QUESTION:
What do the scholars of the Dīn and muftīs of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: What is your verdict regarding watching Ertugrul, is it correct to watch this, and what should be done regarding the music and the showing of women that are not fully veiled? Some people are saying that this is a TV show hence it is impermissible, and that if a Muslim follows & likes the Facebook Pages of the characters of this TV series, then they would end up perhaps following & liking the Pages of characters from other movies & TV shows.
Questioner: Imran from UK
ANSWER:
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب
Bear in mind that something does not become impermissible due to it just being a TV drama, because the meaning of a TV drama is that actors imitate or copy another person [i.e. a character]. And this is not impermissible, as one requires evidence from Islamic Law in order for it or anything to be impermissible for that matter, and this is not evidence hence permissibility being automatically proven itself here.
In fact, one can deduce, prove & establish permissibility from such narrations whereby angels appear & question or ask of something in the form of someone else. Just as it occurred in the Hadīth of Jibrā’īl, and an occurrence is mentioned in Sahīh al-Bukhārī & Sahīh Muslim, whereby an angel appeared in the form of a poor destitute person to a blind person, someone who had with leprosy, and a bald person and tested them by questioned them regarding wealth. I do not at all mean to say that this was a show or drama; I only wish to say that one may imitate or copy someone for a specific or particular purpose, and this is permissible per Islamic Law.
And my stance with regards to this TV series is that looking at women who are unveiled is without doubt impermissible. However, the content of this drama on an overall basis and other matters are not only permissible, but due to the needs of today’s modern era, this is essential in order to liven the passion of the Muslim community.
First of all, the benefits of this TV series are given below so that no difficulty remains for anyone when presenting this to any Muftī.
1 – Muslims are being oppressed all over the world, being massacred & ruthlessly killed; and this is being understood as a good thing, and their blood is seen to be worth less than animals. It is paramount that Muslims wake up in order to stop these oppressors. The Muslims of today are very distant from the history of the predecessors because they are not even reading the books and stories in them literature at all, so what exactly will wake up from them? Thus, it should not be the said that history books are enough to awaken Muslims.
2 – This TV series demonstrates & teaches youngsters as to how they can enliven the lost dignity & honour of Muslims and are given complete guidance in this regard.
3 – This TV series prevents young people from Hollywood, Bollywood, Lollywood[1] films, obscene & immodest videos, and brings them towards watching the life & history of our predecessors, so that they can save themselves from the foul beliefs & mannerisms that are against Islām being spread from Hollywood, Bollywood and Lollywood movies, as well as the explicit nature, [immodest] fashion & problems in the society of a Western lifestyle, and so they can instead uphold the dignity & honour of Islamic traditions and living in such a society. And this is the case with regards to this TV series, as I have seen myself that young people have started to wear Islamic clothing and wear Topis [hats].
Haven’t Indian & English movies spread non-Muslim beliefs amongst our younger generations? Haven’t English movies caused our younger generations not to be able to live without English fashion & such mannerisms?
4 – This TV series is causing tyrannical non-Muslims loss and benefitting the Muslim nation, hence the reason as to why [oppressive] non-Muslims are saying that this TV series is a silent bomb.
5 – Sunnī beliefs & opinions are being spread via this, and is causing smooth gentle breezes of the spirit of love for the Holy Prophet ﷺ, up to the extent that even the children of misguided people & deviants are also lowering their heads and placing their hand on their heart out of respect & reverence of the blessed name of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, making it apparent that we also regard respecting the Noble Prophet & loving the Holy Prophet ﷺ via this action as permissible, even though their seniors spent their entire lives portraying this action as bid’ah & shirk [i.e. innovation & polytheism].
6 – This TV show is awakening enthusiasm & support in the hearts of the younger generations of the Muslim community, as well as raising awareness of them being aware of & caring for each other, and giving them a sense of honour as well. It is also teaching them the method & wisdom of how to do things in order to succeed from an Islamic point of view.
7 – Efforts are being made in order to establish the ‘Uthmānī Caliphate, which is like a protective layer & fortress for Muslims. Through the blessings of this, Muslims are able to unite & reconcile with each other, and can keep out & remain protected from any oppressive people.
The importance of Islamic movies, films & dramas today
My stance is that we should make movies & dramas in light of the occurrences in Islamic history, whilst maintaining the boundaries of Islām. In addition, the scholars of the Ahl al-Sunnah should support & help such people, so that they may abide by the laws of Sharī’ah in the making of such movies, as well as instilling the beliefs of the Ahl al-Sunnah alongside this as well; for instance love for the Holy Prophet ﷺ, love for the Ahl al-Bayt [blessed household of the Holy Prophet ﷺ] and reverence of the Blessed Companions, so that one may protect the beliefs of the future generations to come.
