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Fatwa CenterEmbraced Islam but Compelled by Contract to Do Modelling
Question
Salam, i am a newly converted female from Sweden. I was converted by some of my Muslim friends and i am totally ready to embrace Islam. Problem is: I am in under contract with a modelling studio for 1 more year. And i used to do bikini modelling for them. Now, if i broke contract with them they'll sue me and frankly i really dont have enough money to pay them as all of my relatives broke relation with me. I asked helped to my muslim friends but they too cant afford such big amounts. I've learned its forbidden in islam to do modelling. I dont want to but this contract will force me to do atleast 5 more sessions. Can you suggest me what should i do now? I clearly know its forbidden but since i am unable to act, will it break my Iman? Will it make me infidel?Thanks
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
First of all, we thank you for contacting us and we ask Allah to help us solve your problem.
There is a sentence in your question that we did not understand, which reads ‘and I am totally ready to embrace Islam’; if you think that embracing Islam requires special rituals, then that is not the case. If one pronounces the Two Testimonies of Faith (which is to say “Ash-hadu alla Ilaaha Illa Allaah Wa Ash-hadu Anna Muhammadan Rassoolu Allaah” (I testify that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah) and acts according to these Testimonies and observes the apparent rituals of Islam, such as the prayer and so on, then one is a Muslim.
Therefore, if you had really embraced Islam –which is apparent from your question –then we congratulate you for this blessing, and we ask Allah to help us (and you) remain steadfast on it until we die.
We advise you to seek Islamic knowledge, perform good deeds, attend circles of knowledge in Islamic Centers and so on, and befriend righteous and pious women, as they will help you in doing good.
The most important thing that we advise you to do is to turn to Allah by supplicating Him in all your affairs, including your problem now. It is confirmed that the Prophet said: “The supplication of a person in distress is: Allaahumma rahmataka arju fala takilni ila nafsi tarfata 'ayn, wa aslih li sha'ni kullahu, la ilaaha illa ant.” (O Allah, it is Your Mercy that I hope for, so do not leave me in charge of my affairs even for a blink of an eye and rectify for me all of my affairs. None has the right to be worshipped except You.) [Abu Daawood]
Be reassured that a Muslim does go out of the fold of Islam by simply committing a sin whether it is a major sin or a minor one, unless it is disbelief in Allah. Remain in this job does not take you out of the fold of Islam, praise be to Allah.
However, you should strive to get rid of it and try to convince the employer to exempt you from these modelling sessions. If you find no way around this, and you are obliged to continue with them until the end of the contract, then the rule established by the scholars is that necessities render prohibitions lawful, as Allah Says (what means): {But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 2:173]
Once the contract ends, you must leave this job as the necessity (that exempts one from something) is assessed according to its proper value (i.e., exemption ends once the necessity ends).
Moreover, perform religious obligations depends on ability, and therefore, you are obliged to cover whatever part of your body you can during modeling, as Allah Says (what means): {So fear Allah as much as you are able.} [Quran 64:16]
Allah knows best.
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