Ruling on investing in Internet cafes

Question: 112137

What is the ruling on investing and trading in Internet cafes, even though I do not know whether a user will go to beneficial sites or to harmful and haraam sites? There are chat programs in which people can get to know one another, and that often takes place between the sexes, and there may be exchange of indecent pictures, movies and songs through it.

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

If these computers may be used to access reprehensible and
false things that are detrimental to Islamic beliefs or through which people
will look at indecent images and movies and stories, or engage in dubious
conversations or haraam games, and the owner of the cafe cannot prevent
these evils or cannot control these computers, then in that case it is
haraam to deal in what has been mentioned, because that is helping in sin
and transgression, and Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, says in His
Holy Book (interpretation of the meaning):

“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue,
righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and
transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment”

[al-Maa’idah 5:2]

And Allaah is the source of strength. may Allaah send
blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and Companions.
End quote.

The Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas

Source:

Islam Q&A

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