Author: PTI
Publication: Rediff.com
Date: December 19, 2007
URL: http://ia.rediff.com/cms/print.jsp?docpath=//news/2007/dec/19fatwa.htm
Television is a tool of enjoyment and most
widely used for 'prohibited' things and impossible to use 'without a sin,'
says a fatwa by Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband, a view brushed aside
by three influential Muslim organisations.
Clerics at Uloom's Darul ifta, the body that
issues fatwas, also held watching Islamic channels and listening to public
announcements by authorities on television as 'unlawful.'
When contacted, a member of All India Muslim
Personal Law Board on condition of anonymity said he does not share the view
that watching television is unlawful. However, he added: "These days
too much of obscenity is being displayed on screens."
Jamia-Ulema-e-Hind, another prominent Muslim
body does not agree with this fatwa.
"The things which we can see on roads
can also be viewed on screens," Abdul Hameed Nomani, JUH spokesman and
an Islamic scholar, says.
"Watching right thing on TV is lawful,"
he says.
Nomani's views were echoed by All India Shia
Personal Law Board president Mirza Mohammad Athar, who says, "We believe
that using things for good and right purpose is not haram (unlawful)."
"Watching news, matches, current affairs
and even serials, if it does not shows obscenity, is right," he says.
The Darul ifta, in a response to a query whether
watching right things that is an Islamic channel and things like debate on
Islamic topics etc on TV is right or wrong, said: "It is not right."
"It (television) is most widely used
for unlawful and prohibited things. If lawful matters are learnt from authentic
people then also it is unlawful to listen it through television, since it
includes more or less haram things. And by using television, a person slowly
starts watching other programmes as well," it says.
The body says even 'if a person uses mobile
in unlawful ways, it will be equally sinful.'