What is the ruling on using the television for educational and training programs for children, the elderly, and others?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : That is, if there is a need or the pressing necessity that I mentioned, suppose it happened in an Islamic state in a certain place, and they used this television, so they need children's programs, programs for the elderly and old people, and household management. So your use is complete, and the filming is complete. This circle is subject to necessity, meaning the prohibition is lifted, or how should we understand it?
The Shaykh : Your speech contains more than one question, especially when you concluded the topic. When the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:3] and so on, until He said: [Al-An'am 6:119], and one ate from what Allah has forbidden, namely carrion and pork, do you have any doubt that the prohibition is lifted in this case or not?
The questioner : He eats to the extent of the necessity.
The Shaykh : So what is the meaning of your last question?
The questioner : The meaning of my question is: this necessity, the necessity for children, is a necessity.
The Shaykh : We have not yet ruled on it. What is the meaning of your last question, meaning: is the prohibition lifted?
The questioner : No, the necessity has not passed, meaning the prohibition remains.
The Shaykh : When one ate from pork, did the prohibition remain? Now it seems you have clarified what you intend, and your expression is incorrect. The prohibition remains as a general rule, but as for this eater, the prohibition is lifted.
The questioner : In his case, that is.
The Shaykh : Correct.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If you mean this, we say: correct. Now we will return to the television—do not rush. We said: within the limits of necessity or pressing need. You gave examples, one of which was for children. What did you call what concerns children?
The questioner : Children's programs.
The Shaykh : Children's programs. Okay, now we stand at this example. Children's programs, as this statement includes a broad meaning, is this a necessity?
The questioner : An educational necessity, meaning, excuse me...
The Shaykh : Now, without qualification, tell me: is it a necessity or not a necessity?
The questioner : It is a necessity in the view of some people, and it is not a necessity in the view of others. It is not required to be a necessity, meaning it is not required that you see it as a necessity.
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you. You say: is it a necessity or not a necessity?
The questioner : In my opinion, it is a necessity.
The Shaykh : In your opinion, it is a necessity. Okay, who assesses this necessity?
The questioner : The Shari'ah.
The Shaykh : The Shari'ah. Who knows the Shari'ah: the scholar or the ignorant person?
The questioner : The scholars of the Book and the Sunnah.
The Shaykh : So these are the ones who assess the necessity, not you or anyone else. These are the ones who assess it. Do not delve into details now and enter into imagination. Where is the Islamic state that you assumed? Your research now is all hypothetical, because there is no state, listen, there is no state that adopts Islam as a complete system. And when this state exists, we give general answers; we do not enter into these details. When we want to study children's programs, without doubt we will form a committee composed of scholars of the Shari'ah first, then scholars of education, and perhaps there will be scholars from other fields. These people sit and study, each speaking about what concerns his specialty. Then these opinions are mixed and presented to the Shari'ah, and you will find there: this is not from the necessity, this is from trivial matters. It is filtered this way until a quantity remains that falls under permissibility, and it is broadcast on the television. As for it being in bulk like this: we cannot say that.
The questioner : Meaning, not in bulk...
The Shaykh : That is it. It is not permissible to say: children's programs are permissible due to necessity—no. Some of it is permissible, and some of it is not permissible.
The questioner : Professor, excuse me, is the presence of the television in the house in the current situation lawful or forbidden?
The Shaykh : It is not permissible—in the name of Allah—because I say: who among you wishes to cover himself and who wishes to expose himself? He is at his choice. Who among you is afflicted by the television in his house, then tells me that its good is more than its evil?
The questioner : No, its evil is more than its good.
The Shaykh : So it is not permissible—may Allah give you abundant drink—others, please.
The Shaykh : Your speech contains more than one question, especially when you concluded the topic. When the Exalted said:
Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine
حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ وَالدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ الْخِنزِيرِ ..excepting that to which you are compelled
إلا ما اضطررتم إليهThe questioner : He eats to the extent of the necessity.
The Shaykh : So what is the meaning of your last question?
The questioner : The meaning of my question is: this necessity, the necessity for children, is a necessity.
The Shaykh : We have not yet ruled on it. What is the meaning of your last question, meaning: is the prohibition lifted?
The questioner : No, the necessity has not passed, meaning the prohibition remains.
The Shaykh : When one ate from pork, did the prohibition remain? Now it seems you have clarified what you intend, and your expression is incorrect. The prohibition remains as a general rule, but as for this eater, the prohibition is lifted.
The questioner : In his case, that is.
The Shaykh : Correct.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If you mean this, we say: correct. Now we will return to the television—do not rush. We said: within the limits of necessity or pressing need. You gave examples, one of which was for children. What did you call what concerns children?
The questioner : Children's programs.
The Shaykh : Children's programs. Okay, now we stand at this example. Children's programs, as this statement includes a broad meaning, is this a necessity?
The questioner : An educational necessity, meaning, excuse me...
The Shaykh : Now, without qualification, tell me: is it a necessity or not a necessity?
The questioner : It is a necessity in the view of some people, and it is not a necessity in the view of others. It is not required to be a necessity, meaning it is not required that you see it as a necessity.
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you. You say: is it a necessity or not a necessity?
The questioner : In my opinion, it is a necessity.
The Shaykh : In your opinion, it is a necessity. Okay, who assesses this necessity?
The questioner : The Shari'ah.
The Shaykh : The Shari'ah. Who knows the Shari'ah: the scholar or the ignorant person?
The questioner : The scholars of the Book and the Sunnah.
The Shaykh : So these are the ones who assess the necessity, not you or anyone else. These are the ones who assess it. Do not delve into details now and enter into imagination. Where is the Islamic state that you assumed? Your research now is all hypothetical, because there is no state, listen, there is no state that adopts Islam as a complete system. And when this state exists, we give general answers; we do not enter into these details. When we want to study children's programs, without doubt we will form a committee composed of scholars of the Shari'ah first, then scholars of education, and perhaps there will be scholars from other fields. These people sit and study, each speaking about what concerns his specialty. Then these opinions are mixed and presented to the Shari'ah, and you will find there: this is not from the necessity, this is from trivial matters. It is filtered this way until a quantity remains that falls under permissibility, and it is broadcast on the television. As for it being in bulk like this: we cannot say that.
The questioner : Meaning, not in bulk...
The Shaykh : That is it. It is not permissible to say: children's programs are permissible due to necessity—no. Some of it is permissible, and some of it is not permissible.
The questioner : Professor, excuse me, is the presence of the television in the house in the current situation lawful or forbidden?
The Shaykh : It is not permissible—in the name of Allah—because I say: who among you wishes to cover himself and who wishes to expose himself? He is at his choice. Who among you is afflicted by the television in his house, then tells me that its good is more than its evil?
The questioner : No, its evil is more than its good.
The Shaykh : So it is not permissible—may Allah give you abundant drink—others, please.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.