You mentioned that video images are more forbidden than photographic images; does this include television?
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The questioner : I ask, you mentioned, O Shaykh, during your discussion on image-making, something about video images.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is correct.
The questioner : That they are more forbidden.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is correct.
The questioner : And does this include television? I have a comment on this, if possible.
The Shaykh : What is video? It is television, is it not? One is a result of the other, so what is the difference?
The questioner : There is, O Shaykh, according to what we know regarding video recording, that it is the recording of vibrations or electromagnetic waves, and the images that appear on the screen are not sensory images?
The Shaykh : This is the philosophy that has led the Muslims astray. Do you think a Muslim is obligated to know this philosophy, or does he just look at it and say, "This is an image" or "It is not an image"?
The questioner : But it is not on a number, and it is not, I mean, a material image; rather, it is most like ghosts.
The Shaykh : You are now, without offense, speaking words that contradict the material. You say it is not material, so where is it recorded? In the air? Or do you have tapes and devices? Are these not material?
The questioner : Light is not material, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Strange. And so?
The questioner : Energy.
The Shaykh : Energy, and energy is not material?
The questioner : By Allah, according to what we learned, according to what we studied in our field of specialization, O Shaykh, physics, that energy and materiality are two distinct things, and energy can enter into matter.
The Shaykh : Where did you read this statement in the Book of Allah, or in the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah, or in the books of the Christians?
The questioner : This science proves that. I don't know, it came back.
Another questioner: In this issue, there is another perspective, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Science proves that and says that it is not material.
The questioner : It says that energy is a thing.
The Shaykh : No, answer me: does science say that energy is not material?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Science says that everything is material, and therefore they denied the existence of Allah because He is beyond matter. How can you say that science says it is energy? Energy is not material? Everything is material, but of course, these materials differ from one another.
The questioner : Perceptible.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : I say light is perceptible.
The Shaykh : This is it. So it should not be said, I mean, what I fear most is that you say energy is not a created thing.
The questioner : No, it is created. We agree on this.
The Shaykh : Every created thing is material, my brother.
The questioner : They recently discovered that matter and energy are one thing, and that matter is converted into energy.
The Shaykh :[Hud 11:118-119].
The student: O Shaykh, this is all Einstein's theory.
The questioner : Einstein.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is correct.
The questioner : That they are more forbidden.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is correct.
The questioner : And does this include television? I have a comment on this, if possible.
The Shaykh : What is video? It is television, is it not? One is a result of the other, so what is the difference?
The questioner : There is, O Shaykh, according to what we know regarding video recording, that it is the recording of vibrations or electromagnetic waves, and the images that appear on the screen are not sensory images?
The Shaykh : This is the philosophy that has led the Muslims astray. Do you think a Muslim is obligated to know this philosophy, or does he just look at it and say, "This is an image" or "It is not an image"?
The questioner : But it is not on a number, and it is not, I mean, a material image; rather, it is most like ghosts.
The Shaykh : You are now, without offense, speaking words that contradict the material. You say it is not material, so where is it recorded? In the air? Or do you have tapes and devices? Are these not material?
The questioner : Light is not material, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Strange. And so?
The questioner : Energy.
The Shaykh : Energy, and energy is not material?
The questioner : By Allah, according to what we learned, according to what we studied in our field of specialization, O Shaykh, physics, that energy and materiality are two distinct things, and energy can enter into matter.
The Shaykh : Where did you read this statement in the Book of Allah, or in the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah, or in the books of the Christians?
The questioner : This science proves that. I don't know, it came back.
Another questioner: In this issue, there is another perspective, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Science proves that and says that it is not material.
The questioner : It says that energy is a thing.
The Shaykh : No, answer me: does science say that energy is not material?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Science says that everything is material, and therefore they denied the existence of Allah because He is beyond matter. How can you say that science says it is energy? Energy is not material? Everything is material, but of course, these materials differ from one another.
The questioner : Perceptible.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : I say light is perceptible.
The Shaykh : This is it. So it should not be said, I mean, what I fear most is that you say energy is not a created thing.
The questioner : No, it is created. We agree on this.
The Shaykh : Every created thing is material, my brother.
The questioner : They recently discovered that matter and energy are one thing, and that matter is converted into energy.
The Shaykh :
but they will not cease to differ. (119) Except whom your Lord has given mercy
ولا يزالون مختلفين إلا من رحم ربكThe student: O Shaykh, this is all Einstein's theory.
The questioner : Einstein.