Entertainers and their Earnings

15-2-2001 | IslamWeb

Question:

What are the Islamic rulings on the Muslim who works as a 'Pop Singer', their income from cassette, cd, video selling also their income from performing on stage witnessed by thousands of people (mixing men and women) without covering their aurah (female singer) and male singer performing like the western singers. Also about Muslim working as the producer and director; the movies always contained the scenes as the western movies male and female hugging each other (not mahram) scene from the disco......Is it permissible for them to perform the hajj, paying zakat or doing good with this earnings?

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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.

1. Pop music is forbidden and the ruling is that when Allah forbids something He aslo forbids its price. So, it is forbidden to take this as a job, by selling cassettes and so forth. Singing on stage is forbidden as well.

As for women singing like western pop singers naked and exposing themselves in public, then this is a major sin and any income that results from such an act is unlawful (ill-gotten money). For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 81545.

2. Movies show women hugging men and while playing music. Therefore, it is forbidden for Muslims to work in producing such films; these contradict the Sharee’ah in their content or appearance. So, any money received from such a work is forbidden and considered ill-gotten money that could hinder its possessor from having his deeds (Hajj and other deeds) accepted by Allah as narrated in a sound Hadeeth. The Prophet said: “O people, Allah is Tayyib (which implies pure), and He does not accept except that which is pure.” [Muslim]

So, anyone who has worked in such a field should repent to Allah, quit this job, and look for a lawful one.

Allah knows best.