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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board

TV or not TV?
BrKhalid
01/19/01 at 12:00:27
Asalaamu Alaikum  :) That is the question. Whether tis... Okay I realise this topic may have been raised before but what would you do/say if your prospective wife placed a condition that the TV had to go when you got married? Does anyone know of any families who don't have a TV set as part of their lives. What's that like?

Re: TV or not TV?
Malika
01/19/01 at 12:14:20
slm I watch a very good Islamic show on TV that is very informative. No TV...can't picture it...but alas that is just me I guess.

Re: TV or not TV?
se7en
01/19/01 at 16:07:13
wa alaykum as salaam wa rahmatAllah, That's so awesome :)  She wants to give up something that distances her from Allah, and she wants her husband to do that as well.  I think that's pretty cool...

Re: TV or not TV?
Arsalan
01/19/01 at 17:45:20
[quote]what would you do/say if your prospective wife placed a condition that the TV had to go when you got married? [/quote]I'd move the date of the nikaah earlier, I'd double the mahr, and I'd pray two rak'ahs of nafl to thank Allah for giving me such a blessed wife! Wassalamu alaikum.

Re: TV or not TV?
Moe
01/19/01 at 20:20:09
I agree with Se7en and arsalan! it would be really kool casue she wants to be close to allah!

Re: TV or not TV?
Anonymous
01/20/01 at 19:40:05
Salamalaykum, Let me tell you my personal story about tv.  When I got married, I had a tv set that I brought to our new appartment.  I didn't have the intention to use it since I hadn't been watching tv for three years; so I decided to give it to a cousin of mine.  My husband said "I can't believe you gave it to him!", but I explained to him that it was better that way and he finally agreed. Four years later, my husband's brother came to visit us for a week.  When he saw that we didn't have a tv set, he felt sorry for us (!) and he gave my husband the money to buy one.  I became hysterical; there was no way I would allow that satanic object in my house! My husband said "listen, it's mostly for the kids so that they can watch cartoons, and we can also watch the news once in a while"... Yeah, right... I categorically refused to let him put the tv set in the living room, so he put it in our bedroom.  After a few weeks, he was watching the news every night. After another few weeks, he started to watch movies. After a few months, he was watching movies every friday and saturday nights, until 2 am.  The next morning, he was getting up in a very bad mood, he was agressive and insulting. Then, he started to watch movies almost every night. He was in the bedroom, while I was in the living room, alone.  Always alone.  I felt as if I was single again.  After four years, I couldn't take it anymore, I bursted into tears, and I couldn't stop repeating "I feel so lonely, I feel so lonely, I feel so lonely..." with tears rolling down on my cheeks and on my clothes... It came to a point where my husband was so addicted to tv and I was so neglected by him, that I asked for a divorce.  I think it was an eye opener for him, because he stopped watching it a while ago, alhamdulillah. My suggestion is that if you don't have a tv set, don't even think of buying one; and if you have one, get rid of it as soon as you can. wassalam
NS

Re: TV or not TV?
BrKhalid
01/20/01 at 20:13:36
Asalaamu Alaikum  :) [quote]My husband said "listen, it's mostly for the kids so that they can watch cartoons, and we can also watch the news once in a while"... [/quote] I have heard this excuse a lot too but after reading your story Sister I would certainly think twice.

Re: TV or not TV?
jannah
01/21/01 at 01:37:29
slm, I've also heard non-muslims say the same thing about the TV believe it or not. How one partner ends up watching it to the exclusion of the relationship.

Re: TV or not TV?
jade
01/22/01 at 05:10:40
Asalaamu Alaikom, I personally think TV is just like any other machine. you can either use it for good or for evil. you can drive your car to the mosque or drive it to a bar. it all depends how you use it. i've been watching discovery channel and natural geographic and they are both excelent. also they're are alot of really cool islamic shows (mostly in arabic) where they get an expert who starts answering caller questions. or they discuss topics facing muslims in the world. I mean TV is just a portal to the outside world there isn't much on tv you cann't find in real life. the restraint and self control you show out side in front of people should also be shown when alone in your living room. ofcourse, what I do think is problem is having children around the house. a childs telivision habits should be closely monitored. if he or she  see's enough unislamic behaviour on TV he could easly take this to be the norm. so parent should be extra carefull as to what a child watches.

