What is the ruling on sitting in a place where there is evil, such as a television, especially when visiting relatives, and should I cut off ties with them?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : There is a question that says: When visiting some relatives, and when they turn on the television in the gathering, sometimes music comes on, and other sins as well. So does a person have to leave immediately if he rebukes them and they do not listen to his rebuke, or if a person is unable to rebuke them? And how should one maintain ties with these people who have sins among them? Is it only by phone, or should one remain silent about the sins while calling them to the truth and reconciling with them?
The Shaykh : Yes, this is what he is asking: If I visit my relatives and there is something forbidden at their place, seen on television or heard on the radio, is it permissible for me to stay or not? I say: If it is possible for you to stay and advise them, then do so. And if it is not possible, and even if you speak they do not listen, then leave after you say, "Either you turn this off, or I will leave." But do not cut off ties with them, even if they are in sin, because relatives have a right, even if they are sinners, and you do not attend the sin.
The questioner : On this basis, because in some houses there is a television and a radio, meaning sometimes it is on for twenty-four hours, or meaning all day long.
The Shaykh : Yes, but if you are present, do you say, "My brothers, this is forbidden for you and not permissible"?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : And they leave it on, and you say to them, "Either you turn it off, or I will leave." I do not think they will say, "Leave." They will turn it off out of modesty and shame. If they are defiant and leave it on, then leave, because Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:140] Yes, after that.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : The order is good.
The student: He passed it, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : No, the one who passed it is done with; the one who passed it is not...
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Come on, the right side.
The Shaykh : Yes, this is what he is asking: If I visit my relatives and there is something forbidden at their place, seen on television or heard on the radio, is it permissible for me to stay or not? I say: If it is possible for you to stay and advise them, then do so. And if it is not possible, and even if you speak they do not listen, then leave after you say, "Either you turn this off, or I will leave." But do not cut off ties with them, even if they are in sin, because relatives have a right, even if they are sinners, and you do not attend the sin.
The questioner : On this basis, because in some houses there is a television and a radio, meaning sometimes it is on for twenty-four hours, or meaning all day long.
The Shaykh : Yes, but if you are present, do you say, "My brothers, this is forbidden for you and not permissible"?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : And they leave it on, and you say to them, "Either you turn it off, or I will leave." I do not think they will say, "Leave." They will turn it off out of modesty and shame. If they are defiant and leave it on, then leave, because Allah the Exalted said:
And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them
وقد نزل عليكم في الكتاب أن إذا سمعتم آيات الله يكفر بها ويستهزأ بها فلا تقعدوا معهم حتى يخوضوا في حديث غيره إنكم إذا مثلهمThe questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : The order is good.
The student: He passed it, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : No, the one who passed it is done with; the one who passed it is not...
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Come on, the right side.