What is the ruling on investing and trading in Internet cafes, even though I do not know whether a user will go to beneficial sites or to harmful and haram sites? There are chat programs in which people can get to know one another, and that often takes place between the sexes, and there may be exchange of indecent pictures, movies and songs through it.
Praise be to Allah.
If these computers may be used to access reprehensible and false things that are detrimental to Islamic beliefs or through which people will look at indecent images and movies and stories, or engage in dubious conversations or haram games, and the owner of the cafe cannot prevent these evils or cannot control these computers, then in that case it is haram to deal in what has been mentioned, because that is helping in sin and transgression, and Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says in His Holy Book (interpretation of the meaning):
“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment” [Al-Ma’idah 5:2]
And Allah is the source of strength. may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and Companions. End quote.
The Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas
Fatawa al-Lajnah ad-Da’imah li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Ifta’ (26/284). |
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