Re: TV or not TV?
Moe
01/22/01 at 16:51:38
SOME STATISTICS ON TELEVISION IN AMERICA Whether you love it, hate it or are indifferent to it, television is a fixture in most American homes today. Ninety-eight percent of households in the United States have at least one television set and 34 percent have two. Forty-nine percent of Americans say they watch too much television. Television isn’t just about the number of television sets people own. It is also about its practical effects on viewers and the content it presents. Below are some statistics to consider about television. All of them were taken from the website of the organization TV-Free America (www.tvfa.org/stats.html) THE TIME COST OF TELEVISION WATCHING -According to the A.C. Nielsen Co. the average American watches 3 hours and 46 minutes of TV each day (that’s more than 52 days of nonstop TV-watching per year).   -By the age of 65 the average American will have spent nearly nine years glued to the tube.   -Parents spend 38.5 minutes per week in meaningful conversation with their children is 38.5. THE EFFECT OF TELEVISION ON DAILY LIFE -The number of videos rented daily in the United States is six million while the number of public library items checked out daily is three million. -Sixty-six percent of Americans regularly watch television while eating dinner. HOW MUCH VIOLENCE IS THERE REALLY ON T.V.? -The average American child sees 200,000 violent acts on television by the time he or she reaches the age of 18. -Eighty percent of Hollywood executives believe there is a link between TV violence and real-life violence. TELEVISION: IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT SHOWS -An average child sees 30,000 TV commercials in a year. -By the time s/he reaches the age of 65, the average American will have seen two million TV commercials TELEVISION: THE KNOWLEDGE BUILDER? -While 59 percent of Americans can name The Three Stooges, only 17 percent can name three Supreme Court Justices.

Re: TV or not TV?
BrKhalid
01/22/01 at 17:21:42
Asalaamu Alaikum :) [quote]By the age of 65 the average American will have spent nearly nine years glued to the tube. [/quote] Nine years? You have to ask yourself when watching TV what intention you have? A) To benefit yourself in the akhirah B) To benefit yourself in the dunya C) To while away a couple of hours The more I think about it, the more I reach the conclusion that chucking it has to be the sensible thing to do

Re: TV or not TV?
donia
02/03/01 at 09:13:38
salam everybody I have a TV set at home, neither me nor my husband watch it, it's in the children room, and they are only allowed to watch kid's shows in public tv stations. I agree that the television is just a machine and that the point is how you use it. This doesn't mean that I use this machine as a baby sitter (a sister metioned this to me)i am there for my children most of the time.  I believe that children benefit a lot from these educational shows just keep it uder control.

Re: TV or not TV?
Anonymous
02/04/01 at 18:36:39
assalamu-alaikum, Ok lets all own up, how many of us actually have TV sets in the house? I(or more like the family) do. :) wassalam

Re: TV or not TV?
Moe
02/07/01 at 15:21:30
Study: More Sex Shown on TV By LYNN ELBER, AP Television Writer http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/ap/20010206/en/tv_sex_study_3.html LOS ANGELES (AP) - Sexual content on television has risen sharply since 1997, showing up in two of every three programs last season, according to a study released Tuesday. Research conducted for the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation found sexual content in 68 percent of the 1999-2000 shows studied, compared with 56 percent in 1997-98. Such content includes talk about sex, flirting, kissing, intimate touching and depictions of intercourse. Only 10 percent of programs were found to emphasize sexual risks and responsibilities - virtually unchanged from 1997-98. But shows featuring teen-agers were more likely to include such issues, something the report called an impressive trend. Overall, one of every 10 programs on TV is estimated to include a scene in which characters engage in sex, up from 7 percent, the report said. Fox's ``Ally McBeal'' and ABC's soap ``Port Charles'' were noted as having depicted intercourse. ``While we haven't yet had the chance to review the entire study, we are confident in the rigorous standards we apply to all entertainment programming at ABC,'' ABC spokesman Kevin Brockman said. ``We take our responsibility to our viewers as seriously as we do our responsibility to provide entertaining, quality programming.'' Fox daclined to comment. In all, 1,114 broadcast and cable programs, including movies, series, soap operas, news magazines and talk shows, were randomly selected and analyzed by researchers at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Ten networks or channels were studied: ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, HBO, PBS, TNT, USA, Lifetime and WB. The study found that more teen characters are being depicted engaging in intercourse. In 1997-98, teen-agers represented 3 percent of all characters having sex; in the new study, the figure had tripled to 9 percent. But shows in which teens talk about or have sex are twice as likely to include discussion of the risks or responsibilities compared with all other programs with sexual content. That is an ``impressive pattern'' because TV is an influential force for young viewers ``just developing their ideas about sex,'' the report said. Half of high school students in 1999 had engaged in sex, according to government figures cited by the foundation. Yet few teens get information on the subject from parents, the report said. ``Not surprisingly, media portrayals may fill this gap as the most readily available alternative,'' it said. Among sitcoms, 84 percent contain sexually oriented language or action, up from 56 percent in the previous study. Only movies, at 89 percent, have more sex. Among dramas, sexual content rose from 58 percent to 69 percent. ``Temptation Island'' aside, the study found that reality television was the least sexy genre: 27 percent of such shows in 1999-2000 included sexual content, well below the overall average. Talk shows and soaps were the only two genres that did not show an increase in such content: The sexual content in soap operas dropped from 85 percent to 80 percent; in talk shows, it dropped from 78 percent to 67 percent. The foundation is an independent philanthropic group that studies health care, including reproductive and AIDS-related issues. It is not affiliated with the Kaiser medical organization.

