Is It Permissible for Men to Participate in Modeling Clothing Lines?

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: Is it permissible for men to participate in modeling clothing lines if the clothing is decent clothing? Is it impermissible for men to make money of one’s looks?

Answer: assalamu `alaykum

It would be permitted for a man to work as a model if there are no impermissible elements involved in the actual work.

Thus, if modeling entails uncovering one’s nakedness (awra), for example it would not be permissible. Similarly, if it involves wearing clothing that men are not permitted to wear, such as those made of silk, it would also be impermissible. However, if the clothing is decent and complies with the shari`a then it would be permitted.

Directly related to the above is the question you pose regarding whether it is permitted for a man to earn a livelihood through his looks. As is clear from above, this would be permitted. There is nothing in our tradition that would deem this to be intrinsically impermissible. So long as the actual work he does does not incorporate performing that which is interdicted, such work would be valid.

Salman

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani