Starting a TV Channel With Sharee’ah Violations

4-2-2019 | IslamWeb

Question:

salam. some brothers want to start a tv channel with the intention of giving good alternatives to haram tv programs. but they cant initially give 100% halal programs but they can be a good long term prospect in favor of Islam and their programs will include both Islamic Programs and programs with some shariah violations(for example, ads and musical background,etc). shall they still start the channel to achieve greater benefit and tolerate the lesser evil?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Whether it is in the field of Da’wah or in all other fields, this great religion is founded on realizing benefits and completing them, and preventing evil and reducing it, based on the scale set by Sharee'ah.

The need to balance between benefit and evil is more stressed at times of trials, and when evil emerges, while those who act according to the truth and help in it are few.

However, balancing between benefits and evil can only be done by the scholars who are specialized and who have both the mastery of Islamic knowledge and the awareness of the conditions of the people and their reality.

It should be noted that balancing between benefits and evils and the knowledge of their levels depends, in general, on the evidence of the Sharee'ah and not on mere abstract opinions and people's whims and desires.

After these summarized methodological points, we say that issuing a ruling or judging what you asked about requires the knowledge of the reality; a general Fatwa in such matters is not appropriate.

Therefore, we recommend that you consult Islamic Institutions and Centers and Fatwa committees in your country as they are more aware of the situation.

Allah knows best.