Category: the book of sales Transactions

The ruling on selling the Magazines and Papers which contain Pictures

Question :

I am a young man who is 21 years old. My father died and I have 5 brothers and my mother. My father left for us places of business and among them is a bookstore for selling newspapers, magazines, religious books and copies of the Qur'an. In the bookstore is a worker who is not a Muslim. I informed my elder brother that it is not permissible for this worker to touch the copies of the Qur'an and the religious books. Likewise, I told him that it is not permissible to sell the magazines that contain pictures. However, he rejected what I told him. So, what should I do? Is it permissible for me to sit with my brothers and eat with them? Please give me a beneficial answer.

Answer:

We thank you for your abstinence and avoidance of that which is forbidden or doubtful. We advise you to try to get rid of this disbeliever and you will be able to find a trustworthy Muslim who is a lot better than him, if Allâh wills. In reference to the magazines, if they are provocative and call to immorality and wickedness, then selling them, making profit from them and doing any business with them is forbidden. If the pictures that are in them are normal and they are free of indecency and corruption, there is no harm in selling them. Selling them and earning from them is allowed due to what they contain of knowledge, benefits and discussion, and you do not intend the pictures. We also advise you to stay with your brothers and eat with them and there is no sin on you, if Allâh wills.

Source:
Ash-Shaykh Ibn Jibreen
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 4 Pages 430-431