Benefiting From Websites that May Have What Is Forbidden
8-4-2018 | IslamWeb
Question:
Shaikh, I questioned you about sending question in Islamic fatwa sites which contain some inappropriate/forbidden material like image ,graphics, videos with writings but their collection of fatwas are ok and they have huge collection of beneficial writings . you said there is no problems sending questions to those sites. But I have some new questions . please kindly clarify it.1) I told you that there all writings(articles) are beneficial. But some of their writing I find inappropriate/forbidden in nature though maximum articles are good Ma sha Allaah . their fatwa section is authentic , directly answered by prominent scholars of Egypt & western countries ( they learned religion from al Azhar university of Egypt , other Islamic university in western coutries, India etc then teach religion in various countries including Malaysia,Egypt,western countries )& counselor section is beneficial . They have fatwa archives of Saudi Arabian,Jordan ,fatwa site. Overall the site is reliable.Am I still permitted to send questions?2)Some of their fatwa answer ,counselor answer ,good writing have attachment of image ,video which are unlawful or inappropriate according to Islam. Can I read those good things containing the unlawful ,improper attachment lowering gaze?3) And if other Islamic site has collection of magazine on Islam ,and huge collections of good writings but some image forbidden in nature can I read good things while avoiding seeing image?4) If the site attach the unlawful ,improper photo,graphics, video with answer of fatwa & counseling questions sent by me am I sinner ,though I have no control over it?5) If any Islamic site contain authentic fatwa collections & beneficial writings with some inappropriate/forbidden stuffs can I send questions & read good writings while avoiding problematic things?( please note that maximum contents of those sites are ok & some of which inappropriate/forbidden whether writings ,image,video ,graphics, otherwise)
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
If the mentioned site is not specialized in publishing what is forbidden, and what is forbidden is not predominant in it, but randomly some forbidden matters are shown in it, then there is no harm in browsing through it and benefiting from the articles, Fataawa, consultations, and other useful matters.
It is also permissible to send questions to them and benefit from the published ones, while lowering your gaze and not looking at what is forbidden in it.
If these beneficial materials are found in other sites that are totally free from evil, then it is more appropriate to visit them instead and benefit from them.
As for the forbidden images (and other impermissible materials) that are attached when they answer your question or provide you with advice, then the sin falls upon the one who does this [and not on you].
Finally, it should be noted that there is a difference of opinion among the contemporary scholars about photographic images, and there is a strong view that they are permissible. It should also be noted as well, that when there is a preponderant benefit in using drawings, as in the case of teaching the children and so on, then in such a case using them is permissible.
Allah knows best.