Nauman Ijaz responds to debate over whether showbiz earnings are halal or haram

KARACHI – Veteran actor Nauman Ijaz on Friday addressed criticism surrounding earnings from the entertainment industry, urging people to focus on self-accountability rather than judging others. Known for his candid views on social issues, Actor Nauman Ijaz recently spoke about the concept of halal and haram income in a You Tube video, where he shared a message sent by a friend regarding the distinction between lawful and unlawful earnings. During the discussion, Nauman Ijaz said that God has naturally equipped human beings with the ability to identify many things in life. He explained that people can recognize heat through touch, hardness through their teeth, bitterness through taste and unpleasantness through smell. However, he noted that the distinction between halal and haram has been left to an individual’s conscience, understanding and personal judgment. The actor questioned why people continue to engage in wrongdoing or seek unlawful gains despite being capable of distinguishing between right and wrong. According to him, the issue is not a lack of awareness but rather the choices individuals make. His remarks received widespread attention on social media, where many users praised his perspective. However, one user directly asked the actor whether he considered income earned through the entertainment industry to be halal or haram. Responding to the question, Nauman Ijaz chose not to engage in a detailed debate. Instead, he suggested that the query reflected a particular mindset and advised the individual to focus on self-reflection rather than scrutinising others. The actor’s response has since sparked fresh discussion online about the relationship between art, entertainment and religious perspectives. While many social media users defended his stance, arguing that broad judgments should not be made about any profession, others reignited the long-running debate over the religious status of earnings generated through the showbiz industry. Abrar-