Ruling on fixing TVs and VCRs

Praise be to Allah.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression”

[al-Maa’idah 5:2]

What you are doing by fixing TVs, VCRs and satellite dishes which are then used by their owners to listen to and watch haraam things is a kind of helping in sin. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever calls people to right guidance will have a reward like that of those who follow him, without it detracting from his reward in the slightest. And whoever calls people to misguidance will have a burden of sin like that of those who followed him without that detracting from their sin in the slightest.” Narrated by Muslim, 2674. 

So it is not permissible for you to do this work and it is better for you to look for other work. Remember that Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).

3. And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine”

[al-Talaaq 65:2-3]

The Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas was asked: I work as an electronic engineer and my work involves fixing radios, TVs and VCRs, and similar equipment. I hope that you can advise me as to whether I should continue in this work, knowing that if I leave this job I will miss out on  a lot of experience in my field that I have been learning all my life, and I may be adversely affected by leaving it. 

They replied:  

The evidence of sharee’ah from the Qur’aan and Sunnah indicates that the Muslim must be keen to seek a good income, so you should look for a job from which your income will be good (i.e., halaal). 

With regard to your income from the job you mention, it is not good (halaal), because these machines are usually used for haraam things. 

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 14/420. 

See also question no. 39744.