What is the ruling on buying clothing catalogs that contain pictures of semi-naked men and women under the pretext that women do not enter the market? And is it permissible for a woman to look at pictures of women in underwear for the purpose of purchasing?

It is not permissible to buy catalogs that contain indecent pictures, due to the uncovering of 'awrah (intimate parts) and the temptation they cause. This 'awrah is between the navel and the knee for a man relative to another man, and for a woman relative to another woman. Similarly, it is not permissible to buy magazines that contain pictures of various fashions due to the temptation they cause and the promotion of these harmful magazines. Books whose primary subject is pictures, such as Al-Burda magazine, are not permissible to buy or possess. As for books where pictures are not the primary intent, but rather benefit, and it is difficult to avoid their pictures or obscure their faces, it is permissible to possess and sell them. Sheikh Ibn 'Uthaymeen warned against allowing newspapers and magazines that contain tempting pictures and misleading statements into homes, because they corrupt morals and prevent angels from entering homes. Possessing, selling, buying, and accepting them as gifts is haraam (forbidden), and everything that helps spread them is haraam, due to it being cooperation in sin and transgression and a waste of money.