Watching TV interviews online

18-5-2016 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum. My question is regarding watching interviews for leisure. We have not had a TV, praise be to Allaah, for many years. However we do watch it online on a laptop. My dad comes home very tired from the office, and it is not easy for us to go out everyday in the evening for leisure. He always experiences a lot of tension, which he never shares with his family, at the office. I have stopped putting up movies, but I am scared that my dad will himself put up some movie and watch it. So is it permissible for us to watch interviews that do not have much music or women in them. If this is not permissible, then wat should I do for family time?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger. 

Time is the most valuable asset the Muslim has. It is one of the greatest gifts that Allaah conferred on him and for which he shall be held accountable on the Day of Judgment, just like all other blessings and bounties. On the Day of Judgment, the Muslim shall regret every moment of his life that he did not spend in what would have benefited him in the Hereafter. The Prophet, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, said, “If a man is being dragged on his face from the day he is born until the day he dies for the sake of Allaah to earn His pleasure, then he would view that as insignificant on the Day of Judgment.” [Ahmad]

We have previously highlighted how the Muslim may spend his free time in fatwa 86533. We have also underlined the ruling on watching TV shows that may include some violations of Islam in fatwa 117716.

It is no secret that we have been blessed with many media outlets by means of which Muslims can watch whatever TV shows and interviews he wishes to watch without committing any violations.

Allaah knows best.