Re: TV or not TV?
Safiya
02/10/01 at 04:30:12
slm donia: are u not then letting the t.v educate the weakest and the most feeble of minds in the house??(if it be: cartoons of kufr, education from kufar) forgive me sister if thats not the case...but if so... we should all think: the best and the purest of minds that have exisited(prophets and so on)  did not have a a t.v i know your thinking 'tvs didnt exisit then honey' BUT thats the point: these people lived 'with out a tv' the best lives... i would understand that if a person has had a change of mind  and they now wanted to start educating thier kids islmically they may have to provide an alternative to those cartoons of kufr like islamic cartoons, as the kids are soo used to watching tv. or if Allah wills they may not mind having a tv....Allah know s best... But...if you have a kid after this change of mind why introduce them to the tv when they know nothing of it and wont crying for it.... br. kalid : i tottally agree with arsalan & se7en- that woman is a blessing....insha Allah

Re: TV or not TV?
BrKhalid
02/10/01 at 10:20:31
Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) I remember discussing once with one of my relatives the idea of not having a TV when I got married. She said to me but what about your children....what will they have to talk about at school? Yeah I know,I probably had the same reaction to that statement that you just had but then it got me thinking about my own school days. Sure enough I can remember many conversations based on sports, cartoons etc all of which were derived from the TV set. I used to be part of the "in" crowd whatever that was and people who didn't know what we were talking about kept quietly to themselves. I guess the point she was trying to make was that without TV your children are losing something and not able to integrate with the outside world. Two points came to mind. Firstly we desperately need Islamic Schools where the topic of conversation between our youngsters goes beyond "what did you watch on TV last night?" so our children don't feel left out and isolated as they would do in state schools if their parents didn't have a TV. Secondly we need to be prepared to spend time with our children if we don't have a TV and encourage them and support them and think of fun stuff they can do to give them some time to relax and have fun as well. The problem is that our culture is TV based and not having a TV is the exception and not the rule. I truly believe we need Muslim role model families with no TV's to show the rest of us that it is possible exist and interact with our community at large and the general society further beyond and we don't have to be like those kids I remembered who used to sit out and be by themselves.

Re: TV or not TV?
donia
02/12/01 at 11:44:36
Assalamu alaykum Well, I suppose my answer to the first question in your post sister Safiya is: Yes, I am letting the T.V. educate my children.  I am talking about programs from public television stations, I am watching with my children and I don't see anything anti-Islamic with them, for young children shows like Sesame Street and Barney are very educational, for older children Magic School Bus, the Science Guy or ZobooMafou are science based shows, I don't see any reasons why not let the children watch these.  Have you never read a scientific book written by KUFAR?  The television simply talks the language that children understand; this is what it's all about. Yes, the best people in History lived without TV sets, but they had the chance of gaining many life experiences more than our children can now, they rode horses, they went to play out with other children, it was safe out there, you are not expecting me to tell my son go and enjoy yourself out!!  Every thing is different now, and children need entertainment, you may relax with a book and a cup of tea, but trust me this is not appealing for children. There are Islamic videos for children, they are good, but we can't expect the companies producing them to REINVENT THE WHEEL, and produce similar shows to what already exists with the difference of being produced buy Muslims, this doesn't make sense, Islamic videos teach Islamic values and the others teach reading, counting, technology, science, or simply clean entertainment. Well J I am not trying to start a debate here, but I don't really believe that any thing is bad just because it is from kufar.  And yes, we shouldn't trust whatever they give us, specially with our children, that's why it's important that parents know what there children are watching. Salam

