Is the disbeliever addressed by the branches of the Shari'ah? What is the ruling on selling a television to him? And is it obligatory for one who has repented and knows its prohibition to break it and destroy it?
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Al-Huwaini: Is the disbeliever addressed by the branches of the Shari'ah?
The Shaykh : I have no opinion on this issue, and I do not know if there is a scholarly issue that follows from it.
Al-Huwaini: I mean, for example, I have a television, and the television is known for its corruption and the like. So, is it permissible for me to sell the television to that Christian, who uses it to listen to singing and to hear and see obscenity and the like? Would I be sinful in this manner?
The Shaykh : In my belief, the matter in this issue is clear; but does it have a connection to the previous question? They say, without offense, is he obligated in prayer, for example? That is what they mean by the previous question: is he obligated in the branches? As for this case, which you asked about last, namely whether it is permissible for you to sell him the television? My answer is clear that it is not permissible; because in that lies helping him to spread corruption on earth. Add to that that a device which is not permissible to use according to the Shari'ah is not permissible to sell, but rather it is to be smashed and broken. So this device, whose ruling in Islam is this, should not have its ruling reversed to be sold to the disbeliever so that he uses it in disobedience to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). This is an issue that, in my belief, has no connection to the first issue.
Al-Huwaini: But regarding my opinion, a brother asked me this question. He said, before I committed to [the religion], I had three color televisions, meaning their price was equivalent to one thousand pounds. He says they are now buried, I do not use them, and I want to utilize the money and the like. And in smashing the devices is a waste of money; so is there a basis for this statement?
The Shaykh : The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) preceded us with some of his actions in this matter. As it is reported in the authentic Sunnah in Muslim and others, when the prohibition of intoxicants was revealed, Abu Talhah al-Ansari came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said:; so here, if it is permissible for us to say that smashing what is forbidden in Islam is a waste of money, then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did that when he ordered Abu Talhah to pour out these skins, knowing that this issue is lighter than what Muslims are tested with today in purchasing these devices; because intoxicants were not previously forbidden, so if leniency were permissible in such an issue, its place would be for him to say to him, turn it into vinegar instead of pouring it out, and benefit from its value; because when he bought it to trade with it for the orphans, intoxicants were not forbidden, yet the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not allow him to invest in it or convert it into vinegar, but rather ordered him to pour it out; so by pouring it out, the orphans undoubtedly lost out; so it is even more fitting that it is not permissible for the Muslim today to utilize some forbidden devices and invest in them after he has repented from using them.
Al-Huwaini: Yes; but O our Shaykh, regarding intoxicants and the television, one might say that there is a difference, that the prohibition of intoxicants was revealed by a completely decisive text, and the television, I can make a religious program on it, and I can listen to, for example, as they say, good programs and the like; so the television is not forbidden from every angle. Is it possible to use this halal part of it and sell it, for example, relying on the fact that it is not completely forbidden?
The Shaykh : Sell it to whom? To one who uses the halal? If so, let him use it with the halal.
— laughsThe Shaykh : —
The Shaykh : In any case, this report, although it is a reality, does not justify distinguishing between intoxicants and these devices, and that is because if we say that there is benefit in using the television, we say, yes, this is true if it is used within those beneficial limits; but from a practical standpoint, this is a theoretical matter; it is not possible for a television to exist in a Muslim's home without it being used in what Allah has forbidden, due to the severity of being captivated by it; and I personally believe that the television is among the most severe and dangerous devices of amusement in terms of trial, harm, and distraction from performing many of the obligations that are obligatory for the Muslim who possesses it; so the fact that the television can be used for some good does not mean that it differs from intoxicants, because intoxicants can also be converted into vinegar and used for good. Then it is not hidden from you that this door opens for us many other problems that some people with desires might exploit to make permissible what Allah has forbidden; for example, if a man is tested with the trade of narcotics like hashish and opium and the like, then he repents and turns back, and brings us that question: is it permissible for me to sell this hashish to the American hashish dealers and their like? Because if it is said that it is not permissible, it is a large capital that is lost on him, and he argues that this is not forbidden by a text of the Qur'an like intoxicants, meaning; but I say the criterion is the Shari'ah ruling, whether it is stated in the Qur'an or in the Sunnah, or is derived by way of deduction; the important thing is, what is the ruling on hashish, the narcotic? It is forbidden, so it is not permissible to benefit from it; what is the ruling on using the television, buying it and using it? Also forbidden, at least in what we see; and at that time, it is not fitting for the Muslim to be confused in his rulings and his thoughts, as long as buying the television and using it is forbidden, then it is not permissible to sell it or buy it, and whoever repents to Allah with a sincere repentance, it is obligatory for him to do with these devices what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did with the skins.
