What is your opinion regarding the magazines that are sold, which contain pictures of women? And is this evil to be changed by hand?
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The questioner : The honorable Shaykh, in the commercial markets, shops, and grocery stores, there are pictures of imported magazines featuring women whose appearance is visible, both outside and inside. I do not know if it is permissible for a person to tear up these pictures, given the hadith: Sahih Muslim 49a? And I do not know what the purpose is of bringing these magazines into our country? Why have they not been prohibited?
The Shaykh : By Allah, I do not like the magazines you referred to. There is no doubt that they disturb the mind and give rise to regret and sadness that such corrupt and harmful magazines are brought into our country. Also, in the magazines that come to us, there are ideas that completely contradict the religion and morals, and their corruption may be greater than the corruption of a revealing picture.
As for the issue of changing it by hand, doing so results in greater harms than leaving it as it is. Moreover, it will not disappear if you tear it up; the seller will buy another one, and harms will occur. You know now that, for example, if someone were to take this step without having authority from the one in authority, there would be harm not only for him but for all the callers to Allah, and people would form a bad image of the callers. Therefore, a person must be wise. If changing the evil leads to something more evil and more harmful, and it does not get changed, then let him leave it and complain to Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and ask Allah the Mighty and Majestic to have mercy on the servants. Yes, did you understand now? So he leaves it and addresses the responsible officials. Yes.
The questioner : Does he sin?
The Shaykh : He does not sin because he is not able to do so. Therefore, look at the wisdom: enjoining good and forbidding evil is a command from Allah without condition[Ali 'Imran 3:104], but changing is conditional Sahih Muslim 49a. So the Shari'ah distinguishes between enjoining good and forbidding evil and changing the evil. So you do not bear sin, but advise this man once with what is right, forbid him from the evil, warn him, and say: What you have earned from these magazines is forbidden for you, and if your body is nourished by it, the Fire is more deserving of it, and the like of these known admonitions. Yes.
He who amongst you sees something abominable
من رأى منكم منكراThe Shaykh : By Allah, I do not like the magazines you referred to. There is no doubt that they disturb the mind and give rise to regret and sadness that such corrupt and harmful magazines are brought into our country. Also, in the magazines that come to us, there are ideas that completely contradict the religion and morals, and their corruption may be greater than the corruption of a revealing picture.
As for the issue of changing it by hand, doing so results in greater harms than leaving it as it is. Moreover, it will not disappear if you tear it up; the seller will buy another one, and harms will occur. You know now that, for example, if someone were to take this step without having authority from the one in authority, there would be harm not only for him but for all the callers to Allah, and people would form a bad image of the callers. Therefore, a person must be wise. If changing the evil leads to something more evil and more harmful, and it does not get changed, then let him leave it and complain to Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and ask Allah the Mighty and Majestic to have mercy on the servants. Yes, did you understand now? So he leaves it and addresses the responsible officials. Yes.
The questioner : Does he sin?
The Shaykh : He does not sin because he is not able to do so. Therefore, look at the wisdom: enjoining good and forbidding evil is a command from Allah without condition