Do you see any harm in selling video tapes that are said to be Islamic?

The questioner : Following up on my previous question about Islamic tapes: Do you see any harm in selling video tapes that are said to be Islamic?

The Shaykh : Any video tape containing images that are not necessary for presentation is not permissible; because the breach widens for the one who breaches it. I do not envision that these video tapes are permissible except in very narrow limits, as we say regarding photographic images, or in an even narrower way. In my opinion, it is not permissible to display things of no value on television, and consequently to record them on these tapes; except for what is necessary to explain to the Muslim world certain legal rulings. And unfortunately, we see that what is of no benefit is displayed on television, while what is not permissible and what is permissible, and even what is obligatory to display, is not displayed. How good it would be if a learned, virtuous man were displayed on the television screen explaining to them the manner of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) prayer, the manner of his ablution (peace and blessings be upon him), the manner of his Hajj, his Umrah, and so on. For many people today, the joke mentioned by some later jurists—though it has no value—applies to them: “He prayed, but he did not pray; he prayed, but he did not pray.” But we know easily from the authentic hadith that he prayed but did not pray. What is it? The hadith of the one who performed his prayer poorly; where he entered the mosque and prayed, then came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: “Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah.” He said: . So this one prayed but did not pray. Go back and pray, for you have not prayed, three times. Finally, the man realized that he did not know how to pray, so he admitted it and said: “O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, I do not know any other way; so teach me.” So he taught him. We do not want to lengthen the discussion now, especially since the time is nearing its end.
If Islamic television were to display to the Muslim audience in all parts of the earth the prayer that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) taught this man who performed his prayer poorly, I think every Muslim who is concerned about the prayer that Allah has commanded would know how to pray. As for the one who does not care, the hypocrites also pray, but when they stand up for prayer, they stand up while lazy, showing off to people. Why is this image not displayed? This is the most obligatory thing to be displayed on television. This is a matter for which reward is earned. Why is a learned, virtuous man not displayed describing to this Muslim world on the television screen the Umrah and its rulings in practical application, and then the Hajj, the sacred sites, standing at them, and staying overnight in them, and so on? Then these lessons would become the strongest lesson found on the face of the earth; because what is heard is not like what is seen. And it was said long ago: “There is no one like the one who sees as the one who hears.” Indeed, this is better than his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): . So these video tapes have this ruling. And this ruling is, in my opinion, after what has appeared on the television screen, where the image of the Shaykh appears. It was decreed for me last year that I went to the Emirates—to Sharjah specifically—and it was decreed for me to see for the first time there how the Egyptian reciters recite the Qur’an, and how one of them puts a long rosary in his hand, then does this, so people see that he is a righteous man, a dervish, and a possessor of a rosary, and he shakes his head and raises his voice, and so on. What is the benefit of this image? And the necessary images for teaching people their religion are not attended to! So the methodology of television has caused the voices of many calling reformers to be hoarse; it needs to be modified and a new system established for it. We hope that the rulers in every Islamic state that wants to serve Islam with sincerity and knowledge will rise to this.
Please proceed.