The Shaykh : I have no opinion on this issue, and I do not know if there is a scholarly issue that follows from it.
Al-Huwaini: I mean, for example, I have a television, and the television is known for its corruption and the like. So, is it permissible for me to sell the television to that Christian, who uses it to listen to singing and to hear and see obscenity and the like? Would I be sinful in this manner?
The Shaykh : In my belief, the matter in this issue is clear; but does it have a connection to the previous question? They say, without offense, is he obligated in prayer, for example? That is what they mean by the previous question: is he obligated in the branches? As for this case, which you asked about last, namely whether it is permissible for you to sell him the television? My answer is clear that it is not permissible; because in that lies helping him to spread corruption on earth. Add to that that a device which is not permissible to use according to the Shari'ah is not permissible to sell, but rather it is to be smashed and broken. So this device, whose ruling in Islam is this, should not have its ruling reversed to be sold to the disbeliever so that he uses it in disobedience to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). This is an issue that, in my belief, has no connection to the first issue.
Al-Huwaini: But regarding my opinion, a brother asked me this question. He said, before I committed to [the religion], I had three color televisions, meaning their price was equivalent to one thousand pounds. He says they are now buried, I do not use them, and I want to utilize the money and the like. And in smashing the devices is a waste of money; so is there a basis for this statement?
The Shaykh : The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) preceded us with some of his actions in this matter. As it is reported in the authentic Sunnah in Muslim and others, when the prohibition of intoxicants was revealed, Abu Talhah al-Ansari came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said:
O Messenger of Allah, I have skins of intoxicants for my orphans, should I turn them into vinegar? He said: No, but pour them out.
يا رسول الله عندي زقاق من خمر لأيتام لي أفخللها ؟ قال : لا بل أهرقهاAl-Huwaini: Yes; but O our Shaykh, regarding intoxicants and the television, one might say that there is a difference, that the prohibition of intoxicants was revealed by a completely decisive text, and the television, I can make a religious program on it, and I can listen to, for example, as they say, good programs and the like; so the television is not forbidden from every angle. Is it possible to use this halal part of it and sell it, for example, relying on the fact that it is not completely forbidden?
The Shaykh : Sell it to whom? To one who uses the halal? If so, let him use it with the halal.
— laughsThe Shaykh : —
The Shaykh : In any case, this report, although it is a reality, does not justify distinguishing between intoxicants and these devices, and that is because if we say that there is benefit in using the television, we say, yes, this is true if it is used within those beneficial limits; but from a practical standpoint, this is a theoretical matter; it is not possible for a television to exist in a Muslim's home without it being used in what Allah has forbidden, due to the severity of being captivated by it; and I personally believe that the television is among the most severe and dangerous devices of amusement in terms of trial, harm, and distraction from performing many of the obligations that are obligatory for the Muslim who possesses it; so the fact that the television can be used for some good does not mean that it differs from intoxicants, because intoxicants can also be converted into vinegar and used for good. Then it is not hidden from you that this door opens for us many other problems that some people with desires might exploit to make permissible what Allah has forbidden; for example, if a man is tested with the trade of narcotics like hashish and opium and the like, then he repents and turns back, and brings us that question: is it permissible for me to sell this hashish to the American hashish dealers and their like? Because if it is said that it is not permissible, it is a large capital that is lost on him, and he argues that this is not forbidden by a text of the Qur'an like intoxicants, meaning; but I say the criterion is the Shari'ah ruling, whether it is stated in the Qur'an or in the Sunnah, or is derived by way of deduction; the important thing is, what is the ruling on hashish, the narcotic? It is forbidden, so it is not permissible to benefit from it; what is the ruling on using the television, buying it and using it? Also forbidden, at least in what we see; and at that time, it is not fitting for the Muslim to be confused in his rulings and his thoughts, as long as buying the television and using it is forbidden, then it is not permissible to sell it or buy it, and whoever repents to Allah with a sincere repentance, it is obligatory for him to do with these devices what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did with the skins.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.