Question: What is the Islamic view on looking at television or going to movies that shows movies with obscene language or sexual scenes?

Answer: The beautiful religion of Islam has given us a perfect way of life and living and has commanded the Muslims to adhere to the laws of morality and decency. In doing so, it has not only ordered that its followers refrain from every such thing which is indecent and immoral, but it has also prohibited the Muslims from showing support, encouraging, promoting and being a part of such actions. In this regard, Islam has strictly prohibited its followers from looking at certain parts of the opposite sex which is termed as the 'awrah' or private areas. Certain areas have also been prohibited for viewing by the same sex. It is also totally prohibited for anyone to look at the intimate behaviour of others like that of caressing, kissing, love affairs etc. etc. and it will be of a greater prohibition when these acts are in reality fornication and adultery. Most of the shows that are aired on the television are filled with haram (unlawful) content and viewing them will be showing support, promoting and becoming happy with haram things which in itself is a grave sin in Islam.

Hence, to view such shows on television will be totally haram and prohibited. Those shows and programmes that are free from such unlawful content will be permissible. As a guide, one should know that whatever is permissible to look at (in accordance to the teachings of Islam), would be permissible to look at on television, and whatever is unlawful to look at will also be unlawful to view on television. On this topic, some scholars have looked at the great harms and wrongs that are propagated through the television and have out rightly condemned it as haram (unlawful).

With respect to going movies, this is totally prohibited in Islam. The environment of the cinema is filled with many sins and wrongdoings and is considered to be one of the most hated place in the sight of Allah. In an authentic hadith, it is narrated that the Prophet (s.a.s) said that the most beloved places to Allah on the earth are His houses (that is, the masjid) and the most hated places to Allah on the earth are the market places. Here, the market places are considered to be the most hated due to the amount of wrongs that take place there. However, one is allowed to go there to fulfill a necessity in purchasing goods etc.

With respect to the places that show movies, there are more wrongs and sinful practices than that which is the market place. Lewdness, nude dressing, promiscuity, indecency, immorality, consuming intoxicants, loose and free behaviour between the sexes, open mingling and mixing of the sexes and a great amount of sinful and haram things are to be found in these places. There is absolutely no necessity for a Muslim to go to such places and this is not a place that a Muslim should ever think of visiting. All the great and authentic scholars that I know of, have all condemned 'movie going' and have declared it to be totally haram and unlawful in Islam.

So, on a general note, going to movies is haram in Islam, regardless of the nature of the movie which is shown, and to a greater extent it would be more severe and sinful to go to such movies which comprise of obscene language, sexual scenes and any other haram and unlawful content.


And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan