What is the ruling on trading in video tapes and songs, and how does one repent from it?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : There is an inquiry regarding a question from a man who entrusted me with it as a trust. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Please.
The questioner : This man is a seller of video tapes and song tapes. His original wealth was lawful, but he used it to engage in this forbidden trade. He wants to repent to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. What should he do? Is it permissible for him to sell the tapes and devices to others, or what should he do? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Are all the tapes he has of the forbidden type?
The questioner : Yes, it is his strong opinion.
The Shaykh : He should burn them, just as intoxicants are poured out.
The questioner : Even if he goes bankrupt?
The Shaykh : Even if what?
The questioner : Even if he goes bankrupt and has nothing left.
The Shaykh : This is the successful one, not the bankrupt one. I heard his saying, peace be upon him: This is financially bankrupt. He must be spiritually rich, as he, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Sahih Muslim 1051
The questioner : But the richness of the soul, yes.
The Shaykh : So he must be rich in spirit.
The questioner : And if he is able to record some beneficial things on them, there is no harm, if Allah wills?
The Shaykh : It is possible. If he records on them and they benefit people, there is no objection.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And you as well.
The Shaykh : Please.
The questioner : This man is a seller of video tapes and song tapes. His original wealth was lawful, but he used it to engage in this forbidden trade. He wants to repent to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. What should he do? Is it permissible for him to sell the tapes and devices to others, or what should he do? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Are all the tapes he has of the forbidden type?
The questioner : Yes, it is his strong opinion.
The Shaykh : He should burn them, just as intoxicants are poured out.
The questioner : Even if he goes bankrupt?
The Shaykh : Even if what?
The questioner : Even if he goes bankrupt and has nothing left.
The Shaykh : This is the successful one, not the bankrupt one. I heard his saying, peace be upon him:
Do you know who the bankrupt one is? They said: The bankrupt one among us is the one who has no dirham and no property. He said: No, the bankrupt one among you is the one who comes on the Day of Resurrection with good deeds like mountains, but he comes having struck this one, insulted that one, and taken the wealth of this one. So this one takes from his good deeds, and that one takes from his good deeds, and this one takes from his good deeds, until nothing remains of his good deeds. Then the sins of the others are taken and thrown upon him, and he is thrown into the Fire.
أتدرون من المفلس؟ قالوا: المفلس فينا من لا درهم له ولا متاع قال: لا المفلس فيكم من يأتي يوم القيامة وله حسنات كأمثال الجبال لكنه يأتي وقد ضرب هذا وشتم هذا وأخذ مال هذا فيأخذ هذا من حسناته وهذا من حسناته وهذا من حسناته حتى إذا لم يبق من حسناته شيء أخذ من سيئاتهم فطرحت عليه فطرح في النارRichness does not lie in the abundance of (worldly) goods but richness is the richness of the soul (heart, self).
ليس الغنى غنى العرض ولكن الغنى غنى النفسThe questioner : But the richness of the soul, yes.
The Shaykh : So he must be rich in spirit.
The questioner : And if he is able to record some beneficial things on them, there is no harm, if Allah wills?
The Shaykh : It is possible. If he records on them and they benefit people, there is no objection.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And you as well.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.