Men have made pornography halal by the way they “lead” their women.

Abu Umamah reported:

A young man came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said, “O Messenger of Allah, give me permission to commit adultery.” The people turned to rebuke him, saying, “Quiet! Quiet!” The Prophet said, “Come here.” The young man came close and he told him to sit down. The Prophet said, “Would you like that for your mother?” The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither would people like it for their mothers. Would you like that for your daughter?” The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither would people like it for their daughters. Would you like that for your sister?” The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither would people like it for their sisters. Would you like that for your aunts?” The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither would people like it for their aunts.” Then, the Prophet placed his hand on him and he said, “O Allah, forgive his sins, purify his heart, and guard his chastity.” After that, the young man never again inclined to anything sinful.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 22211

This Hadith reminds me of a different scenario that can be played out today by many cultural Muslim families - a scenario that doesn’t end well.

It would go something like this:

A young man asks an Imam to make pornography halal. “Oh Imam, make it halal for me!”

The Imam replies, “Would you like it for your mother to be displayed online and people gawk at her and achieve pleasure through her?” he would reply, “but my mother already posts her pictures online without hijab and everyone can see her. Actually, some old uncles even complement on her appearance and say “masha Allah,” and with the different AI programs out there, people can even nudify her in an instant. Every time she goes to a dinner party or a wedding, she wears see-through sleeves, no hijab, and tons of makeup.”

Now the Imam is troubled - “Oh…uh…OK, but would you want that for your sister?”

The man replies,

“Oh Imam, my sister is on Instagram and swaying and twirling for all to see. Yes she has clothes on, but she’s wearing full makeup and everyone can see her, and once again the AI programs can nudify her video as well, so if everyone is indulging and it is rampant, why is it wrong for me to watch pornography?

If the sisters get a pass, why can’t I? Actually, my father also poses with my sisters online while they’re all dolled up and inappropriately dressed, and he’s proud of showing them off.”

The Imam is stunned and flabbergasted.

OK, OK, in this scenario I will admit, I am being unrealistic…

In reality, the young man would never go to the Imam and ask to make pornography halal because from the behavior he sees in the women (and “men”) in his own family, he is already given the license to indulge in pornography.