Re: TV or not TV?
jade
02/12/01 at 11:50:49
salaamu alaikom, I can't agree more with you donia. I also, think that the ummah will do itself alot of harm if desides to cut itself of from the television. we have to be up to date with all going on in the world. we have to embrace tv (the machine) and mold it to our own service. salaam

Re: TV or not TV?
BrKhalid
02/12/01 at 13:23:51
Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) Sr Donia and Sr jade, I think you make a valid points. Its not the Technology that's the issue but the content that's on it. There can be no doubting that there is great benefit in having a TV in the home and its role as an educator cannot be taken lightly. The question is though should we have it in our homes if the associated harm from having a TV outweighs the benefits? I think that's a decision every Muslim parent/family has to make

Re: TV or not TV?
humble_muslim
02/12/01 at 13:34:49
AA, CONTROL of the TV is the answer.  Basically, no matter what age your kids are, NEVER let them watch TV without you.  For example, I was watching Scooby Doo on Zombie Island with my seven year old, and had to stop it because it was getting too scary in my opinion.

Re: TV or not TV?
Arsalan
02/12/01 at 13:59:20
[quote]For example, I was watching Scooby Doo on Zombie Island with my seven year old, and had to stop it because it was getting too scary in my opinion.[/quote]Hehe!  Sorry, that was funny :D

Re: TV or not TV?
Moe
02/12/01 at 15:24:35
I got this in my e-mail Assalamu'alaikum Television Evangelist Research Negates Bias Against Followers of Islam by David Kostinchuk Television evangelists promote hatred against the followers of Islam. Often television evangelists twist common occurrences and events to brainwash and condition people to accept the television evangelist's biases and hatred toward others. The television evangelist promotes fanatical religious intolerance toward other religions in their efforts to convert Muslims and Hindus to evangelistic fundamentalist Christianity. Often the television evangelist will use or promote misconceptions about Islam to promote intolerance toward Muslims. The aim of my research is to negate some of these misconceptions by exposing the goals, methods and results of the influence of the television evangelists on society, religion, and the family. Mass media: television, the Internet, and newspapers give the television evangelist unprecedented power and the ability to raise money. Seemingly endless funds donated from the people they influence. MYTH Islam is a religion of killers. Muslims have no respect for the lives of children as seen by children being sacrificed as martyrs in the Palestinians fight for self-governing and the right to return. These statements try to induce the thought that Muslims are uncaring and cold hearted toward their children, about their health and welfare FACT Many evangelists seem to ignore that many people who follow evangelistic fundamental teachings are uncaring about their children's health and welfare because of their religious views. Research has shown faith healing practiced by Evangelist Fundamentalists promoted child abuse, torture and homicide. A study by the medical journal states (Pediatrics Apr.1998) that of 172 child deaths between 1975 and 1995 survival rate of 50%, all but three could have benefited could have benefited from medical treatment. These deaths occurred in 23 religious denominations across 34 states. There were 78 child deaths in the Oregon City Followers of Christ Church, 21 of these children could possibly been saved by medical care. (Oregonian June 1998) MYTH Muslims and their governments are immoral. FACT Television evangelists accuse people of other religions as being immoral often ignoring the immoral behavior of their cohorts. The evangelistic ministry The Children Of God known as "The  Family" practiced a method called "flirty fishing" to recruit new members to the group. This group used women to entice men into their group using erotic experiences, including sexual intercourse. (Bainbridge, William Sims. 1997.The Sociology of Religious Movements. New York: Routledge.p 222) It is estimated that out of one million men reached by this ministry 200,000 were reached by sexual encounters. Myth; Followers of Islam teach their children to be intolerant and hate toward people of other religions. Fact.  Television evangelists ignore that their own teachings teach children intolerance and hate toward people of other religions. There is a hidden agenda by the Evangelistic Fundamentalists to promote intolerance and hate toward non-Christians. Prime targets are Muslim and Hindus and Jews using home schooling or promoting home schooling by groups outside government scrutiny. The goal is to train these children to be future evangelists in efforts to convert Non-Christians to Christianity The largest of these is "The School of Tomorrow". This school has 7,000 schools and thousands of home educators in 31 countries. This school uses unqualified teachers and their teachers or supervisors get one week of training. These people condition children as young as five to hate Muslims, Hindus and Jews. The curriculum is sub standard as it focuses on evangelistic teachings.  The school practices isolating children so they can easily be conditioned to follow the schools teachings without comparing and questioning what is being taught. The following is a description of a child's vision written by a staff member of "The School of Tomorrow" taken from a handwritten log of an eight year old boy. " Then God came and attacked the circle and he came with his good and holy angels. The attack looked like lightning.  When the lightning came and struck the circle it became swished and it got smaller and smaller. Them God dropped it into the sea of fire. As it dropped, Satan was going down into the fire and also all the Non-Christians, Muslims and Jews that he was holding onto. All of them came down with Satan because they couldn't get away" It is amazing that television evangelists accuse people of other religions promoting intolerance and hate toward people who practice other religions when the television evangelist promotes this type of teaching. My research is open to people around the world as I believe that the only way to fight these people is by doing research and making the data available to academics, students as well as laymen interested in this phenomena. Public awareness of the goals, methods, scams; etc. enables people to combat this type of manipulation by the television evangelists. Equally important is that people understand the effect and influence that these methods have on the courts, schools, churches, ministries, newspaper bias and therefore have the tools to resist them About the Author David Kostinchuk has been exposed to evangelist ministries and their teachings since early childhood. He has seen the dark side of the television evangelist industry, and recognizes the pseudo-Christian show business promoted by a number of organizations around the world. He has witnessed firsthand many of the family and societal problems arising from those ministries which practice cult-like activities. He has witnessed the influence of these organizations in the school system, the courts and the workplace.  He stresses the importance of education and awareness in order to recognize and deal with those who use Christianity as a front for personal agendas and financial gain. David Kostinchuk -  dkost@escape.ca www.peopleunitedforreligiousfreedom.org

