A man has a studio in which there were cameras. He has learned that making pictures is haraam, so what should he do with them so that he will be safe from financial loss? If he sells them to a Muslim, will that not be helping to spread sin? What is the ruling on what he earned from that? Is it permissible for him to spend it on himself and his family?.
Praise be to Allah.This matter is subject to further
discussion.
Studios may make permissible or forbidden
pictures. If the pictures that are made are of permissible things, such as cars, planes, mountains and other inanimate objects, there is nothing
wrong with selling them and making images of these things which people may need and which are inanimate. But making pictures of animate beings,
whether humans, animals or birds, is not permissible unless that is for a necessary purpose, such as making pictures that people need, such as
identity photos. The same applies to passports and certificates which can only be issued with a photo; or making pictures of criminals so that
they may be known and people may be warned against them; and so on. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“He has explained to you in detail what is
forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity”
[al-An’aam 6:119]
What is meant is that he should only use it for permissible things. If he sells it to people, there is nothing wrong with that, because it may be used for good purposes or bad. This is like a person selling a sword or knife etc., which may be used for good or for evil. The sin is on the one who uses it for evil purposes. But if the vendor knows that the one who buys the knife or sword will use it for evil purposes, then it is haraam to sell it to him.