Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I am working as a sales manager with a company deals in Braodcast equipment supply. We supply TV Camera lenses, lighting and other equipment to all the TV channels in Middle east. I just want to know, If my income is halal. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Supply of tv camera equipment lawful

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

TV Camera lenses, lighting, and other equipments which might be needed to run a TV Channel are amongst those things which if wills may be used lawfully, or if one chooses, unlawfully. A Channel may use these required instruments to propagate the Truth or wholesome entertainment on their Channel; or they may use these instruments to show ‘fahisha’ and indecent programs.

The similitude of the above is like selling a ‘gun’….which can be used legally by some, or illegally by some!

Although the income derived from buying and selling of such equipments, in their essence, is not considered unlawful; if one knows with absolute conviction that the products they sell will be used to promote what has been declared as unlawful by Allah and His Messenger (saws), indeed one would share the appropriate share of the sin according to their participation.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.267 Narrated by An Numan bin Bashir

The Prophet (saws) said "Both the ‘halaal’ (legal) and the ‘haraam’ (illegal) things are obvious, and in between them are (suspicious) doubtful matters. So whoever forsakes those doubtful things lest he may commit a sin, will definitely avoid what is clearly illegal; and whoever indulges in these (suspicious) doubtful things bravely, is likely to commit what is clearly illegal. Sins are Allah's Hima (i.e. private pasture) and whoever pastures (his sheep) near it, is likely to get in it at any moment."

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan