Category: the book of sales Transactions

The ruling on doing Business with forbidden Music Tapes and the ruling on renting Shops to someone who will sell these Tapes

Question :

To the noble Shaykh, Muhammad bin 'Uthaimin - may Allâh protect him. You all know what has become widespread of tests in these times of the spread of shops that specifically deal in selling music tapes of various types. What is requested is a clarification concerning the ruling on doing business with these tapes, while knowing that they contain the following:

1. Musical instruments and sounds of all types.

2. The call to shamelessness, corruption and the spread of immorality between the two sexes.

3. Lewd talk and indecent flirting, usually.

What is the ruling on buying and listening to these tapes?

What is the ruling on the wealth that is gained from selling these tapes and doing business with them?

What is the ruling on renting shops to the person who will sell these types of tapes. Does the renter of the shop and the person who sells the tapes in it carry the burden of the sin of those who buy these tapes? Please give us a ruling and may Allâh reward you.

Answer:

If these tapes contain what you have mentioned of musical instruments and sounds in their various types, calling to shamelessness, corruption, transgression, spreading immorality between the two sexes, lewd talk, and indecent flirting, then no intelligent person, let alone any believer in Allâh and the Last Day, who fears the punishment of Allâh and hopes for His reward, would doubt that buying these tapes and listening to them is a forbidden evil. This is because it is destructive to the character and the society. It exposes the Ummah to punishments befalling both the public and indivi- duals. It is obligatory upon whoever has any of these tapes to repent to Allâh and erase what is on them of that so that he can record something on them that is beneficial. In reference to the wealth that is gained from selling them and doing business with them, it is forbidden wealth that is not permissible for the person who sells them. This is due to the Prophet's statement:
"Verily, when Allâh forbids something, He also forbids its price."

In reference to renting shops to those who sell these types of tapes, that is also forbidden and the rent money that is taken for that is forbidden. This is because this is cooperating in sin and transgression that Allâh has forbidden in His Statement:
"And do not cooperate in sin and transgression."

In reference to the sin of the buyers, it is on them, but it is not inconceivable that the seller and the renter of the shop also get some of their sin without decreasing anything from the sin of the buyers. And Allâh knows best.

Source:
Ash-Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaimin
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 4 Pages 428-429