Fatwa ID: 06452

Answered by: Maulana Burhaan Rahman

Question:

Would it be okay for a Muslim to purchase a massage parlor franchise?

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

Answer:

Starting a business is a good and Halal way to earn money as long as it is done in the Halal way. Our beloved prophet (SAW) worked for Khadeejah who had a business. There are various Hadeeths where he would go into the markets and transact etc. as mentioned in the Hadeeth.

It mentions in Tirmithi:

فَرَأَى النَّاسَ يَتَبَايَعُونَ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَاسْتَجَابُوا لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَرَفَعُوا أَعْنَاقَهُمْ وَأَبْصَارَهُمْ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ إِنَّ التُّجَّارَ يُبْعَثُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فُجَّارًا إِلاَّ مَنِ اتَّقَى اللَّهَ وَبَرَّ وَصَدَقَ ‏”

Our beloved prophet (SAW) went to the prayer location and saw people trading. He exclaimed, “O merchants!” They answered by craning their necks and looking up at Allah’s Messenger (SAW). “On the Day of Resurrection, the merchants will be raised as evildoers, aside from those who fear Allah and are truthful and honest,” he stated. [Tirmidhi Hadeeth no. 1210]

So from all this being said, it shows that starting a business is permissible, and can be rewarding as well if everything is done in the Halal way and no evil/sin and Haram is sold or serviced.

وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

Do not join in sin or hostility. And be afraid of Allah; surely, Allah is harsh in punishment. [Surah Mai’dah verse 2]

So buying a massage parlor franchise would be permissible as long as the franchise abstains from Haram e.g. male massaging females (and vice versa), not exposing Awrah (unless a necessity or medical issue), etc.

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Burhaan Rahman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham