The Ruling on Using Obscene Film Tapes and Cameras After Repentance
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The first question: A man repented to Allah and he has video tapes, cassettes, and obscene films. Is it permissible for him to sell them? If it is not permissible to sell them, what should he do with them? And is it permissible to record sermons, programs, and useful scenes on them?
A man has a studio and it contains cameras, and he learned that photography is forbidden. How should he deal with them so that he can be safe from loss? And if he sells them to a Muslim, would that not be assisting in the spread of sin? What is the ruling on the money he earns from that? Is it permissible for him to spend it on himself and his family?
A man was a partner with another in a camera shop, and he has repented. How can he end his partnership in it without losing money? And what is the ruling on the earnings from this shop?
A: Yes, he may record on them what benefits him and erase what is in them of falsehood. So he records what is good and erases what is bad. As for selling them, it is not permissible while they are in their bad state; because that is considered cooperation in sin and aggression.
Answer: This requires detail: The studio photographs what is permissible and what is forbidden. If it photographs what is permissible, such as cars, airplanes, mountains, and other things that do not have a soul, there is no harm in selling it and photographing these things that people may need and which do not have a soul. As for photographing things that have souls, from human beings, livestock, or birds, it is not permissible except out of dire necessity, such as photographing something that people are compelled to have, like the identity card that people need, which is called the "soul's safe" (hifzat al-nufus), so there is no harm. Likewise, the passport and the academic certificate that cannot be obtained without a picture, and likewise photographing criminals so they are known and people can guard against their evil, and likewise similar things that dire necessity calls for, due to the saying of Allah the Mighty and Majestic in His Noble Book: [Al-An'am: 119]. The intention is that only what is permissible is used in it. And if he sells it to people, there is no harm in selling it; because it is used for both good and bad, like a person selling a sword or a knife and similar things that are used for good and evil. The sin is on the one who uses them for evil. But if one knows that the buyer of the knife or sword or similar item will use it for evil, it is forbidden to sell it to him.
Answer: He ends the partnership by appraisal and he and his partner agree on a value that both persons are satisfied with. And whatever comes to him from that is permissible for him, except if some of that is the value of photographing things that have souls or something of the other forbidden things. Then it is not permissible for him to consume that; rather, he must give it in charity or spend it in a charitable project.
A man has a studio and it contains cameras, and he learned that photography is forbidden. How should he deal with them so that he can be safe from loss? And if he sells them to a Muslim, would that not be assisting in the spread of sin? What is the ruling on the money he earns from that? Is it permissible for him to spend it on himself and his family?
A man was a partner with another in a camera shop, and he has repented. How can he end his partnership in it without losing money? And what is the ruling on the earnings from this shop?
A: Yes, he may record on them what benefits him and erase what is in them of falsehood. So he records what is good and erases what is bad. As for selling them, it is not permissible while they are in their bad state; because that is considered cooperation in sin and aggression.
Answer: This requires detail: The studio photographs what is permissible and what is forbidden. If it photographs what is permissible, such as cars, airplanes, mountains, and other things that do not have a soul, there is no harm in selling it and photographing these things that people may need and which do not have a soul. As for photographing things that have souls, from human beings, livestock, or birds, it is not permissible except out of dire necessity, such as photographing something that people are compelled to have, like the identity card that people need, which is called the "soul's safe" (hifzat al-nufus), so there is no harm. Likewise, the passport and the academic certificate that cannot be obtained without a picture, and likewise photographing criminals so they are known and people can guard against their evil, and likewise similar things that dire necessity calls for, due to the saying of Allah the Mighty and Majestic in His Noble Book:
while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled
وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُمْ مَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِلا مَا اضْطُرِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِAnswer: He ends the partnership by appraisal and he and his partner agree on a value that both persons are satisfied with. And whatever comes to him from that is permissible for him, except if some of that is the value of photographing things that have souls or something of the other forbidden things. Then it is not permissible for him to consume that; rather, he must give it in charity or spend it in a charitable project.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.