The Ruling on Obscene Magazines
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Praise be to Allah alone, and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions. After that: The Muslims in this era have been afflicted with great trials, and trials have surrounded them from every side. Many Muslims have fallen into them, and wrongdoings have become apparent, and people have openly committed sins without fear or shame. The cause of all this is negligence regarding the religion of Allah, and failing to hold His limits and His Shari'ah in high esteem, and the heedlessness of many reformers in carrying out the law of Allah, enjoining good and forbidding evil. There is no salvation for the Muslims, and no escape for them from these calamities and trials, except through sincere repentance to Allah the Exalted, holding His commands and prohibitions in high esteem, taking hold of the hands of the foolish, and compelling them to the truth with force. Among the greatest trials that have appeared in our era is what the merchants of corruption, brokers of vice, and lovers of spreading lewdness among the believers do: publishing malicious magazines that defy Allah and His Messenger in His command and prohibition. They carry between their pages types of nude images, and enticing faces that arouse desires and bring about corruption. It has been established through induction that these magazines
contain many methods of advertising to open sinfulness and lewdness, arousing desires, and discharging them in what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. Among these are: 1 - Enticing images on the covers of those magazines and inside them. 2 - Women in their full adornment carrying temptation and inciting it. 3 - Vile, lewd sayings, and rhymed and prose words, far from modesty and virtue, destroying morals and corrupting the nation. 4 - Shameful romantic stories, and news of actors and actresses, and male and female dancers, from among the open sinners. 5 - In these magazines, there is an explicit call to tabarruj (display of adornment) and uncovering, free mixing of the two sexes, and tearing apart the hijab. 6 - Displaying enticing, revealing clothes on the women of the believers; to entice them to nudity and lewdness, and to imitate prostitutes and open sinners. 7 - In these magazines, there is embracing, hugging, and kissing between men and women. 8 - In these magazines, there are heated articles that stir the dead sexual instinct in the souls of young men and women, forcing them strongly to follow the path of misguidance and deviation, and falling into lewd acts and sins
and passionate love. How many young men and women have been captivated by these poisonous magazines, so they perished because of them, and went beyond the limits of fitrah (innate natural disposition) and religion. These magazines have changed in the minds of many people many of the rulings of the Shari'ah and the principles of sound fitrah, because of the articles and discussions they broadcast. Many people have grown accustomed to sins and lewd acts, and transgressed the limits of Allah because of their reliance on these magazines and their domination over their minds and thoughts. The result is: that the foundation of these magazines is trading in the body of the woman, whom Satan has assisted with all means of enticement and tools of temptation; to reach the goal of spreading licentiousness, violating sanctities, corrupting the women of the believers, and turning Islamic societies into herds of beasts, that do not know what is right or deny what is wrong, and do not give weight to the purifying law of Allah, nor raise their heads with it, as is the case in many societies. Indeed, the matter has reached with some of them to enjoying both sexes through complete nudity in what they call: "Naked Cities," seeking refuge in Allah from the reversal of fitrah and falling into what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden.
This, and based on what has been mentioned above regarding the reality of these magazines, and knowledge of their bad effects and goals, and the abundance of complaints received by the Committee from the zealous among scholars and students of knowledge, and the general Muslims, regarding the spread of the display of these magazines in bookstores, grocery stores, and commercial markets - the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta sees the following: First: It is forbidden to publish such degrading magazines, whether they are general magazines or those specialized in women's fashion. Whoever does that has a share in the saying of Allah the Exalted:[An-Nur 24:19] the verse. Second: It is forbidden to work in these magazines in any way, whether the work is in their administration, editing, printing, or distribution; because that is aiding in sin, falsehood, and corruption. And Allah, Glorious and Exalted, says: [Al-Ma'idah 5:2].
Third: It is forbidden to advertise for these magazines and promote them by any means; because that is guiding to evil and calling to it. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sunan Abi Dawud 4609Sahih (Al-Albani) narrated by Muslim in his (Sahih). Fourth: It is forbidden to sell these magazines, and the earnings obtained from them are forbidden earnings. Whoever falls into any of that must repent to Allah the Exalted and get rid of this malicious earnings. Fifth: It is forbidden for the Muslim to buy these magazines and possess them; because of the temptation and wrongdoings in them. Also, buying them strengthens the influence of the owners of these magazines, raises their financial capital, and encourages them to produce and promote. The Muslim must also beware of allowing his household, male and female, access to these magazines; to preserve them from temptation and being captivated by them. Let the Muslim know that he is a shepherd and responsible for his flock on the Day of Resurrection. Sixth: The Muslim must lower his gaze from looking at those corrupt magazines; in obedience to Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and to stay away from temptation
and its places. And a person must not claim infallibility for himself, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed that Satan runs through the son of Adam like blood. And Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: How many a glance has thrown calamity into the heart of its owner. Whoever attaches himself to the images and other things in those magazines, they corrupt his heart and his life, and turn him to what does not benefit him in this world and the Hereafter; because the rectification of the heart and its life is in attaching oneself to Allah, Glorious is His Majesty, and worshipping Him, the sweetness of His conversation, sincerity to Him, and being filled with love for Him, Exalted is He. Seventh: It is obligatory for whoever Allah has given authority over any of the lands of Islam to advise the Muslims, and to keep them away from corruption and its people, and to distance them from everything that harms them in their religion and worldly affairs. Among this is preventing these corrupting magazines from being published and distributed, and stopping their evil from them. This is from supporting Allah and His religion, and from the causes of success, achievement, and establishment in the earth, as Allah, Exalted is He, said:[Al-Hajj 22:40-41].
