Is it permissible to work in museums that contain statues and various Pharaonic and other artifacts, for the purpose of explaining these statues, their origins, and their different myths to foreigners and tourists, if this is the field of study from which the questioner graduated?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is not permissible to study or specialize in tourism, nor to work in it, due to its inclusion of forbidden acts such as ostentatious display (tabarruj), alcohol consumption, and intermingling of sexes (ikhtilat). Its harms outweigh its benefits, and "warding off harm takes precedence over acquiring benefits." Similarly, it is forbidden to work in museums that contain statues, because the erection of statues is forbidden by for any purpose, and it is a means to polytheism (). Working in these fields is not considered a legitimate means of livelihood under Islamic law.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/89428
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 89428
- 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