Fatwa ID: 07115

 

Answered by: Maulana Abdoullah Limvoonheek

 

Question:

 

A brother wants to sell old newspapers in bulk to countries in Africa, the people use the newspapers for the purpose of wrapping items.

 

A brother mentioned that doing this is not permitted due to the inappropriate pictures that these newspapers may contain

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

There are few types of newspapers and their ruling will be different.

 

First is an islamic literature. A person can buy, sell and distribute it for people to benefit. However great care should be taken to it as it will contain the word Allah and Rasulullah. Likewise it would not be permissible to wrap items with it as it will show disrespect to the name of Allah.

 

Second is immoral magazine. Such magazine where indecent pictures of woman are portrayed to spread evil and corruption. This will promote sin and a poisonous thinking. Those behind it at times are to attack Islam and mock at the Shariah. Thus this one will be completely haram to buy, sell or even wrap item in it.

 

Third is newspapers. Which mostly contain permissible content such as local or international news and what is happening in the community and the changes that are occurring and so on. It also includes picture of animate object which is unlawful. But most of what they contain is permissible. So it will be permissible to buy, sell and wrap item with it.

 

Therefore to sell old newspaper will be permissible because of the majority content is fine and only a small part of it will contain pictures. If other paper are available beside the newspaper to sell for wrapping it would be ideal.

 

 

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Abdoullah Limvoonheek

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 

 

 

 

Reference:

Surah Maidah ayah 2

وَ تَعَاوَنُوۡا عَلَی الۡبِرِّ وَ التَّقۡوٰی ۪ وَ لَا تَعَاوَنُوۡا عَلَی الۡاِثۡمِ وَ الۡعُدۡوَانِ

 

 

Surah Isra ayah 32
وَ لَا تَقۡرَبُوا الزِّنٰۤی اِنَّه کَانَ فَاحِشَة وَسَآءَ سَبِیۡلًا

 

 

Surah Noor ayah 30

قُلْ لِّـلۡمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَ يَغُـضُّوۡا مِنۡ اَبۡصَارِهِمۡ وَيَحۡفَظُوۡا فُرُوۡجَهُمۡ‌ ؕ ذٰ لِكَ اَزۡكٰى لَهُمۡ‌ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ خَبِيۡرٌۢ بِمَا يَصۡنَـعُوۡنَ

وَلَا يَجُوزُ لَفُّ شَيْءٍ فِي كَاغَدٍ فِيهِ مَكْتُوبٌ مِنْ الْفِقْهِ، وَفِي الْكَلَامِ الْأَوْلَى أَنْ لَا يُفْعَلَ، وَفِي كُتُبِ الطِّبِّ يَجُوزُ، وَلَوْ كَانَ فِيهِ اسْمُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى أَوْ اسْمُ النَّبِيِّ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ -، وَيَجُوزُ مَحْوُهُ لِيُلَفَّ فِيهِ شَيْءٌ، كَذَا فِي الْقُنْيَةِ.

وَلَوْ مَحَا لَوْحًا كُتِبَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ وَاسْتَعْمَلَهُ فِي أَمْرِ الدُّنْيَا يَجُوزُ، وَقَدْ وَرَدَ النَّهْيُ عَنْ مَحْوِ اسْمِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى بِالْبُزَاقِ، كَذَا فِي الْغَرَائِبِ.

وَمَحْوُ بَعْضِ الْكِتَابَةِ بِالرِّيقِ يَجُوزُ، كَذَا فِي الْقُنْيَةِ

الفتاوى الهندية ج٥ ص٣٢٢

 

 

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ إِنَّ مِنْ أَشَدِّ النَّاسِ عَذَابًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الْمُصَوِّرُونَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sunan Nasai hadith 5364

 

 

عن أبي طلحة، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: «لا تدخل الملائكة بيتا فيه كلب ولا صورة»

Sahih Muslim Hadith 5514

 

 

عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ لاَ يَنْظُرُ الرَّجُلُ إِلَى عَوْرَةِ الرَّجُلِ وَلاَ الْمَرْأَةُ إِلَى عَوْرَةِ الْمَرْأَةِ وَلاَ يُفْضِي الرَّجُلُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ وَلاَ تُفْضِي الْمَرْأَةُ إِلَى الْمَرْأَةِ فِي الثَّوْبِ الْوَاحِدِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sahih Muslim hadith 667