Is it permissible for those working for a religious newspaper to buy and read secular magazines that contain pictures of naked women and Western actresses, for the purpose of exposing the vices of secularism and defending religion, or must they lower their gaze regardless of the motive?

Working for a religious newspaper aims to guide Muslims towards good, correct misconceptions, and strengthen faith, and it is a righteous deed. There is no harm for those who work to respond to secular magazines to look into them for the purpose of warning against their evils, provided that they limit themselves to what is necessary without leniency or excess. If it is possible to seek the help of a trustworthy woman to obtain information without looking at forbidden things, that would be better.

The jurisprudential principle is the permissibility of committing the lesser harm of looking [at forbidden things] to repel a greater harm, while being cautious not to follow the footsteps of Satan. Among the rules of Sharia are that "harm is to be removed" and "harm is not to be removed by harm." Only those whose faith is strong and who do not fear temptation for themselves should work in this field.

Sheikh Ibn Baz issued a fatwa permitting the monitoring of corrupt magazines and films to expose their falsehood and warn against them, and he clarified that the earnings of a worker in this field are permissible. He also issued a fatwa permitting a Muslim media professional to attend events that contain offensive scenes or music if the intention is the public interest and to warn against evil, and not for enjoyment.

Nude images must be obliterated or covered after viewing them, so that they are not seen by those for whom it is not permissible to see them. Whoever undertakes this work must fear Allah and beware of the betrayal of the eyes. And whoever is spared from this should not think ill of their brethren.