The Ruling on Bringing a Television into the Home in the Presence of Children and Women
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
Your Eminence the Shaykh! I live with my father in one house. He has a wife and young and adult children. I asked him to remove the television from the house, but he replied that he sees no harm in it and that it is not forbidden. Therefore, I ask: What is the ruling on bringing a television into the house and placing it before the children, women, young ones, and adults, occupying all their time from the beginning of the day to the end of the night? Is it obligatory for me to remain in the house with my father despite his insistence on keeping the television, given that I fear it will affect the conduct of my sons and daughters?
Answer:
To allow it to be used freely is not permissible. However, if a person has the ability to control it, with the help of scholars and people of faith, so that one hears nothing but good and sees nothing but good, there is no harm. But to leave it open for the foolish and for women to watch whatever they wish, this is not permissible, because there is much evil in what they watch. But if a person is like some of the scholars who protect it and guard it, and they watch only what Allah has permitted, then there is no harm in that. But now, the nation’s use of satellite dishes is more than their use of televisions, and the satellite dishes are worse than the televisions. We ask Allah for safety. They broadcast more than the television broadcasts. But to Allah belong the polytheists; indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we return. Rather, it has led to great calamities that have befallen the people, and it has brought upon them much evil. It is advised for every believer to beware of the satellite dish and to beware of the television, and not to say that it is in a state of paralysis or such, and to be lenient with the children and with the women. Some of them say, “Go to the congregation, go to our neighbors.” Even if they went to your neighbors, it would be easier than having it in your home. And even if they went to your neighbors, you would advise them and speak to them about the things that harm them, which is better than having it in your home. May Allah send blessings upon the Prophet.
Your Eminence the Shaykh! I live with my father in one house. He has a wife and young and adult children. I asked him to remove the television from the house, but he replied that he sees no harm in it and that it is not forbidden. Therefore, I ask: What is the ruling on bringing a television into the house and placing it before the children, women, young ones, and adults, occupying all their time from the beginning of the day to the end of the night? Is it obligatory for me to remain in the house with my father despite his insistence on keeping the television, given that I fear it will affect the conduct of my sons and daughters?
Answer:
To allow it to be used freely is not permissible. However, if a person has the ability to control it, with the help of scholars and people of faith, so that one hears nothing but good and sees nothing but good, there is no harm. But to leave it open for the foolish and for women to watch whatever they wish, this is not permissible, because there is much evil in what they watch. But if a person is like some of the scholars who protect it and guard it, and they watch only what Allah has permitted, then there is no harm in that. But now, the nation’s use of satellite dishes is more than their use of televisions, and the satellite dishes are worse than the televisions. We ask Allah for safety. They broadcast more than the television broadcasts. But to Allah belong the polytheists; indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we return. Rather, it has led to great calamities that have befallen the people, and it has brought upon them much evil. It is advised for every believer to beware of the satellite dish and to beware of the television, and not to say that it is in a state of paralysis or such, and to be lenient with the children and with the women. Some of them say, “Go to the congregation, go to our neighbors.” Even if they went to your neighbors, it would be easier than having it in your home. And even if they went to your neighbors, you would advise them and speak to them about the things that harm them, which is better than having it in your home. May Allah send blessings upon the Prophet.
Source
لقاءات لابن باز - جلسة مع الدعاة - ابن باز — archive.org (35:07)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.