Does the noble verse: "and He makes lawful for them the good things and makes unlawful for them the impure things" refer only to foods and drinks, or does it include impure things that harm the mind and psyche, such as pornography, for example, even if it does not directly harm the body?
Scholars have differed in their interpretation of "al-khaba'ith" (evil/unwholesome things) in the Almighty's saying: ﴿And He prohibits for them al-khaba'ith﴾. Some have restricted it to tangible foods, while others have generalized it to include everything that is prohibited. This is the view of Malik, and it is what Al-Sa'di, Sheikh Ibn Ibrahim, and Ibn Uthaymeen favored, that it is general, encompassing foods, drinks, marital relations, sayings, and actions, and everything that is evil and harmful, whether physically or morally. Based on this, it is valid to use this verse as evidence for the prohibition of immoral and promiscuous acts, supporting this with the Almighty's saying: ﴿And she who used to commit al-khaba'ith﴾ [Al-Anbiya: 74], and with the principle that if a word can bear several meanings and there is no impediment, it is to be understood in all of them.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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