Visiting relatives who have a satellite dish in their homes

Praise be to Allah.

If a person has relatives, then it is obligatory to uphold the ties of kinship, even if they are not as one would like them to be, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years – give thanks unto Me and to your parents, - unto Me is the final destination. But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not, but behave with them in the world kindly…” [Luqmaan 31:14-15]. He did not say “kill them”, He said, “but behave with them in the world kindly…”

Upholding the ties of kinship is obligatory even if the relatives are not as one would like them to be. So you must keep in touch with your relatives even if they have this dish, which most people use to view haraam things, waste their time and money, and corrupt their morals and minds.

If they use the dish to watch haraam things when you are present, then do not go to them so that you will not be a partner in their sin, but still we advise people to pay attention to their duties towards their relatives, which include advising them, i.e., going to them and explaining to them that this – watching haraam things – is haraam. Then you will have done your duty of advising them and treating them well.

(Liqa’ al-Baab al-Maftooh by Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 148).

The Muslim must also pay attention to his children when they go to visit these relatives; he should not let his children sit with them when they are watching haraam things. The Muslim who is sincere can, if he is smart, divert the relatives and others with some interesting talk or useful activities to distract them from watching these haraam things; he can strive to make other, permissible forms of entertainment available (such as some sports activities or games or useful computer games, etc.) This will give the others an alternative to watching haraam things, at least in part. We ask Allaah to reform us all, for He is the Guide to the Straight Path.