Muhtaram,

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
We acknowledge receipt of your query dated 17 October 2012 regarding using the television for da’wah purposes. Our response is as follows:

Allah Ta’ala has granted us the perfect deen via Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam. When Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam started inviting his nation to the oneness of Allah Ta’ala, the disbelievers approached him and offered him wealth, women, position etc. if Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam desired he could have accepted these worldly objects and it could have been accepted to propagate this deen. Allah Ta’ala had given Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam a certain manner of propagating deen, which is still in vogue today. As long as these methods will be used then deen will flourish and the truth will spread.

The making of pictures has been strongly prohibited in Islam. This prohibition can be substantiated from a large number of Ahaadith, which when combined give the benefit of Tawaatur. (Mutawaatir ul ma’na) A few Ahaadith  regarding the prohibition of producing pictures are presented below:

عن أبي هريرة قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم: ان أصحاب الصور الذين يعملونها يعذبون بها يوم القيامة يقال لهم أحيوا ما خلقتم . مسند أحمد بن حنبل [2 /380]
عَنْ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ وَعَدَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ جِبْرِيلُ فَرَاثَ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى اشْتَدَّ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَخَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَلَقِيَهُ فَشَكَا إِلَيْهِ مَا وَجَدَ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّا لَا نَدْخُلُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ صُورَةٌ وَلَا كَلْبٌ .صحيح البخاري [2 81.8]
قال جاء رجل إلى ابن عباس فقال :إني رجل أصور هذه الصور فأفتني فيها فقال له ادن مني فدنا منه ثم قال ادن مني فدنا حتى وضع يده على رأسه قال أنبئك بما سمعت من رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم يقول : كل مصور في النار يجعل له بكل صورة صورها نفسا فتعذبه في جهنم ) وقال إن كنت لابد فاعلا فاصنع الشجر وما لا نفس له( صحيح مسلم [2 /202]

The Ulama are also unanimous with regards to this prohibition and their Ijma (consensus) has been narrated in the books of Fiqh:

(باب تحريم تصوير صورة الحيوان)
[2104]  قال أصحابنا وغيرهم من العلماء تصوير صورة الحيوان حرام شديد التحريم وهو من الكبائر لأنه متوعد عليه بهذا الوعيد الشديد المذكور فى الأحاديث وسواء صنعه بما يمتهن أو بغيره فصنعته حرام بكل حال …………….  ولافرق فى هذا كله بين ماله ظل ومالاظل له هذا تلخيص مذهبنا فى المسألة وبمعناه قال جماهير العلماء من الصحابة والتابعين ومن بعدهم وهو مذهب ابي الثوري و مالك و ابي حنيفة و غيرهم.    ( شرح النووي على مسلم  199/2)
و ظاهر كلام النووى في شرح مسلم الاجماع على تحريم تصوير الحيوان. (شامي ج1 ص 647)
جاندار کی تصویر سازی باجماع امت حرام ہے  (احسن الفتاوی ج8 ص422) ‌‍

In the queried situation it is necessary to establish whether the images displayed on a TV screen fall under the category of prohibited pictures or not.

The Encarta encyclopaedia 2009  explaining television states:

Television, a system of sending and receiving pictures and sound by means of electronic signals transmitted through wires and optical fibres or by electromagnetic radiation………

The process of digital television is further mentioned:

……..Digital television uses technology that records, transmits, and decodes a signal in digital form—that is, as a series of ones and zeros. This process produces a much clearer picture and sound quality than analog systems, similar to the difference between a compact disc recording (using digital technology) and an audiotape or long-playing record.

Neil Postman, chair of the department of Communication Arts at New York University writes:

“The single most important fact about television is that people watch it, which is why it is called ‘television.’ And what they watch, and like to watch, are moving pictures__ millions of them, of short duration and dynamic variety. (Amusing Ourselves to Death, 1985).

The Encyclopaedia Britannica states:

The scene to be televised is first translated into an electrical image and the latter is then broken up into an orderly sequence of electrical impulses………….. It is then possible to recreate more than ten complete pictures per second and to stimulate thereby the motion of the scene so that it appears to be continuous …..In practice, to depict rapid movement slowly, it is customary to transmit from 25 to 30 pictures per second.

