What is the ruling on purchasing Islamic magazines that contain photographic images?
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The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : There are some Islamic magazines in the markets that contain many images, whether photographic or hand-drawn. What is the ruling on purchasing these magazines, especially when they contain benefit? And which is less severe: photographic images or hand-drawn ones?
The Shaykh : We see that magazines differ. Some magazines contain only the image of the speaker, for example, the writer, to prove that it is him. Because if I see something written in the name of so-and-so and there is no picture of him, I might doubt this, especially if the custom has become established that the way to prove that it is the speech of so-and-so is for a picture to be present. So they consider the picture to be a means of proving the attribution to this person. There is nothing wrong with that. As for something that is taken for the sake of photography, like what is found in some magazines, as evidenced by the fact that they color the picture and make it shine, then acquiring these is forbidden. And if it happens that there is benefit in them, that benefit is found in other magazines besides them, and it is found in the books of the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them). So boycott them, cut off dealings with them, and warn people against them. And do not ask: is it by hand or by the photographic machine? Yes, after that.
The questioner : May I ask, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Ask, unless you are not one of the guests, because we are presenting the guests, and the guests may not come except this one time, for example. Yes.
The questioner : On behalf of a man.
The Shaykh : Get a document from a notary public, yes.
The questioner : This is next to me.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : Next to me.
The Shaykh : Who is next to you? Let him ask, let him ask, he should ask. Ask.
The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
May Allah reward you with good deeds.
The Shaykh : Let him ask, he is the guest, my brother, he is shy. Well, he does not object, perhaps there is a barrier to speaking. Yes, ask on his behalf.
The Shaykh : We see that magazines differ. Some magazines contain only the image of the speaker, for example, the writer, to prove that it is him. Because if I see something written in the name of so-and-so and there is no picture of him, I might doubt this, especially if the custom has become established that the way to prove that it is the speech of so-and-so is for a picture to be present. So they consider the picture to be a means of proving the attribution to this person. There is nothing wrong with that. As for something that is taken for the sake of photography, like what is found in some magazines, as evidenced by the fact that they color the picture and make it shine, then acquiring these is forbidden. And if it happens that there is benefit in them, that benefit is found in other magazines besides them, and it is found in the books of the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them). So boycott them, cut off dealings with them, and warn people against them. And do not ask: is it by hand or by the photographic machine? Yes, after that.
The questioner : May I ask, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Ask, unless you are not one of the guests, because we are presenting the guests, and the guests may not come except this one time, for example. Yes.
The questioner : On behalf of a man.
The Shaykh : Get a document from a notary public, yes.
The questioner : This is next to me.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : Next to me.
The Shaykh : Who is next to you? Let him ask, let him ask, he should ask. Ask.
The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
May Allah reward you with good deeds.
The Shaykh : Let him ask, he is the guest, my brother, he is shy. Well, he does not object, perhaps there is a barrier to speaking. Yes, ask on his behalf.