Question : A question was asked regarding whether or not it is permitted for Muslims to watch television.

Fatwa in Brief: Watching television is prohibited, on the grounds that it is harmful to a Muslim’s religious disposition (‘aqida) and to his/her manners, and because it broadcasts singing, music, paintings/photography and other subjects/materials that are at odds with Islam (munkarat).

Shaykh Ibn Baz, Majmu’ Fatawa, 3/227

Response:

Owning a television and watching programs that are [religiously and/or ethically] beneficial is permitted, as long as one is able to avoid the corrupt and corrupting programs that are also aired.

Commentary:

Television shows a range of things. Some are lawful (halal) in origin. Thus, they do not have a negative effect on a Muslim’s religious disposition (‘aqida) or manners, and will not prevent him/her from fulfilling their religious obligations. In this case, listening to and/or watching a television is permitted. In contrast, whatever opposes the [demands and principles of Islam] is prohibited; and those who broadcast such things, and the viewers who watch them, will both be blamed for doing so. The aspect most likely to lead to [a harsh] judgment involves men looking [lustfully] at women – dancers, actresses or others – that show their bodies and display what God has ordered them to cover. [Of course,] It could be said that, in this case, the viewer is not looking at women, but rather at their images. Yet, the jurists discussed looking at the images of women in mirrors, well before the invention of television. They asked whether or not this carries the same ruling as looking at her directly. The disagreed about this: the preferred decision is that, if a man gazes on a woman with desire, he is breaking the law; for, this is likely to lead the committing of a serious sin (zari’a ila muharam). It is the greatest cause of the most serious of sins, and anything resembling this is [therefore] prohbited, whether this occurs through a direct look, or through [a reflection in] the mirror. If the yardstick here is the degree to which an act causes strife/dissension (fitna) [as regards one’s religion and relationships with others], people have different opinions on what is, and what is not, a cause of evil (muftin); and everyone knows his/her own limits.

The evidence in support of watching plays and innocent games is found in a hadith included in the collections of Bukhari and Muslim. Here, ‘Aisha (r.a.) is reported as saying: “While I looked at the Ethiopians who were playing in the courtyard of the mosque, the Prophet (upon him be peace) used to dress me in a garment that covered the upper part of the body (rida’). (I continued watching) until I was satisfied”. So, you may deduce from this how a young girl (yet to reach puberty) who wishes merely to enjoy herself should be allowed to behave. In another account, the Prophet asked ‘Aisha if she wanted to look. She replied: “yes”. And he lifted her [‘Aisha] up so that they were cheek to cheek. Aisha watched until she became bored and the Prophet excused her.

In al-Matalib al-‘aliya, Ibn Hajar reports that ‘Aisha used to watch “al-darkala”, which is a type of boys’ game.[1] It was described as dancing. Confirming Islam’s leniency as regards the enjoyment of innocent pleasures, the Prophet (upon him be peace) said to Abu Bakr, when he stopped the concubines (jawari) from singing to ‘Aisha on the day of the Feast: “let them O Abu Bakr! These days are celebrations, so that the Jews realise that our religion is open and allows room for relaxation, and that I have been sent with an easy and straightforward message” (narrated by Ahmad from ‘Aisha). There is no need to think that the Prophet (upon him be peace) allowed her to watch the Ethiopian games and to listen to music simply because she was a little girl, not yet mature [and therefore capable of sin]. Perhaps this [permission] was also granted before the veil became obligatory [on the Prophet’s wives] and such amusement was forbidden to them. This is just a possibility, not a certainty; otherwise, there would have been no difference between scholars regarding these rulings.[2]

In the Fatwa Centre, under the Supervision of Dr. ‘Abdullah al-Faqih:

The ruling regarding the owning (and watching of) a television was previously discussed in a previous answer (no. 1886). We decided there that it is legal for Muslims to own a television; and that watching beneficial programs is also legal, as long as one can avoid the corrupt and corrupting programmes that it carries. If one cannot avoid doing so, then it is illegal to own or watch a television.[3]

Dr. Yassir ‘Abd al-‘Azim