From the information that has been stated above  we find that the TV instrument is a medium which produces many pictures in a short period of time. By appearing on TV one is allowing oneself to be videoed/photographed and thus guilty of assisting in picture making. Thus, becoming the means of perpetrating a grave sin as Rasulullah صلي الله عليه و سلم said:

عن عبد الله قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ان اشد الناس عذابا يوم القيامة المصورون (مسند احمد ج 1 ص 620)

Translation: the most severely punished person on the day of judgement will be the picture makers.
Islam has likewise forbidden the keeping of pictures of animate objects. As a result, displaying any kind of animate pictures in one’s house will also be impermissible. Rasulullah صلي الله عليه و سلم said:

عن أبي طلحة رضي الله عنهم قال : قال النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم ( لا تدخل الملائكة بيتا فيه كلب ولا تصاوير ) صحيح البخاري ج2 ص880

Translation: the angels of mercy do not enter the houses wherein there is a dog or pictures.

One’s home is therefore deprived of the mercy of Allah; the angels of mercy do not enter and this results in the Shayaateen entering.
Due to the aforementioned, the majority of the Ulama are of the opinion that watching TV for any reasons whatsoever is impermissible. This also applies to Ulama giving lectures on TV for the public.

Maulana Yusuf Ludhyaanwi رحمة الله عليه with regards to this has mentioned: “By employing Haraam and forbidden methods, guidance would not spread because Haraam methods are evil, and by using evil, evil will spread.”

We can also take lessons from the manner in which Rasulullah صلي الله عليه و سلم acted in such situations. Once the chieftains of Makkah proposed a compromise to him to the effect that he should worship their idols for a year and they would worship Allah for a year.  Upon this Surah Al Kafiroon  was revealed to prevent any such compromise. This incident is very explicit in explaining that entertaining religious programs at the cost of foregoing certain Deeni injunctions is totally unacceptable.

It is important to note that Allah Ta’ala has not made us responsible of giving Hidayah, nor is the giving of Hidayah in our hands. The giving and granting of Hidayah is entirely within the Power of Allah Ta’aala. Yes, we have been commanded to make a concerted effort in leading people to the road of Hidayah and in doing something for the upliftment of Deen within the boundaries of Sharia.

Allama Qurtubi رحمة الله عليه mentions in his Tafseer that the Muslims should make an effort for Deen in the way shown to us by Rasulullah  .صلي الله عليه و سلم

أمره أن يدعو إلى دين الله وشرعه بتلطف ولين دون مخانشة وتعنيف، وهكذا ينبغي أن يوعظ المسلمون إلى يوم القيامة

Translation: Allah Ta’ala ordered Rasulullah صلي الله عليه و سلم to call towards the Deen of Allah Ta’ala with compassion and gentleness, not with harshness and insensitivity; and in a similar way the Muslims should invite until the day of Qiyamah.

In a piece of writing authored by Khalid Beig, this issue has been discussed extensively. The article shows that using the television for Islamic purposes will not boost the cause of Islam. We will reproduce some extracts of the article to further explain this:

Islamic Work and Television….    Not too long ago, a young professional in the U.S. approached prominent Muslim scholar and Deputy Chairman of the Jeddah based Islamic Fiqh Council of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), Justice Taqi Usmani to inquire about his profession. He produced computer graphics for the television and motion picture industry. This is the age of the media, and the only effective way to spread Islam today is through television and movies, he argued. If we do not learn the trade………….
“I have given a lot of anxious thought to this issue,” replied Justice Usmani in his characteristic measured tone, weighing every word. “And I have reached the conclusion that the cause of Islam cannot be served through television, especially under the current circumstances. You should seek another line of work.”……….

He further mentions:
There are, of course, cases where the TV is being used against its grain, where the only video is that of a talking head. Such Islamic programs in Egypt or Saudi Arabia, as elsewhere, may not contain all the dangers cited above, solely because there the TV is being used just as an expensive radio. The problem is such programs will not be able to withstand the onslaught of CNN or MTV, of dazzling colors and dynamic pictures. The question remains how long can you use a tool against its grain?

The simple fact is that no one buys a TV and VCR because they desperately wanted to learn about Islam and it was the best way of doing it. The TV lounge is not a study room and all the Islamic videos in the world are not going to make it one. It is a piece of Hollywood. The rest is camouflage or self-deception. The earlier we get out of it, the better.” ………………

The issue of using the TV for viewing Hajj videos was a matter that arose in the past century. The manner in which the senior ‘Ulama responded to this holds sufficient guidance for us. When the question of Hajj videos was posed to Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanawi رحمة الله عليه, he expressed great worry and concern and thereafter stated:

“Amongst the reasons of prohibition is the usage of animate objects and taking benefit from them. There is no difference of opinion regarding the making of pictures even though it may be of the Hujjaj. Rasulullah صلي الله عليه و سلم did not hesitate to even remove the statues of Ibrahim عليه السلام and Ismail عليه السلام”.