Re: TV or not TV?
ABD
02/16/01 at 11:11:21
Assalamu Alaikum, In the name of Allah, the most Merciful ad Gracious, I agree with everyone on this topic. I'm not leaning towards one side, but rather staying in the middle. It does depend on what you watch TV for. You can watch the Discovery channel of National Geographic. or the news, these are useful programs. But once in a while it doesn't hurt to watch a movie. I'm not saying that you should watch TV 24/7 until you're addicted, but some people watch TV for relaxation after a day's work. But, you can also relax by making dhikr of Allah, but TV's also good to an extent. Salam

TV or not TV, that is the question…
AbuKhaled
02/16/01 at 12:14:03
Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem Dear Brothers & Sisters, Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullah. For a long time, I too thought that the only question mark above TV was the issue of content. And if this was the only issue, then perhaps one could argue for the benefits in the presence of control. However, some research led me to realise that this is only part of the picture (pardon the pun), and that it is not only the content of TV that needs to be considered, but also the very technology itself. This is more true with respect to children, who by their nature are in a developmental stage. Whosoever is a parent cannot afford to overlook the damage the *technology* of the TV is doing to their children. I would recommend, as a startpoint, every parent to read the following book, from which this is the blurb: "In Strangers in Our Homes: TV and Our Children’s Minds, Dr. Susan R. Johnson writes about the harmful effects of television on young children’s mental and emotional development. Dr. Johnson is a paediatrician and a mother who noticed behavioral changes in children who watched television. In this paper, she explains how watching TV affects the brain and its development. In addition, this booklet contains an introduction to Dr. Johnson’s paper by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf as well as his own insightful paper, The Trojan TV: Enemies in Our Homes, which asks us to take a critical look at television and the effects it has on our society." Having read this book you will begin to learn how the very *process* of watching TV - REGARDLESS OF CONTENT - is *physically* handicapping your child's developing faculties, and to an extent you too. As a Muslim parent, you need to be worried, for your child is an amanah [trust] bestowed upon you by Allah (swt), and if you harm him/her, you will be called to account. Your decisions about what you allow your children to watch/don't watch should no longer be governed by the naïve thinking that it is *just* an issue of *what* they see. No. The very act of *watching* is hampering their development, even if it is not noticeably apparent to you. The process of *optimisation* with respect to how your child develops is eroded by TV, and for that, it is not the child who will be questioned, but the parent, for the child does not possess the cognitive capacity to know any better, or the maturity and intellect to be accountable. You do. Thus you will be held responsible by Allah (swt). And so, as one who is minding this child as an amanah from your Lord (swt), you cannot afford to remain ignorant about this contemporary research, for remember, the phenomena of TV has not been around for centuries. Only now are some of the side-effects being recognised, as research is being undertaken, observations made and correlations noted. Once you appreciate how this technology functions, and it's detrimental impact upon a child (and even adults too), then - assuming some elemental familiarity with usul and fiqh - you realise that this *may* fall under the area known as mafsadah [harm] to the self, thereby giving a basis to contemporary Shuyukh to *possibly* issue fatawa prohibiting this medium, as Islamically it is haram to harm oneself, and one's health, or those in one's care. If it is proven that such mafsadah is a *definite* and unavoidable consequence to a child (or adult) of watching TV, then the case for avoiding this activity gains ground. Compound this by knowing that such harm is occurring due to a cause which isn't even necessary in one's life, and the case begins to become stronger and stronger. Maybe even watertight, wallahau ta'ala a'lam. Please note, I am NOT issuing a hukm or fatwa here, or even basing my words on one, merely giving - insha'Allah - you some serious pause for thought. Take this seriously, and at the least, combat your complacency - if you have it towards the issue - and investigate further. For the shrugging of those shoulders will provide no defence in the akhira. We ask Allah ta'ala to give us the strength to act away from our nafs [lower self], and ahwal [desires]. Wassalam aalaikum, Abu Khaled

