TELEVISION AND VIDEO

The sale of video cassettes (VCRs) is practiced in every nook and corner. It is a most flourishing business. The video clubs have no respite, while next to them, shops, pharmacies and other commercial houses are wriggling their fingers. This is the greatest scourge of our day that is corroding our society and nibbling away at the convictions and values of our ancestors, even the very backbone of our society - who have become good-for-nothings despite their potential. Our sisters and young girls have lost the little "Haya" (modesty) they had and which prevented them from committing evils. When a community loses its 'Haya', who can curb its degeneration and decadence? Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) said:

"When you don't have Haya, do whatever you want."

BEHAYA-I OF THE SOCIETY

For a short time, our ancestors did not tolerate girls who did not cover their heads (i.e. without Orni). Nowadays we see our parents, our grandparents, chacha, brothers, in the company of their daughters, granddaughters, nieces and sisters, seated in front of their television sets, all enjoying love and erotic scenes without embarrassment. The actress performs a song in front of the whole family who is left amazed. The latter is generally very ignorant of the content of the songs, which are often of an unheard-of immorality.

INFLUENCE OF VIDEO IN SOCIETY

The behaviours and clothing habits of our women and children could not remain indifferent to the repeated assaults of television/video. The wearing of saris and mini-blouses exposing the sexiest parts of one's body, the nuptial kiss of the newlyweds under the approving gaze of thousands of guests and the bestial practice of "dating" before the wedding are nothing more or less than the so-called "benefits" of this famous Dajjaal that is television/video.

DISOBEDIENCE OF CHILDREN

With the economic boom and industrial promotion, we also have another boom and another promotion: filial disobedience! Children today have no respect for their parents and elders. Respect for others depends on a well-designed education and requires much effort for the inculcation of good manners and the development of good character. But instead of working in this direction, parents give children videos and televisions. Fascinated by their idols, children have no time to listen to the good advice and warnings of their parents, whom they consider to be old-fashioned. They don't even have time to learn the Deen. It is the Deen that teaches respect for oneself and for others, especially respect for one's father and mother. We no longer go to the mosque because it is an obstacle, a handicap for secular education. The little time available, we spend it nailed to the small screen. So, there is only one influence. It's that of our favourite stars. In our blindness, we prefer to wear "gonnie bags", dirty jeans and indecent outfits, so much so that we look more undressed than clothed. Parents are to blame in most cases. We must understand this: If we violate the laws of Allah Ta'ala, will our children have respect for us? If we disobey our Creator, will our children obey us? Each of us must ask ourselves this question.

VIDEO/TELEVISION - DEVIATIONIST ELEMENT

Throughout human history, the desire to follow one's own passions prevented him from submitting to the law of Allah Ta'ala (the Shari'ah). The fact that the heart of man is more inclined towards things that can satisfy his desires and passions, he has always worked, channelled all his energy and sacrificed the best of himself to the search, to the invention of new means of entertainment, each more amusing than the last!

In the time of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) female singers were brought in and tales from Persia were peddled in order to divert people from the message of Allah Ta'ala. Nowadays, television and video have been designed to fight Islam. This Dajjaal has made his masterful entrance into almost every Muslim home. In the past, you had to travel to go to the cinema. Now we have room service 24 hours a day. It has become so easy. Simply press the "remote control" and the demon is triggered.

In the past, Muslims going to Makkah shed tears to purify themselves. Now crocodile tears are shed and the traditional "Labbaïk" is hypocritically pronounced, because our presence in this holy place is not exclusively for the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala. In a small corner of our hearts, there is room for that VCR for which we have already stocked up for a long time, even before we have begun the first steps for the Hajj or tied our "Ihraam".

Among other things, we have two feature films in Hindustani every week. Thursday nights and Saturday afternoons. The blessed night of Friday is thus wasted in the Zina (adultery) of the eyes, ears and mind.

TELEVISION/VIDEO LAHWAL HADITH

In the Qur'an-e-Karim, Surah 31 Verse 6, Allah says:

"There are some people who purchase futile discourses (engage in useless past times that distract people from thinking of Allah) to divert (others) from Allah's path without knowledge and they mock it. There shall be a humiliating punishment for these people." (31:6)

Commenting on this verse, Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas'ud (Radiyallahu anhu) and Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (Radiyallahu anhuma) are of the opinion that "Lahwal Hadith" mentioned in the above verse refers to the songs. In a hadith narrated by Hadhrat Abu 'Umaamah (Radiyallahu anhu), Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) said: "Do not sell, do not buy women singers nor teach them (songs) because there is nothing good that comes from this trade. Their income is illicit (haraam). And it is precisely in connection with similar cases that this verse was revealed (i.e., verse 6, Surah 31)" (Tirmizi)

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) highlighted a very important point when he said that Lahwal Hadith is a general term that applies to all those things that lead one astray or can lead one astray. The term Lahwal Hadith which applies to women singers, since they prevent people from concentrating and meditating on the significance of the words of Allah Ta'ala, applies nowadays to television/video because they monopolize the little time that our Muslim brothers have for the practice of the little Deen that they used to practice. In a sense, it is to be deplored that the fallout of television/video is even more harmful than the women singers. These are not available at all hours while video cassettes are within our reach 24 hours a day. It is precisely because "Lahwal Hadith" is used in a general sense that Hadhrat Mujaahid (Rahmatullah alayh) and Hadhrat Hassan Basri (Rahmatullah alayh) are of the opinion that the verse also applies to listening to the songs and musical instruments.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND SONGS

"Fool as many as you can with your voice." (17:64)

Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (Radiyallahu anhuma) says that the voice (of shaitan) referred to in this verse refers to musical instruments and songs. Television/video not only broadcasts the satanic voice, but even worse, it includes practically all the means, all the stratagems that Shaitan uses to divert man, for example, stimulating songs, provocative, frenzied dances, nudity, indecency, vulgarity, violence, erotic scenes, brazen exhibition and exploitation of women, etc. Given the deviationist character (Satan's voice including his arsenal of poisoned weapons), the Ulama are unanimous in saying that the buying, selling, renting, lending and borrowing of songs and films is haraam, as is the trade of music and any other object or device used contrary to Islamic teaching.