In the above Fatwa, there apparently seems to be no evils associated to the Hajj videos; in fact one can say that the videos are being broadcasted solely for a good purpose. However, such a practice has been judged to be Haraam because of the usage of animate pictures.

Mufti Mahmood رحمة الله عليه of Pakistan has issued a similar Fatwa saying: “Hajj videos are impermissible just like any other videos. The evil harms of Hajj videos can in fact exceed that of normal videos because many people will commit a Haraam act considering it to be Halaal.  And the Fuqaha have mentioned a principle: استحلال الحرام كفر  ‘to consider a Haraam act to be Halaal is Kufr’.”

The above Fatwa clearly states the consequences of broadcasting Islamic programs and lectures on television.

However, there are a group of Ulama who hold the opinion that viewing Islamic videos is permissible. According to them the images that are displayed on a TV screen are not pictures, but are a combination of tiny electronic rays that do not have a physical structure and are in the form of many pixels. There is no permanence found in such images due to which a complete picture is not formed. Therefore, the images appearing on TV are not the pictures which have been mentioned in the Hadith and will be excluded from the prohibition.  Hence, according to them, the usage of such a medium will be permissible with the condition that no Haraam content is accompanied with it.

In response to this argument, the information that was presented above with regards to the reality of television will suffice for us, where it was clearly stated that the TV is a picture producing machine that produces many pictures per second, thus the sin being much more due to multiple images being made.

If we were to accept the argument of there not being any permanence in the TV image, then there still exists particles of an image which creates the potential of the video being captured and printed. Taking this potential into consideration, the TV image would be regarded to be a picture.

To say that the images appearing on TV are not the pictures which have been mentioned in the Hadith is incorrect as well. By merely changing the methodology of making something the Hukm (command) of that thing will not change. A picture will remain a picture regardless of whether it is made by hand, camera or via the television; and changing its name to pixels or electronic rays (or any other name) will not affect its Hukm.

What we can say is that modern day technology has simply made it easier to produce pictures, and in a more clear-cut and fine manner; to the effect that on the press of a button a complete picture is being formed and within a second it is ready to be broadcasted throughout the world. Instead of legalizing the matter this gives more reason of prohibition. This viewpoint has also been backed up by Abdul Karim Zaydaan:

والصورة المنهي عنه تشمل المصنوعة باليد والمصنوعة بالآلة, اذ لا فرق بين الاثنين, بل قد تكون المصنوعة بالآلة تطابق الاصل و تماثله تمام المطابقة و بوضوح تام. فهي اولى بالمنع والحظر من المصورة باليد.

Another point worth mentioning is that many commands of Shariah are based on Urf. The Fuqaha have stated that in a lot of cases priority is given to Urf over haqaaiq lughwiyya (real meanings of words).  The images moving around on the TV screen are understood to be pictures by the general masses. Therefore, even if the technical intricacies about the TV image were to be true,  there would be no scope of permissibility of creating pictures on the television medium, based on the above principle (of Urf).

Similarly, the Fuqaha have stated a principle in identifying certain shari’ commandments: اذا اجتمع الحلال و الحرام غلب الحرام i.e. when there is a contentious issue between the scholars about the permissibility and impermissibility of an object, then preference would be given to classifying that object as impermissible; and this is based on ihtiyaat (precautionary measures). This principle further supports the position of prohibiting the viewing of any television programs.

The Ulama, who hold the opinion of permissibility in this Mas’ala, do so with many conditions. It is generally noticed that these conditions are disregarded, to such an extent that even religious people have started to watch TV or video broadcasts without any reason. When asked about why they watch a certain sporting event or an entertainment program, they courageously hold high the Fatwa of a few individuals, pushing aside the judgment of the majority. This has only contributed further to the downfall of the Muslims rather than help in its cause and propagation.

In the light of what has been mentioned above, there seems to be no scope of permissibility for appearing on TV, especially for the Ulama. The actions of the Ulama can lead to the Awaam (common people) legalizing many prohibited things. Alternatively, one should propagate Islam to the people through other means which are approved and accepted by the majority of the Ulama.

In brief, the producing and keeping of animate pictures is a matter which has been deemed to be Haraam by many Ahaadith and also the Ijma (consensus) of the Fuqaha. To exclude the TV image from this prohibition, a qati’ (definite) proof would be required.        (Adapted from the darul ifta archives)

Some years back, when the films ‘fajrul islam’ and ‘muhammad rasulullah’ were produced, Mufti Taqi Uthmani Saheb strongly spoke out against it and wrote against it in detail in ‘al-balaagh’ (the monthly magazine of darul uloom karachi)

Given below is a free-hand translation of a few excerpts from those articles:

“There is major propaganda in vogue regarding these films. They are saying that it has assisted greatly in propagating Islam and that thousands of non muslims have accepted Islam, etc.

Firstly, this is mere propaganda. Secondly, even if we do assume that a few people have been affected and they are now inclined towards Islam because of these films, who said that for the mere sake of propagating Islam and for the sake of influencing and having an impact on people, any and every method may be used, no matter how much it contradicts and is in conflict with the Shariat… (End of al-balaagh quotation)

Those persons who are so ‘concerned’ about propagating Islam should understand well that Islam has laid down and stipulated certain special ‘usool’ and principles for propagating Islam.

If, for the sake of propagating Islam, these usool and principles are forsaken or trampled upon, then in no way is this regarded as doing good to Islam, in fact this is classified as enmity and hatred for Islam.

Islam is not like Christianity or Communism, which makes use of any and every means, permissible and impermissible, in order to promote their ideologies. For the sake of increasing their numbers and winning as many people as possible to their way of thinking, they do not take into consideration the respect of their elders, in fact, they are prepared to taint the chastity of their womenfolk for the sake of increasing their numbers!

Here a few pertinent questions:

If in a certain country or a certain era, the only way of bringing people closer to Islam is by way of music, then the question is: for the sake of propagating Islam, will we allow the Quran Shareef to be recited to the beat of drums and musical instruments?

If in a certain area people are ready to accept Islam only if they are shown a drawing or picture of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam, then will the Muslims –na’oodhu billah- make up a picture of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam?

If some people will, by viewing Muslimah dancers and singers performing, be influenced to accept Islam, then, for the sake of propagating Islam, will we send groups of Muslima dancers to perform for them?

This is not the thinking and way of Shariat.

From the Seerat-e-Mubaarakah of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam we are taught that the propagation of haq may only and only be done using mediums and methods which are that of the people of haq.

For the sake of propagating Islam, if Islam would allow some sort of baatil (falsehood) to be added, the Sahabah Radhiyallahu Anhum would not have undergone all those sacrifices for Islam.

The greatest nurturing given to the Muslims in the time of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam was that instead of giving in to the wrongs and evils prevalent in society, continue until your last breath with sacrifice and efforts to correct that wrong and bring it on the correct course…

If those Muslims had not done that, but rather surrendered to the wrongs and evils prevalent, today nothing of deen would be left in its original form…
(Excerpt taken from the article ‘ahde risalat ki falam bandi’ in the kitaab ‘ islah-e-mu’aasharat’ pg.132, 133)

Nowadays, we see that the Christian Missionaries also endure hardships to spread their baatil. Many of them are found going into different corners of the world. If they felt that using the television is such a medium that it is sufficient to convey their message then would they also endure these hardships? Why can’t we as the people of haq also go through some sacrifice for the propagation of our deen which was the exact way of propagation of the Ambiyaa Alaihimus Salaam?

Together with commanding us to propagate deen, Islam has outlined some usool and aadaab (Principles and etiquettes) of propagating Islam…

Whilst propagating Islam, if these usool, aadaab and the teachings are trampled upon, then this is not regarded as propagation of Islam, but rather it is the propagation of some other ‘ism.

Even if we assume that as a result of such incorrect propagation, a group of people are influenced, they will definitely not be the group desired by Islam.

We know for a fact that there are many other religions and ‘ism’s which make use of every and any means to propagate and promote their ideologies in order to achieve their objective concerts, dancing and music is used, people are enticed with wealth and beauty, and even the teachings of their elders and their honour is sacrificed.

But for the sake of propagation, Islam will never allow all this, since the object is not just to increase the number of Muslims in the population register.

(Excerpt from the article ‘is ishti’aal angez falam ko rukwaa’e’ in the kitaab ‘islaah-e-mu’aasharat’ pg.137, 138)

Some people say that what about those who do not come to the masjid to listen to lectures, those who do not have any interest in reading Islamic literature, those who do not get the ability to read the quran shareef themselves, by means of these Islamic films, the message of the Quran is presented to them.

Keeping in mind these usool and principles of propagation which have been explained above, these types of lame excuses or ‘proofs’ are bereft of any substance and do not carry even an atoms weight. Those who only want to listen to the message of the quran shareef by means of films, entertainment, etc. the quran itself is not in need of passing on its message to them.

Those who will not ‘swallow’ any deeni aspect unless it is presented to them in the form of films, etc. these people will never get hidaayat from the quran shareef. In the very first ayat of the surah baqarah, Allah Ta’aala mentions that it is hidaayat for those who fear Allah Ta’aala.

Therefore, those who have no talab (desire) for the truth, those who only want to listen to deen through means of entertainment, even if you produce thousands of films explaining the entire quran shareef, they will not receive even an atoms weight of hidaayat which is the objective of the quran shareef.

The quran shareef itself declares about those who have no quest for the truth, those who not only regard themselves to be independent of treading the roads leading to the truth, but who have an aversion for the truth and turn their backs on it in surah abas in verses number five to seven “As for those who feel they are not in need of the truth, you are going behind them, whereas you are not responsible if they do not accept the truth and purify themselves.”

To think that, by presenting deen to such people in a manner that appeases their nafs, they will come onto deen, is nothing but a very far-fetched dream which will never materialize. (End of Mufti Taqi Saheb’s speech)

Moulana Yusuf Binnori Rahimahullah mentioned almost 40 years ago: “If we do not adopt this stance which has been explained, then today, for the sake of the people, we will be using films to propagate Deen, tomorrow women without pardah/hijaab will be used for spreading Deen, and we will try to bring people onto Deen through gatherings of music and dancing and in this way, in the name of propagating Deen, we will be trampling upon and destroying the laws of Shariat one by one.”

On one occasion Faqeehul Ummat Hazrat Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi (Nawwarallahu Marqadahu) who was the Grand Mufti of India and the Mufti of Darul Uloom Deoband was told that the pictures taken from a camera is just a mere reflection just as how his reflection appears on the water without him having to do anything. Mufti Saheb replied by saying that to capture an image with a camera this only happens with a human capturing it contrary to a reflection where nobody needs to capture it.

When Hazrat Mufti Mahmood Saheb Rahimahullah was asked  on another occasion about participating in gatherings where the sharee’at is being transgressed, with the intention and aim of gradually winning over and rectifying the participants of those gatherings. He replied by saying that “listen attentively, there are two aspects involved:

a)hifaazat-e-deen  (protection of deen) b) ishaa’at-e-deen (propagation of deen)

The law is that hifaazat-e-deen is muqaddam whilst ishaa’at-e-deen is mu’akkhar. This means that to destroy the first one (hifaazat-e-deen) for the sake of the second one (ishaa’at-e-deen) is not regarded as deen and is not the demands of intelligience.”

How many people got Hidaayat through all these Deeni programmes on television? This was a question that was posed by Moulana Yusuf Ludhyaanwi Shaheed Rahmatullahi alayh. Moulana then writes that although the photos captured by video or television equipment are not visible (like a normal printed picture), but they are stored and displayed on a television set. These pictures cannot be excluded from the law of a picture.

If some people claim that there is some benefit therein, so the question is posed to them that are there no benefits in intoxicants and gambling? But the Quran Shareef has stopped one from all these benefits by announcing “The harms are greater than the benefits”. And in another place Allah Ta’ala says that “Distance yourself away from it so that you may be successful”

We will now quote a few thought provoking excerpts from the letter of a senior aalim on the repercussions of allowing ulama to appear on television:

• Ulamā appearing on television programmes will cause the notion of permissibility to spread amongst the Muslims and the general public will not be able to adhere to clauses and conditions. This will result in televisions being brought into the homes due to a so-called “need”, which tomorrow, will become the adornment of every home. It is clear that the burden will be on the shoulders of those who permitted it.

• Television will become so common that the gravity of its evil consequences will perish totally from the hearts of the people. At present it is seen that at the very least that the television is switched off and stored away upon the arrival of an Aālim to a person’s home, or at the approach of the blessed month of Ramadān. This too will not be endured.

