Q.: Some of those who are fasting spend most of the daytime in Ramaḍān watching films and series from video [tapes] and the television, and playing cards. What is the view of the religion regarding that?
A.: What is compulsory for those who are fasting and other than them from the Muslims is for them to fear Allāh, the Exalted, in what they do and abandon at all times, and to beware of what Allāh had forbidden for them such as watching immoral films in which what Allāh forbade appears, such as naked and half-naked images, and evil statements. Likewise, what appears on the television from what opposes Allāh’s legislation, such as images, songs, musical instruments, and misguiding propaganda.
Just as it is compulsory for every Muslim, fasting or not, to beware of playing with instruments of amusement, such as cards and other than it, due to what that contains of watching and perpetrating evil, and due to what it also contains of causing the hardness and sickness of the hearts and their belittlement of Allāh’s legislation, and sluggishness towards what Allāh obligated such as observing the prayer in congregation, or other than that, such as abandoning obligations and falling into many prohibitions.
And Allāh, the Exalted, says:
﴾وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن یَشۡتَرِی لَهۡوَ ٱلۡحَدِیثِ لِیُضِلَّ عَن سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِ بِغَیۡرِ عِلۡمࣲ وَیَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًاۚ أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابࣱ مُّهِینࣱ وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَیۡهِ ءَایَـٰتُنَا وَلَّىٰ مُسۡتَكۡبِرࣰا كَأَن لَّمۡ یَسۡمَعۡهَا كَأَنَّ فِیۤ أُذُنَیۡهِ وَقۡرࣰاۖ فَبَشِّرۡهُ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِیمٍ﴿
“And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing, etc.) to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it (the Path of Allah, the Verses of the Quran) by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell-fire). And when Our Verses (of the Quran) are recited to such a one, he turns away in pride, as if he heard them not, as if there were deafness in his ear. So announce to him a painful torment.” [Luqmān: 6-7]
And He, the Exalted, says, in Sūrah Al-Furqān, in description of the slaves of Ar-Raḥmān (the Most Merciful):
﴾وَٱلَّذِینَ لَا یَشۡهَدُونَ ٱلزُّورَ وَإِذَا مَرُّوا۟ بِٱللَّغۡوِ مَرُّوا۟ كِرَامࣰا﴿
“And those who do not witness falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity.” [Al-Furqān: 72]
And ‘az-Zūr (falsehood)’ comprises every form of evil. And the meaning of “Who do not witness” is: who do not attend.
And the Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, there will be from my Ummah those who will permit al-Ḥirr, silk, intoxicants, and al-Maʿāzif.” Reported by Al-Bukhārī in his Ṣaḥīḥ as Muʿallaq Majzūm Bihi.¹
And what is intended by al-Ḥirr is unlawful sexual intercourse. And what is intended by al-Maʿāzif is singing and musical instruments.
Likewise, [they should beware of them] because Allāh, the Exalted, forbade the means of falling into prohibitions for the Muslims. And undoubtedly, watching evil films and what is shown on the television of evils are from the means of falling in them, or negligence regarding failing to censure them.
And Allāh’s aid is sought.
1 T.N.: A ḥadīth in which some of the narrators were not mentioned, but was reported in a way hinting at its authenticity.
Reference: Majmūʿ Al-Fatāwá (15/316-317)
