What is the ruling on watching a match on television?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : May the Shaykh be respected, is it permissible to watch a match on television?
The Shaykh : Regarding watching a match on television, I ask you: what is the benefit of it?
The questioner : ... So I said to him, it contains several evils: First, it is a waste of time. Second, it exposes the private parts; they do not cover anything but half of their thighs. Then it is a waste of time. He said: It is not permissible. I said: I will ask Ibn Uthaymeen for you.
The Shaykh : Well, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2500Sahih (Darussalam) And since we are forbidden from saying anything except what is good, then the action is even more so. Watching a match in reality has dangers, among which is the waste of time, because the one afflicted with this finds himself engrossed in it until much time is wasted for him, and perhaps it causes him to miss the prayer in congregation, or perhaps it causes him to miss the prayer at its proper time.
Second, he looks at people who have exposed half of their thighs, and the thigh is a private part according to many scholars. And we see that it is not permissible for a young man to expose any part of his thigh, especially if it is raised well above the knee.
Third, it may lead to him holding in high esteem one whom he prefers over others, even though that person is among the most sinful of Allah's servants or among the most disbelieving of Allah's servants. Thus, he holds in high esteem one who does not deserve to be held in high esteem, and this is undoubtedly a danger.
Fourth, it results in the waste of money, because this device runs on electric power and consumes it. Even if the consumption is slight, as long as there is no benefit in it, neither in religion nor in this world, it is considered a waste of money.
Fifth, it may lead to disputes and quarrels. If he supports this club or this team and they lose, and in another instance he supports the other club or the other team, a dispute and prolonged argument arises between them. For this reason, I say: this is advice, especially for the youth and generally for others, not to waste their time watching this match, and to think carefully about what happens from watching it? What is the benefit?
The Shaykh : Regarding watching a match on television, I ask you: what is the benefit of it?
The questioner : ... So I said to him, it contains several evils: First, it is a waste of time. Second, it exposes the private parts; they do not cover anything but half of their thighs. Then it is a waste of time. He said: It is not permissible. I said: I will ask Ibn Uthaymeen for you.
The Shaykh : Well, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, then let him say what is good or remain silent.
من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليقل خيرا أو ليصمتSecond, he looks at people who have exposed half of their thighs, and the thigh is a private part according to many scholars. And we see that it is not permissible for a young man to expose any part of his thigh, especially if it is raised well above the knee.
Third, it may lead to him holding in high esteem one whom he prefers over others, even though that person is among the most sinful of Allah's servants or among the most disbelieving of Allah's servants. Thus, he holds in high esteem one who does not deserve to be held in high esteem, and this is undoubtedly a danger.
Fourth, it results in the waste of money, because this device runs on electric power and consumes it. Even if the consumption is slight, as long as there is no benefit in it, neither in religion nor in this world, it is considered a waste of money.
Fifth, it may lead to disputes and quarrels. If he supports this club or this team and they lose, and in another instance he supports the other club or the other team, a dispute and prolonged argument arises between them. For this reason, I say: this is advice, especially for the youth and generally for others, not to waste their time watching this match, and to think carefully about what happens from watching it? What is the benefit?