Question Summary:
Money I earned as a model, permissable or not?

Question Detail:

A.A....I was an actress and do many shoots for magazine and also a model......this professiona is haraam for girls...and money is also hraam...I have goten admission in university by this money....I m studying in Msc,Is my degree also hraam?? How can I make my degree halaal?? Degree will be received after two years of study....now my first semester is continue....I have paid my dues by the money of modeling....I want to make toubah now??? BT wts about my degree ?? Should I discontinue study?? Should I get readmission with halaal money????

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Sister in Islam,

At the outset, we would like to commend you on the steps you have taken to turn away from your past life of disobedience. Your concern to know the Shariah ruling is commendable. You should consider it a great bounty that you were granted the Tawfeeq (opportunity) to repent to Allah Ta’āla. Remain steadfast and make Dua to Allah to keep you firm on His Deen.

In principle, the MSC degree that you will receive will be Halal.

However, one must bear in mind that Hayaa (modesty) is absent in universities. Considering the situation nowadays, it is impermissible for a woman to go to university. Islam has kept the woman’s place in the home where she is safe from the Fitnah and corruption of the time.

Allah Ta’ala states in the Quran:

وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ (الأحزاب: 33)

And remain in your homes. (Al-Ahzab: 33)

From this verse, it is understood that the temperament of Shariah is that a female should confine herself to her home. In this age of shamelessness, the reason for women being in their homes is more understandable.

However, Shariah takes into consideration circumstances and practical realities and difficulties. Accordingly, a woman may emerge from her house due to need and necessity as defined in Shariah. If a woman has no one to maintain her and she has no means of income, she may leave her home to earn an income.^[1]

Such a relaxation comes with strict conditions. The absence of the conditions will cancel the leniency and the prohibition will remain, for example, a woman has a source of income or she is maintained by her father or husband etc. A woman facing such circumstances should seek the counsel and guidance of a Mufti to assess her situation and get guidance according to Shariah.

The concept of Hayaa (modesty) is absent in universities. The environment of universities is detrimental to one’s Iman especially in todays co-ed system.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Abdullah Syed Sajid

Student Darul Iftaa
Houston, TX, USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

______

^[1]  الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (3/ 536) 

قال في الفتح: والحاصل أن مدار حل خروجها بسبب قيام شغل المعيشة فيتقدر بقدره، فمتى انقضت حاجتها لا يحل لها بعد ذلك صرف الزمان خارج بيتها. اهـ

المبسوط للسرخسي (6/ 32)

وأما المتوفى عنها زوجها فلها أن تخرج بالنهار لحوائجها ولكنها لا تبيت في غير منزلها لما روي «أن فريعة بنت مالك بن أبي سنان أخت أبي سعيد الخدري - رضي الله عنه - جاءت إلى رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بعد وفاة زوجها تستأذنه أن تعتد في بني خدرة فقال - صلى الله عليه وسلم - امكثي في بيتك حتى تنقضي عدتك» ولم ينكر عليها خروجها للاستفتاء