Videoing weddings that contain prohibitions
20-4-2009 | IslamWeb
Question:
Esselamu aleykum,
My husband and I live in Europe, Albania. We have a problem and we want to take a scholar’s opinion about it.
My husband is self-employed; he is a cameraman and has a montage studio. We have sacrificed so much to maintain the studio because, we did that alone without any help and is the only income for our family. I know that this may be is not totally halal as a work, but that's what he can do, and anyway, there is no profession in here that is entirely halal, specially when you work for others.
Our problem is that in the weddings (where my husband is cameraman) there is music and alcohol, because here everybody drinks in all the occasions. I know that is no good for him, but the problem is that his work is seasonal, which means that he works in summer and during the rest of the year there is no much work.
Now, the month of Ramadan is in summer (and so will be for about 4 years), we don’t know what to do. If we don’t work the clients will go way and if it lasts for 4 years we don’t know what we should do. Please take in consideration our question, as soon as possible. Thank you in advance.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
It is not permissible for your husband to video weddings [or any other festival] which contain some prohibitions, like women not wearing Hijab, forbidden mixing between men and women, consuming intoxicants, singing, musical instruments and the like. His earning from such a work is considered as a forbidden income; the ruling is the same whether he does so in the month of Ramadan or else, but in Ramadan the sin is graver.
Therefore, your husband is obliged to fear Allaah and avoid filming such prohibitions; sustaining hunger and thirst is easier than sustaining Hell fire. Allaah Says (what means): {So I have warned you of a Fire which is blazing. None will [enter to] burn therein except the most wretched one.}[Quran 92:14-15] It might be that if he endeavours to seek a job, Allaah will facilitate for him a lawful one, Allaah Says (what means): {… And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.}[Quran 65:2-3]
In any case, it is forbidden for him to continue earning ill-gotten income unless he cannot find a lawful job and he is in necessity to continue doing it, in which case it becomes permissible for him to do it according to the necessity only even during the month of Ramadan. However, as soon as he finds a lawful job, he should refrain from earning ill-gotten money. It should be mentioned that there is much good and lawful earnings in Muslim countries. Therefore, we advise you to travel to another Muslim country to reside therein. A person will undoubtedly find lawful means of earnings if he endeavours and seeks the Help of Allaah. Little lawful earnings are better and more blessed than much ill-gotten earnings.
Allaah Knows best.