Are the viewer of pornography and the one who commits fornication with himself equal in sin in the sight of Allah?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Watching pornographic films is forbidden and a path to metaphorical adultery (zina). This is a lesser form of zina than the major zina for which there is a prescribed punishment (hadd). One who condones a sin is sinful, but their sin is not necessarily equal to that of the direct perpetrator. This is because the sin of one who performs the actual deed, which has a tangible and far-reaching effect, is greater than that of one who merely wishes for it, even if they are equal in the root of the sin.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/158672
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 158672
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy