The Shar‘i Ruling on Television, VCR, and Film Business
Source: Aḥkām wa Masā’il, Issues of Buying and Selling, Vol. 1, p. 377
Is the business of television, VCR, and films permissible in Sharī‘ah?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
The business of television, VCR, and films is not permissible according to Sharī‘ah, because they involve pictures of living beings. The Aḥādīth of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ are very clear on this matter:
"تصویریں بنانے والوں کو قیامت کے دن عذاب دیا جائے گا"
That is, those who make pictures of living beings, or those who engage in business related to them, are warned of punishment on the Day of Judgment.
This question is often raised: If television or films do not contain images of living beings, will the business then be permissible?
The answer is that in practice, such a concept does not exist. It is not realistically possible for these devices to be free from images of living beings, because:
◈ Their very foundation and purpose is to display images.
◈ The majority of the content shown on them contains indecent, immodest, or fitnah-inducing scenes.
◈ These things mislead people and entrap them in deception and regret.
Therefore:
◈ The business of television, VCR, and films is impermissible in Sharī‘ah.
◈ Their buying and selling is also impermissible.
◈ Even repairing them is not permissible.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Aḥkām wa Masā’il, Issues of Buying and Selling, Vol. 1, p. 377
❖ Question:
Is the business of television, VCR, and films permissible in Sharī‘ah?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
The business of television, VCR, and films is not permissible according to Sharī‘ah, because they involve pictures of living beings. The Aḥādīth of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ are very clear on this matter:
"تصویریں بنانے والوں کو قیامت کے دن عذاب دیا جائے گا"
That is, those who make pictures of living beings, or those who engage in business related to them, are warned of punishment on the Day of Judgment.
❖ If the images are not of living beings, what is the ruling?
This question is often raised: If television or films do not contain images of living beings, will the business then be permissible?
The answer is that in practice, such a concept does not exist. It is not realistically possible for these devices to be free from images of living beings, because:
◈ Their very foundation and purpose is to display images.
◈ The majority of the content shown on them contains indecent, immodest, or fitnah-inducing scenes.
◈ These things mislead people and entrap them in deception and regret.
❖ Conclusion:
Therefore:
◈ The business of television, VCR, and films is impermissible in Sharī‘ah.
◈ Their buying and selling is also impermissible.
◈ Even repairing them is not permissible.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