The belief of Rāfidiyyah is being spread rapidly through the means of the movies made by the Rafidīs opposing the Noble Companions especially the respected Amīr Mu’āwiyah. Can any Sunnī scholar mention as to how many hundreds & thousands have become Rāfidī? Today, why has Rāfidiyyah spread so much, even amongst Sunnīs? Perhaps one reason behind this is the huge push behind the Rāfidī film efforts.
And it shouldn’t be said that Madrasahs[2] & Mosques are doing this work. Without doubt, Masjids are doing this work and Madrasahs are fulfilling their role. However, how many Muslims are seeking knowledge in Madrasahs nowadays? And how many are becoming liberals & secularists due to films & dramas; rather, apostates, and not just apostates – they are in fact forging groups against Islām.
One example of this is ‘My body, my wish’ and atheist groups. Every year in the U.K. 30% of young Muslims are becoming atheists; most people are unaware of this. There are many films in which Muslims leave their religion and become atheist.
Research regarding objections made with regards to this TV series
Objection
This TV series has music in it, hence the reason for it being impermissible,
Reply
In order to propagate & spread the word true word & message, there is a difference of opinion amongst the scholars of the Ahl al-Sunnah with regards to listening & not listening to music; the issue of Qawwālī being a prime example & proof of this. Do those who say Qawwālī with music is permissible leave the folds of the Ahl al-Sunnah or are they regarded as sinful? If yes, then there are senior custodians of the Ahl al-Sunnah nowadays that are involved in this sin. Please remember that my stance is not at all in their support. All praise is due to Allāh Almighty, I am a staunch & firm Ridawī – let alone ‘Aqā’id [beliefs]; far from it – I do not deem it appropriate to differ with A’lāhadrat Imām Ahmad Ridā Khān, upon whom be mercy, in even secondary matters[3]. I am merely saying that when there is a difference of opinion, there should hence be some lightening of the rule to a certain extent.
Purposely & intentionally listening to music is impermissible. However, if there is some music playing in the background whilst listening to the news & one heard this, although one did not have the intention of listening to this, then what proof is there of this being impermissible?
If such music is also impermissible, which one did not have the intention of listening to, then which Muslim is able to save & protect himself from this? Which bus, railway/train station, airport, supermarket, shop/store, restaurant is there that does not have music playing? Going to these places would also be regarded as impermissible. The actual matter is that going there is permissible, however one should take precaution in not intentionally listening to the music, and it being heard unintentionally is not impermissible.
Objection
Watching this TV series would result in people liking the Facebook Pages of these actors and then therefore becoming their followers. This will mean that they will the end up following every single permissible and impermissible action of theirs.
Reply
If these actors make any immodest movies, and Muslims didn’t like their Pages, then haven’t Muslims already liked the Pages of those actors of movies which spread non-Muslim beliefs & ways. Aren’t Muslims already following them?
The solution to this is that we guide & nurture our people by teaching them the permissible & impermissible so that they only regard the lawful as lawful.
Objection
There are women in this that are not veiled.
Reply
Without doubt, one is not permitted to look at women who are not veiled. However, if only the face of the women are visible, but their hair and remaining body parts are covered, then there is no prohibition. It is also my advice & suggestion that it is necessary that the body parts of the Sitr [area that must be veiled] of the women be veiled in such TV series by the Turkish Muslims in order to watch this so that one is able to correctly follow Islamic teachings.
As for those who already refrain from TV shows & dramas, then they shouldn’t start watching such dramas at all. However, those who are involved in watching those TV series which spread & teach non-Islamic beliefs, then it is bringing them to something less inconvenient from something which is a greater inconvenience by watching this [kind of] TV show in order to abstain from watching them [type of] TV shows. Just as the Jurists of the Ummah have written,
“إذْ مَنْ اُبْتُلِيَ بَيْنَ أَمْرَيْنِ مَحْظُورَيْنِ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَرْتَكِبَ أَهْوَنَهُمَا”
“When a person is involved in two impermissible matters, then it is necessary upon him to choose the one that is less impermissible.”
[Fat’h al-Qadīr, vol 1, pg 190]
This is only for those who are helpless in this regard and are unable to control the matter, who are involved in watching this for some reason or another. For instance, if the wife or child of any Muslim in the U.K. complains that the children’s father is religious & practising and doesn’t allow them to watch TV, and the social services/council/government may take their children away, then in view of such cases, if such a person saves his family from obscene & immodest movies & TV shows in order for them to remain Muslim [protecting them from atheism, etc] and has a good intention, then one will be deserving of reward for a good intention as well.
[1] Pakistan film industry.
[2] Islamic seminaries.
[3] Islamic Jurisprudential differences.
واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری
Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Haider Ali al-Madani
Read the original Urdu answer here: [Q-ID0799] What is the Islamic ruling on watching the Turkish drama series called Ertugrul?