Assalam u Alaikum sir whenever I watch tv i try not to watch anything that is kufr or disrespectful to our religion even i boycott channels whose any program shows offensive content. Recently i saw a channel it’s entertainment channel and shows news and sports also but some years back it produced program dealing with apocalypse and second coming of jesus pbuh i knew that its impermissible for me to watch i have attached a link of article so you’ll have idea about it’s content and they used an offensive sentence also i am not repeating it but it’s mentioned
there . Now this program has stopped coming but still it’s on their website.
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/feb/18/you-me-and-the-apocalypse-review-box-set
Now my question is that if i can watch other programs produced by this channel or will it be counted as kufr?? If i watch through a random website like the one where content is uploaded by people not ownedby channel will that be kufr??
Answer
Wa’alaykum as Salām wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuhu,
In principle, the watching of television should be avoided since the majority of TV programs are not free from the following elements:
- Music
- Women and/or men who are not appropriately dressed
- Sexual content
Generally, the watching of television distracts one from the remembrance of Allāh ﷻ as well.
However, when it comes to watching religious-based programs conducted by reliable and trusted Muslim scholars, or any such program that enhances one’s knowledge in matters pertaining to this world, and provided it is free from the aforementioned unlawful elements, then leeway has been given in that it will be permissible for one to watch such programs.
Furthermore, since the website in question had previously produced impermissible and offensive content, it is best to avoid watching any other programs produced by them even through other channels.
Lastly, whilst the viewing of impermissible and offensive content is not kufr (an act of disbelief), it is regarded as a sin. Therefore, if one had incurred such a sin, then one should seek the forgiveness of Allāh ﷻ, The All-Forgiving and Most Merciful, and In Shā Allāh he will be forgiven.
And Allaah Ta’aala knows best
Wassalaam,
Ismail Moosa (Mufti)