And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
contain many methods of advertising to open sinfulness and lewdness, arousing desires, and discharging them in what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. Among these are: 1 - Enticing images on the covers of those magazines and inside them. 2 - Women in their full adornment carrying temptation and inciting it. 3 - Vile, lewd sayings, and rhymed and prose words, far from modesty and virtue, destroying morals and corrupting the nation. 4 - Shameful romantic stories, and news of actors and actresses, and male and female dancers, from among the open sinners. 5 - In these magazines, there is an explicit call to tabarruj (display of adornment) and uncovering, free mixing of the two sexes, and tearing apart the hijab. 6 - Displaying enticing, revealing clothes on the women of the believers; to entice them to nudity and lewdness, and to imitate prostitutes and open sinners. 7 - In these magazines, there is embracing, hugging, and kissing between men and women. 8 - In these magazines, there are heated articles that stir the dead sexual instinct in the souls of young men and women, forcing them strongly to follow the path of misguidance and deviation, and falling into lewd acts and sins
and passionate love. How many young men and women have been captivated by these poisonous magazines, so they perished because of them, and went beyond the limits of fitrah (innate natural disposition) and religion. These magazines have changed in the minds of many people many of the rulings of the Shari'ah and the principles of sound fitrah, because of the articles and discussions they broadcast. Many people have grown accustomed to sins and lewd acts, and transgressed the limits of Allah because of their reliance on these magazines and their domination over their minds and thoughts. The result is: that the foundation of these magazines is trading in the body of the woman, whom Satan has assisted with all means of enticement and tools of temptation; to reach the goal of spreading licentiousness, violating sanctities, corrupting the women of the believers, and turning Islamic societies into herds of beasts, that do not know what is right or deny what is wrong, and do not give weight to the purifying law of Allah, nor raise their heads with it, as is the case in many societies. Indeed, the matter has reached with some of them to enjoying both sexes through complete nudity in what they call: "Naked Cities," seeking refuge in Allah from the reversal of fitrah and falling into what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden.
This, and based on what has been mentioned above regarding the reality of these magazines, and knowledge of their bad effects and goals, and the abundance of complaints received by the Committee from the zealous among scholars and students of knowledge, and the general Muslims, regarding the spread of the display of these magazines in bookstores, grocery stores, and commercial markets - the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta sees the following: First: It is forbidden to publish such degrading magazines, whether they are general magazines or those specialized in women's fashion. Whoever does that has a share in the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَنْ تَشِيعَ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِbut do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.
وَلاَ تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِThird: It is forbidden to advertise for these magazines and promote them by any means; because that is guiding to evil and calling to it. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
and if anyone summons others to follow error the sin of which sins being diminished in any respect on that account.
من دعا إلى ضلالة كان عليه من الإثم مثل آثام من تبعه، لا ينقص ذلك من آثامهم شيئًاand its places. And a person must not claim infallibility for himself, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed that Satan runs through the son of Adam like blood. And Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: How many a glance has thrown calamity into the heart of its owner. Whoever attaches himself to the images and other things in those magazines, they corrupt his heart and his life, and turn him to what does not benefit him in this world and the Hereafter; because the rectification of the heart and its life is in attaching oneself to Allah, Glorious is His Majesty, and worshipping Him, the sweetness of His conversation, sincerity to Him, and being filled with love for Him, Exalted is He. Seventh: It is obligatory for whoever Allah has given authority over any of the lands of Islam to advise the Muslims, and to keep them away from corruption and its people, and to distance them from everything that harms them in their religion and worldly affairs. Among this is preventing these corrupting magazines from being published and distributed, and stopping their evil from them. This is from supporting Allah and His religion, and from the causes of success, achievement, and establishment in the earth, as Allah, Exalted is He, said:
And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might. (41) [And they are] those who, if We give them authority in the land, establish prayer and give zakah and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. And to Allah belongs the outcome of [all] matters.
وَلَيَنْصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ (40) الَّذِينَ إِنْ مَكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الأَرْضِ أَقَامُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَلِلَّهِ عَاقِبَةُ الأُمُورِAnd praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.