• Furthermore, if we examine the countries which have issued a Fatwā of permissibility; we would surely see what destruction the television has caused! People have resorted to incest adultery with their own sisters and daughters. At present, the plight of three Ulamā has reached me. While browsing the internet for good content, they were led into viewing obscene sites.

• Merely stating that; “if we do not fill the slot, people of falsehood will utilize it to spread more wrong and evil”, is not sufficient to warrant permissibility of television. These channels were previously present and this ‘benefit’ is very limited in comparison to our benefit or harm.

• It is necessary to discard/discontinue a Mustahab action if it constitutes the incurrence of sin. The discarding of a Mustahab action is in itself not worthy of reproach. Therefore it follows that it is not permissible to reproach someone for omitting a Mustahab action.

• The Ulamā having a difference of opinion amongst themselves with regard to the permissibility or impermissibility of the use of television, causes more disunity and dispersion. This gives an opportunity to some desire-following, fearless-of-the-hereafter type of people to spoil the environment even more.

• Quoting the saying of Imām Abu Ḥanīfah Rahimahullah when he said; “A person involved in frivolous activities should be greeted, so that he may become involved in good for that amount of time”, does not warrant permissibility. A Fatwā permitting television will be tantamount to inviting countless people to numerous, even more frivolous activities.

• The argument that we should ‘move with the times’ is not entirely correct. Rather the new means of propagation (here, television) should be completely pure from all objectionable actions and material in order for us to adopt it as a means to propagate our Dīn.

• The words and actions of Ḥadrat Gangohī Rahimahullah should also be kept in mind that when it was strongly advocated that a person who was not following Shariah should be made a member of Dārul Ulūm Deoband, he said: “It is a sin to make such a person a member while it is not necessary to run a Dārul Ulūm”. Even if this advancement seems to be somewhat beneficial to those who advocate permissibility, then too it is certain that the harms outweigh the benefits.

• Certainly the general rule that ‘necessity allows the forbidden to be permissible’ is an accepted law derived from the Qur’ān and Ahādīth. The consuming of Harām food items, for example, at the time of need falls under the ambit of this very principle. However it is necessary to study the circumstances under which the impermissible will become permissible. This Dīn belongs to Allāh and He has taken responsibility of protecting it. We are only subject to using the permissible means to teach and propagate it.

• The group spreading and propagating Dīn the most nowadays is the Tablīghī Jamāt; Did they utilize the television? Rather, when a jamat went to Japan, it was told to them that the people here are very busy. It is very difficult to meet all of them. If you appear on television, your message will reach faster and it will reach more people. When mashura was made with Nizamuddin they were prevented since TV is used for drama and entertainment.

• Spreading of falsehood via the television is certain. At most people may derive some beneficial knowledge through it; however the light of Imān will not spread via this means.

• We also need to ascertain whether we have utilised all the permissible means of Da’wah at our disposal as they ought to be used.

• However much sternness is used in prohibiting the television, in light of the Shariah and intellect is, in fact, less.

• At the most, those claiming permissibility label the use of television as permissible or Mustahab. Is this then worth creating a divide between groups and within the Ulamā fraternity?

• Some Ulamā viewing video clips on their mobile phones is their own personal action and cannot be used as a Shar’ī proof to substantiate permissibility.

• Conditions dictate that in a few years time a television will be part of every household. Is not the call of intelligence and wisdom that we keep ourselves pure from that filth?

• Finally, until that time that the television is not cleansed from all types of forbidden actions in Shariah, issuing a Fatwā on its permissibility or allowing participation on its programs is an extremely dangerous step and very irresponsible, as we are inviting a great burden upon ourselves.

(End of letter)

Our system of haq will never flourish on the system of baatil. Just like a car cannot move with jet fuel and nor can a jet move with car fuel, similarly haq can only spread on the system of haq whilst baatil will spread on the system of baatil.

Below is a letter written by an alim advising us on the outcome of granting permission to use television for deen. He resides in Madinah Munawwarah.

