The Ruling on Satellite Channels and the Role of Scholars and Rulers in Eradicating Them

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, he says: What is your opinion on the solutions for eradicating these ills, namely the satellite channels that destroy the homes of Muslims? And what is the way to remind the one who has brought them into his home and upon his family? And what is the role of the state’s relevant authorities in eradicating these evils? And how does one repent who has brought these devices into his home?

Answer:
This has two aspects. The first aspect is the one who is afflicted with these things and has brought them into his home; he is the primary responsible party. It is obligatory for him to remove them and clear his home of them, because he is the primary responsible party for this home. Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock. The man is a shepherd in his home, responsible for his flock. And Allah the Exalted says: Therefore, it is obligatory first upon the owner of the home who is afflicted with this device that he repents to Allah the Mighty and Majestic, returns to the right path, and addresses this danger by removing this ugly means from his home, from his children, and from himself.
The second thing is that it is obligatory upon the students of knowledge, the preachers of the mosques, the preachers and callers to Allah, that they warn the Muslims against these channels. They should warn them and explain to them their dangers and harms. If this is repeated by the preachers, the orators, and the scholars—and this is not limited to speech, but also includes writing in newspapers, magazines, and letters, and they take an interest in it—they should devote themselves to this matter through writing, preaching, admonition, and reminding. They should fight this thing and warn the Muslims against this plague. And if Allah wills, there will not be a lack of those who benefit from these advices. This also clears the conscience of remaining silent. Likewise, the rulers have an obligation to prevent these things if it is possible to prevent them. But what has reached us is that it is not possible to prevent them, because they infiltrate the people; they infiltrate the people without anyone being able to control them. If that is the case, the responsibility remains with the owner of the home and the people of knowledge, along with the rulers. If they can do anything to mitigate these harms and reduce them, it is obligatory for them to do so.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you