Television is a tool of enjoyment and most widely used for 'prohibited' things and impossible to use 'without a sin,' says a fatwa by Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband, a view brushed aside by three influential Muslim organisations.
Clerics at Uloom's Darul ifta, the body that issues fatwas, also held watching Islamic channels and listening to public announcements by authorities on television as 'unlawful.'
When contacted, a member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board on condition of anonymity said he does not share the view that watching television is unlawful. However, he added: "These days too much of obscenity is being displayed on screens."
Jamia-Ulema-e-Hind, another prominent Muslim body does not agree with this fatwa.
"The things which we can see on roads can also be viewed on screens," Abdul Hameed Nomani, JUH spokesman and an Islamic scholar, says.
"Watching right thing on TV is lawful," he says.
Nomani's views were echoed by All India Shia Personal Law Board president Mirza Mohammad Athar, who says, "We believe that using things for good and right purpose is not haram (unlawful)."
"Watching news, matches, current affairs and even serials, if it does not shows obscenity, is right," he says.
The Darul ifta, in a response to a query whether watching right things that is an Islamic channel and things like debate on Islamic topics etc on TV is right or wrong, said: "It is not right."
"It (television) is most widely used for unlawful and prohibited things. If lawful matters are learnt from authentic people then also it is unlawful to listen it through television, since it includes more or less haram things. And by using television, a person slowly starts watching other programmes as well," it says.
The body says even 'if a person uses mobile in unlawful ways, it will be equally sinful.'
