Reusing Content

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I have an Instagram page on which I post pictures of cute cats. None of these pictures are mine; instead, I take them from other pages and make sure to credit them in the description of my posts. Is this halal, considering that I intend to monetize this page in the future?

And will I be sinful if the pages I credit contain a small percentage of content that’s not compliant with shari’a?

Answer

I pray you are well.

Posting images and videos of cats is permissible, even with the intention of earning money through it later. Be sure not to breach any copyright laws, and remain within Instagram’s user policies.

Posting videos of anything that is haram to look at is also haram, as you’d be directly assisting others in sinning. (Lubab, Maydani) Stick to permissible content, and you’ll be fine. Money earned through haram means will also be haram.

May Allah facilitate the lawful and permissible for you.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital, and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.