To have a video device in one's home or to engage in the business of such devices is tantamount to engaging in subversive activities on behalf of Satan. Under these circumstances, how can a community expect any progress when its soldiers and fighters, instead of defending and guarding it’s borders (it’s Imaan), allow the enemy (Satan) to break into the country in the home of each (Muslim) fighter in the form of video/television to scuttle his Imaan.

VIDEO - TELEVISION AND SPIRITUAL LOSS

A person who fears Allah remains very vigilant and concerned about his spiritual progress. He therefore takes advantage of his free time and very often takes up his available time, especially during the holidays, to devote himself to his spiritual advancement. On the other hand, there is a category of people who, drowning in carelessness and ignorance, take no heed of anything, except for deceptive entertainment and amusement.

They therefore fill their leisure time and especially their holidays by sitting and contemplating Dajjaal (video-television). They thus incur an enormous loss in terms of spirituality. Let us dwell on this question for a moment. Usually, in addition to the other programmes and feature films, we have two feature films in Hindustani every week, which is 5 to 6 hours of watching. Now a person who wishes to devote himself to Tilaawat-ul-Qur'an, can easily go through a chapter (sipara) in one hour; so 5 chapters (siparas) in 5 hours and in six weeks you have guessed (...?) a Khatm-ul-Qur'an, or 9 to 10 Khatm-ul-Qur'an in a year. What a loss? It's up to you to take stock and see the damage.

Tahaarat, Namaaz and Fasting (Roza) are disciplines whose rules must be mastered by each individual so that he or she can practice them according to the norms and principles and derive maximum benefit from them. As it is obligatory to practice Namaaz and fasting, it is also obligatory to know the basic rules and masa’las for the proper performance of these obligations. If a person becomes familiar with a mas'ala on a daily basis, including its nuances, he will have learned at least 300 masa’las in a year.

Let us not forget that the reading of each letter of the Qur'an brings ten (10) sawaabs (units of blessing). So when you read "Alhamdu lillaah" you will have acquired 100 sawaabs. How many blessings does one lose by sitting in front of this Dajjaal. A good shopkeeper does not waste his time unnecessarily to the detriment of his business. How is it then that a trader of Aakhirah (i.e. a Muslim) wastes his time to the detriment of his trade in Aakhirah?

We can all become good traders of Aakhirah, i.e, good Muslims. All you need is a little goodwill and basic knowledge. The main thing is to follow the Shari'ah instead of one's nafs (passions and desires). Let us therefore abandon our nafs and submit to the laws of the Shariah. May Allah Ta'ala give us the Taufeeq to work in this direction.

THE SEVERITY OF VIDEO WARNING

Let us take a close look at some of the ahaadith concerning evil deeds, which apply directly or indirectly to television/video.

Songs and "lahwa" (triviality that deviates from the path of Allah Ta'ala) make hypocrisy grow in the heart of man just as water makes herbs grow (Dailami).
Towards the end of time, a part of my Ummat will turn into monkeys and pigs. The Sahabah (Radiyallahu anhum) asked: "Oh! Messenger of Allah, even if they testify that you are the Messenger of Allah and that there is no god but Allah?" Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) answered in the affirmative and this despite the fact that they still practice Namaaz, Roza and Hajj. The Sahabah (Radiyallahu anhum) again asked the Prophet of Allah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam): "What will they be guilty of, O Messenger of Allah!?" Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) replied that "it will be mainly people who will have in their possession musical instruments, women dancers and ravans and who will consume alcoholic beverages; those who will spend their night in entertainment and drink; they will wake up in the morning with their faces transformed into monkeys and pigs". (Said bin Mansur - Umdat-ul-Qaari)

3. When my Ummat commits these 15 evil deeds, calamity will descend upon him:

i. The booty shall remain in the restricted circle of the heads of state;

ii. Amaanat (deposit) will be considered as booty;

iii. Zakaat will be considered as a burden;

iv. The man shall bend under the command of his wife;

v. He will disobey his mother;

vi. He will be faithful to his friend;

vii. He will be unkind to his father;

viii. The tone shall be raised in the mosques;

ix. The least competent will take charge of the affairs of the community;

x. Man shall be honoured for fear of the evil he may cause;

xi. The use of alcoholic beverages will be commonplace;

xii. Silk garments shall be used by man;

xiii. Women singers will be in vogue;

xiv. Musical instruments will be common things.

xv. The last of this Ummat will curse the first.

At that time, they will have to expect a red wind or Khasf (engulfment of the earth) or Maskh (metamorphosis) - (Tirmizi).

There will be a swallowing of the earth (Khasf), a metamorphosis (Maskh) and there will be a rain of rocks (Qazaf) on that Ummat. A Sahaabi asked: "O Messenger of Allah! When will this disaster take place?" Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) replied: "When women singers, musical instruments become common and the alcoholic beverages consumed." (Tirmizi)

A person with a little intelligence, which Allah has granted him, knows how much this Hadith applies to us, especially with regard to the abuse of television/video. These signs are apparent, we only have to take a look around us to see it.

[English version of "Télévision et vidéo" – Al Haadi – Vol. 1 No. 4]