The Shaykh’s remarks on the matter that is forbidden not in itself, but for the sake of something else.

The Shaykh : There is a very important and very precise matter known among the scholars, both in the past and among the recent ones, namely that a thing is permissible, yet it becomes forbidden not in itself, but for the sake of something else. If we assume that these anthems have nothing wrong with them, as we gave an example earlier, my brother, what is wrong with them? The fact is that, over time, they will lead to falling into a violation of the Shari'ah. Who is the one who understands this before the violation occurs? Who is the one who notices it? These are the refusers who are not convinced, or rather, who do not know that there is such a thing as something being forbidden for the sake of something else. A drop of intoxicants is forbidden. The ignorant person says to you, "What is wrong with it?" But the drop brings the second, and the second brings the third, just as Shawqi said, "A glance, then a smile, then a greeting, then a conversation, then an appointment, then a meeting." The meeting is the ultimate goal, which is originally forbidden. These are the means that were forbidden so that that great, major sin would not occur. People today are in a very strange state of heedlessness. The Islamic books, let alone others, do not want a text stating that this thing is forbidden in the Qur'an, and the best of them in the Sunnah. As for ijtihad, they do not look at it, because they are ignorant of the rules of the people of knowledge. Prohibition for the sake of something else blocks for us many, many doors of evil, including these matters that they hum about as means for da'wah. You mentioned in your list going on a trip; there is no objection to that, but this trip must adhere to the rulings of the Shari'ah. In my opinion, mostly when they go out, most of them do not know the rulings that apply to them because of their leaving their country. In summary, knowledge is light and insight for a person, by which he is guided in the darkness of ignorance, and we seek help from Allah.
Al-Halabi : You mentioned acting or drama among the examples. What did you comment on it, even if just briefly?

The Shaykh : Ah, acting or drama... Acting or drama also leads to many violations. A man acts like a woman, or acts like a righteous man while he is wicked. So it leads to many, many, and very many violations.

The questioner : It leads to lying, perhaps.

The Shaykh : Yes, indeed, and we seek help from Allah.
Al-Halabi : Our Shaykh, if possible, to summarize in two sentences regarding this topic that we have discussed a great deal, may Allah reward you with good, can we say that these means are originally permissible, of course, except for acting or drama, which is forbidden in itself because of the lying and such in it? They may be permissible in their origin, but on the condition that they take the Shari'ah framework and that the rulings of the Shari'ah are used in them. This is first. And is it possible, our Shaykh, to say, as we understood from you in other places, that they should not be dominant, so that they do not make a person forget knowledge and the primary goal and the ultimate aim? So that the means do not become ends, and we do not realize it.

The Shaykh : You are correct.
Al-Halabi: May Allah bless you.

The Shaykh : You spoke the truth, and may Allah bless you.