Tuesday 4 Jumada al-ula 1446 - 5 November 2024
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Can You Watch TV during Ramadan?

Question

Some people who are fasting spend most of the day in Ramadan watching movies and soap operas on video and TV, and playing cards. What is the Islamic view on that?

Summary of answer

Fasting persons and other Muslims should beware of what Allah has forbidden, like watching indecent movies which show forbidden things such as pictures of naked and semi-naked people and evil words. The same applies to things that appear on TV which go against the laws of Allah, such as images, songs, musical instruments and misleading advertisements.

Praise be to Allah.

Can you watch TV during Ramadan?

“Those who are fasting and other Muslims should fear Allah with regard to what they do and what they refrain from doing at all times, and they should beware of that which Allah has forbidden, like watching indecent movies which show things which Allah has forbidden, such as pictures of naked and semi-naked people and evil words; the same applies to things that appear on TV which go against the laws of Allah, such as images, songs, musical instruments and misleading advertisements.  

Can you play cards in Ramadan?

Every Muslim, whether he is fasting or not, should be beware of playing with cards , because of what that involves of witnessing evil and doing evil, and because it also leads to hard-heartedness, sickness in the heart and lack of respect for Allah’s laws and finding what Allah has made obligatory to be burdensome, such as praying in congregation and other obligatory duties, and falling into many prohibited things. Allah, may He be Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing) to mislead (men) from the path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it (the path of Allah, or 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” [Luqman 31:6-7]

And Allah says in Surah Al-Furqan, describing the slaves of the Most Merciful (interpretation of the meaning):  

“And those who do not bear witness to falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity.” [Al-Furqan 25:72]

Falsehood includes all kinds of evil, and what is meant by “[they] do not bear witness” is that they are not present. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There will be among my Ummah people who regard adultery, silk, alcohol and music as permissible.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari in his Sahih in a mu`allaq, majzum report)

What is meant by music is singing and musical instruments . Allah has forbidden to the Muslims the means that cause them to fall into evil. Undoubtedly watching evil films and the evils that are shown on television are means that cause one to fall into evil or to become careless and not denounce it. And Allah is the One whose help we seek.” (Majmu` Fatawa Ash-Shaykh Ibn Baz, 15/315)

These sins detract from the reward of fasting, and may erase it altogether.

And Allah knows best.  

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Source: Islam Q&A