wanton display (tabarruj) than is necessary according to the company standards, but he gives a pass to some things, to a certain degree, such as showing the chest up to a certain limit, but going beyond that limit is not allowed, and so on.

There is a company policy and guideline with regard to insulting the divine, and some action is to be taken against it if the divine is identified as the God of the Muslims and the Christians but if the offending words include the phrase “your Lord” and the targeted person is unknown and his religion is unknown, and he was not mentioned by name but was insulted using the phrase “your Lord” or “the One Who created you,” then there is no problem according to the company.

In other words, if the employee cleans the content of some objectionable things and not others, what is the ruling on his work? And what is the ruling on his watching and listening to these videos?

Answer

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Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah:

It is not permissible to work as a content reviewer in the manner described, because it involves watching and listening to objectionable things and not denouncing all of them; rather it involves allowing some of them to be uploaded and seen by viewers. Therefore this reviewer is sinning by listening to and watching these videos, and by leaving some of this objectionable material for the viewers to see. Allah, may He be Exalted, says: {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and transgression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in punishment} [Al-Ma’idah 5:2] and {And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful} [Al `Imran 3:104].

And the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand (by taking action); if he cannot, then with his tongue (by speaking out); and if he cannot, then with his heart (by hating it and feeling it is wrong), and that is the weakest of faith.” Narrated by Muslim, 49.

And he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “And whoever calls others to misguidance will have a burden of sin like that of those who follow him, without it detracting from their burden in the slightest.”

The fact that the videos will be uploaded for people to watch whether the reviewer likes it or not does not excuse him from the sin of watching the objectionable material or the sin of approving of what he leaves without erasing it.

This young man must fear Allah, may He be Exalted, and gave up this unlawful job, and he should look for permissible work. Whoever gives up something for the sake of Allah, Allah will compensate him with something better than it.

And he should understand that his provision is already decreed, so he should not seek it by unlawful means.

The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The Pure Spirit [Jibril] inspired in me the fact that no soul will die until it has completed its allotted lifespan and received its provision in full. So fear Allah and be moderate in striving to earn a living, for no one of you should let thinking that his provision is slow in coming prompt him to seek it by disobeying Allah, for what is with Allah, may He be Exalted, can only be attained by obeying Him.” Narrated by Abu Nu`aym in Al-Hilyah; classed as authentic (sahih) by al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami`, no. 2085.

And Allah knows best.

Ruling on jobs