My husband is selling digital cameras for a living. Some of his buyers are photographers who also do nude photography. Is is permissable for him to sell cameras to such people knowing what they will be using it for?
Praise be to Allah.It is not permissible to sell anything
that will be used for haraam purposes, or which one thinks will most
likely be used for such purposes. This includes selling cameras to people
who will use them for haraam purposes. See the answer to question no.
10668 concerning the ruling on picture making. Undoubtedly selling them
to people who will take nude pictures is even more haraam, because Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
“…but
do not help one another in sin and transgression…”
[al-Maa'idah
5:2]
Undoubtedly, taking such pictures with
them is one of the means of spreading evil and immorality in society;
whoever sells these cameras to them is undoubtedly helping them in spreading
evil, and helping others to do haraam is also haraam.
Selling
digital cameras (which do not produce fixed images) to those who will
take good pictures (beneficial pictures), such as Islamic lectures and
khutbahs, or permissible things such as trees, rivers and natural scenes,
is OK. Every Muslim businessman has to fear Allaah and be sincere towards
his Muslim brothers, and he should not sell anything except that which
is good for them and will benefit them. He should keep away from that
which is evil and harmful to them. The things that are halaal are sufficient
so there is no need for anything that is haraam. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
“And
whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way
for him to get out (from every difficulty).
And He will provide him from (sources) he never could
imagine
[al-Talaaq
65:2-3]
And
Allaah knows best.