Question Summary:
I write articles on the internet and get paid for it. Is my source of income halal?

Question Detail:

I write articles on the internet and get paid for it. I have been using a website for promotion and in it I placed my ad for my service, but I used a stolen picture to describe my service. I got a few orders and completed them and got paid for them. Is my earning halal?

I got paid for the service which I provided but I used a stolen picture in the ad which I used to obtain my orders. Also my parents bought me a laptop and internet connection. I don’t know if they used halal money. I think they used credit cards or welfare money for which im not sure if we qualify for. Regardless of where they got their money is my income halal, if I use what they bought me to make money.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. 
The service you render as a writer is permissible. Your income is Halaal. However, you have committed a sin advertising your work through a stolen picture. For that you should offer some charity to purify your income.
Nabi salallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam said,
يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ إِنَّ الْبَيْعَ يَحْضُرُهُ اللَّغْوُ وَالْحَلِفُ فَشُوبُوهُ بِالصَّدَقَةِ
“Oh group of traders verily vanity and false oaths couple trade so offset it with charity.”
مشكاة المصابيح 2/ 851؛ المكتب الإسلامي

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mawlana Ali bin Cassim
Student Darul Iftaa
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
 
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net