Money from a steambath where men are naked

14-6-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

I have a friend whose father has a steam bath (hamame) where the men are naked. Is the money that comes from this place Halal?

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Steam baths (Hamams) are public places that people enter to bath or for the purpose of treatment.

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) fobade men to enter them except if properly dressed (covering their Awrah), and forbade women from entering except for necessity.

Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah reported that Ibn Omar narrated that Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "You will conquer foreign lands and you will find there houses called Hamams (steam baths no man should enter them except with an Izar (cloth covering from navel to knee)," and forbid women from entering it except the sick among them or those recovering after childbirth."

Based on the above, the money earned from this Hamam is Haram since it is as you described.

The people of knowledge determined that when Allah forbids something, then the money earned from it is also Haram.(forbidden)

Imam Abu Dawud and Ahmed reported that Ibn Abbas from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) who said: "If Allah forbids people from eating something, then its cost is also forbidden."

Allah knows best.