The Danger of Television and How to Protect Children from It
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Many Muslim households among us have been afflicted by the presence of a television in the home, under the pretext of knowing world news and events in Muslim lands and what is happening among others. It contains the harms it contains, and now the satellite dish has entered with the intention of expanding on world news and other things. This man is eager to remove the television from his home, but his children and his wife: may watch it at their father's house, their grandfather's house, their uncle's house, or their maternal uncle's house. So how should he deal with this? May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh?
By Allah! My brother! We complain to Allah. It is not surprising that external media outlets broadcast what corrupts beliefs, ideas, and morals; because they are enemies. All disbelievers are enemies of the Muslim, no matter how much they pretend to be friends, they are enemies, by Allah! As Allah the Mighty and Majestic testifies: [Al-Mumtahanah: 1] ,And Allah the Exalted said: [An-Nisa: 89] ,And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Mumtahanah: 2] The texts of the Book and the Sunnah in this matter are clear. It is not permissible for us to be deceived by the false affection they throw at us with their tongues, or to be like the ostrich that buries its head in the sand. They are enemies, but they adapt to their disbelief by what they see as being in their interest. Now they have become broadcasting on these satellite channels what a sane person, let alone a believer, would be ashamed to mention, as we hear that they broadcast naked people, prostitutes, and wicked women, and a man is seen doing things with a naked woman. So what do you think, my brother, if such things are spread before young men who are full of youth, with full bellies and sound bodies? What will happen? The worst thing, or the easiest thing, will be evil. For this reason, we have heard, based on this, of someone who comes to his daughter in a state of nakedness or his sister. This is something we cannot even speak of, let alone believe the report of it, let alone that it is a reality among us.Therefore I see: The sane person removes this from his home. Are you obligated to know the news? By Allah, we hear nothing from the news but what brings us sadness; because there is no solution in our hands for it. Who can solve the problem of Kosovo now? Who can? It only narrows the chests and brings worry and grief. Then, not every person benefits from the news.People in news are three categories: One group benefits from it, knowing what has happened in the world. It is possible that a man has some knowledge of politics and can direct what is beneficial.
Another category: The one with a dead heart, who knows neither good nor evil, so this is a waste of time and a waste of money in watching such things.
A third category: The one with a living heart but who has no opinion or political insight, so he becomes sad and pained, so reading it has no good in it.
Therefore, I advise you to remove it from your house.
As for their going to relatives and finding this with them, yes, that is correct. If you are able to prevent them from that, prevent them. And if you are not able, because the relatives are very close or because they are young people you cannot prevent, then adopt something else that will be their entertainment and diversion, such as what they call the computer and the films from which you choose what you want.
And as for the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): (Whoever does not care about the affairs of the Muslims is not one of them) .
Yes, it is known. But is my concern for the affairs of the Muslims contingent on watching these calamities? And even if it were to incite concern, its harms are greater. Who guarantees to me that he will not look at anything but what is in the interest of the Muslims? Most of those who acquire them do not intend this, and this is not the reality of their condition.
By Allah! My brother! We complain to Allah. It is not surprising that external media outlets broadcast what corrupts beliefs, ideas, and morals; because they are enemies. All disbelievers are enemies of the Muslim, no matter how much they pretend to be friends, they are enemies, by Allah! As Allah the Mighty and Majestic testifies:
O you who have believed, do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَThey wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike
وَدُّوا لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُوا فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَاءًThey wish you would disbelieve
وَوَدُّوا لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَAnother category: The one with a dead heart, who knows neither good nor evil, so this is a waste of time and a waste of money in watching such things.
A third category: The one with a living heart but who has no opinion or political insight, so he becomes sad and pained, so reading it has no good in it.
Therefore, I advise you to remove it from your house.
As for their going to relatives and finding this with them, yes, that is correct. If you are able to prevent them from that, prevent them. And if you are not able, because the relatives are very close or because they are young people you cannot prevent, then adopt something else that will be their entertainment and diversion, such as what they call the computer and the films from which you choose what you want.
And as for the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): (Whoever does not care about the affairs of the Muslims is not one of them) .
Yes, it is known. But is my concern for the affairs of the Muslims contingent on watching these calamities? And even if it were to incite concern, its harms are greater. Who guarantees to me that he will not look at anything but what is in the interest of the Muslims? Most of those who acquire them do not intend this, and this is not the reality of their condition.