Television is haraam

If Television was retained haraam as our old ulama had held it haraam, the world around here (i.e. in Saudi Arabia) would have been different

Assalaamu’alaikum Warahmatullaahi Wabarakaatuh

With due respect to the fervour you have to serve Allah’s Deen, it is possible that you may have not seen much of the modern Muslims in the East. I am living by the grace of Allah in the holiest lands (Madinah Munawwarah), where the media, particularly TV and radio is used to its fullest for propagating Islam. On the oath of Allah, my yaqeen (conviction), day in and day out, only increases, that if the Arab Ulama adopted the stance that our old Indian Ulama adopted in the beginning, of making TV haraam, the world around here would have been different.

Further, if you live and see the confusion of the various individuals and communities of this part of the world, in things that you would not imagine in South Africa and Indo-Pak, you will be shocked.

When looking a little deeper, you realize it boils down to the same thing: the influential scholars took too much effect and they were too affected by haalaat (conditions) around them.

Last week I visited Quba, and I entered the book section of the stall on the premises and spent some time there. My heart fell when going through the ‘Islamic’ books there. I left with worry, asking Allah from my heart to save my children and others from ever entering and reading books from a bookstore of this nature before their knowledge of Deen becomes solid. The deviant books were of various types: one example is a fataawa book of a famous scholar wherein he crushed hijaab and niqaab to pieces.

Moulana, living here in the hub makes me feel like your type of email is an imaginary one. There is absolutely no reality of serving deen in that way. Serve deen and get onto TV, and then what? Win? Win what? Win who? How? And then where to? Win a few individuals at the expense of too much!

In South Africa, the safety of atmosphere of Deen which was there and is fading away was due to the originality in method by our earlier scholars. No sooner any nation gives it up they are gone. At this point and time, I wish I could encapsulate the haalaat (conditions) of the world of the East to make others see with the lenses of someone living here. My insight into this is that what I have said above increases by the day. My hearts sees and aches more and more every day. The East seems finished. And it can only be attributed to them leaving the original methods.

Two days ago, I gave an elderly senior Aalim a lift. He was a saathi (companion) of Hadhrat Mufti Aashiq Ilaahi Rahimahullah. His heart was boiling with pain. He could not stop talking. He said that one day, outside the Haram Shareef, someone came to Hadhart Mufti Aashiq Ilaahi Rahimahullah and said that come, let us go to meet so and so who is the Grand Mufti of a certain country in such and such hotel. Mufti Saheb replied by saying that no Grand Mufti of this age can match our akaabir and elders. They can hardly implement Deen properly in their own lives, let alone giving it in its true form to others. Allah had chosen our Akaabir, in every respect. They held onto Deen through thick and thin. They were the only ones of this age who gave life to every aspect of Deen as far as Ilm and amal is concerned.

He then went on to give examples upon examples.

I visited Shaikh Awwaamah recently, and we discussed the issue of womens’ dressing: where is it heading to. His words were: It is the effect of the Shaitaan La’een, ie TV. He then related that, fifty years ago, his brother was walking back home with their ustaadh after Isha, when the ustaadh said that I saw in my dream that the Jews have entered all the Muslim homes. Two weeks later, whilst walking down the same street, he noticed that one of the shop keepers brought in a TV set, and people gathered to watch it. He looked up and said that this is what I saw in my dream.

The statement of Imam Maalik is Haq: “The latter of the ummat will not be rectified except with what the former was corrected”
My heart aches to see that the only few who have been protected are beginning to tread the same path of the rest, on the same basis.
Moulana, do you really feel convinced that you are going to get somewhere by opening this door under the pretext of “The lighter of the two evils”.

Shaikh Awwaamah once said: If the Deobandis begin to stray then there is nobody else left in the world (as a big group still holding Haq in place).

Today I met an Arab Islamic scholar. We had a lengthy discussion on the Ilmi methods used in the world. He asked me: Can’t we import some of your Ulama to start up a Madrasah in some Arab country’s markaz, to bring the original method of Ilm like you still have it back to life in this part of the world? He expressed his pains over the condition of Ilm here. By the way, he was a tableeghi, but a man of the soil here, a former lecturer in Islamic sciences.

How much more am I going to go on writing? Instead of placing our Deen and the Deen of the masses at risk, why don’t we give every energy that we have into bringing back the originality of Sunnah, and the depth of Ilm and amal, in the original ways of propagating that were adopted by every nabi of Allah and then see the results which the Sahabah had achieved with no apparent means. (End of letter)

We ask Allah Ta’ala to inspire us and the Ummah towards good and that which pleases Him and to save us from actions which cause His displeasure. Ameen.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best

By: Darul Iftaa Madrasah Arabia Islamia