Re: TV or not TV?
BrKhalid
02/16/01 at 12:58:34
Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) Br AbuKhaled's post certainly raises some interesting questions. If the mere fact of sitting down and watching TV could be proved to be physically damaging to the brain (especially for younger children) it would raise some serious dilemmas for Muslim parents. I assume this idea of optimisation is linked to the fact that the brain is stimulated further when being engaged in an activity such as reading whereas its somewhat passive when absorbing information through the medium of television. Personally I think Br AbuKhaled makes a valid point when stating that it’s a choice not only for yourself but for those within your field of responsibility. I wonder sometimes if there is an element of "What you don't know, you won't miss" in all of this. If the majority of us who have become accustomed to television had never experienced it to begin with, would we find it so hard now to give it up? Should we expose our children to the medium given what we know from our own experience? Certainly not an easy area and may Allah [swt] guide us all to the straight path.

Re: TV or not TV, that is the question…
se7en
02/16/01 at 13:42:44
as salaamu alaykum wa rahmatAllahi wa barakatuh, [quote] In Strangers in Our Homes: TV and Our Children’s Minds, Dr. Susan R. Johnson writes about the harmful effects of television on young children’s mental and emotional development. Dr. Johnson is a paediatrician and a mother who noticed behavioral changes in children who watched television. In this paper, she explains how watching TV affects the brain and its development. In addition, this booklet contains an introduction to Dr. Johnson’s paper by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf as well as his own insightful paper, The Trojan TV: Enemies in Our Homes, which asks us to take a critical look at television and the effects it has on our society." [/quote] That is an *excellent* booklet published by [url=http://www.zaytuna.org]the Zaytuna Institute[/url].  It's only 28 pages, definitely worth reading. Also check out Jerry Mander's [url=http://www.pagan.net/~randl/telvision.htm]Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television[/url] or his [url=http://www.ratical.com/ratville/AoS/theSun.html]In the Absence of the Sacred[/url], and anything by [url=http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/jte-v8n1/Rose.html]Neil Postman[/url].  Sut Jhally and George Gerbner are pretty interesting too.

Re: TV or not TV?
Al-Basha
02/16/01 at 22:32:54
Salamu Aliakom, I just thought I'd share a story I have that relates to the topic about whether to watch TV or not. I was subbing for my dad one Saturday for the weekend islamic school and for some reason his students and I started talking about TV. The ages ranged between 7 - 10. So one of the kids said something like "So is the TV haram?" and I replied "What do you mean? That box full of wires and a glass tube? Or what is shown on it", so they thought for a minute and asked what is being broadcasted on it? So I explained like everything there is the good and the bad, you just stay away from the bad. My point is, I think depending on the age of your children it's important to sit down and actually discuss with them why you are not letting them watch these certain shows. I was amazed subhana Allah that they were asking me these kinds of questions, which shows that youth do have inquisitive minds masha Allah. I will say this, TV does have some good things on it. For one thing I get the Arabic channels via the satellite and they bring several Islamic shows on it, all with highly educated and learned scholars. In fact there is a fatwa show that comes on every Saturday live and you can even call in your questions and have the shaikhs answer right there and then? So isn't this a good thing? Especially for those of us not living in the "Muslim" countries where scholars aren't readily accessable. Wa Allahu A3laam

Re: TV or not TV?
Fatoosh
02/16/01 at 23:47:01
Assalaamu Alaikum At the Muslim school I went to (I have graduated now), A LOT of my classmates dated- with boys in the same school. They boys and girls had separate classes starting 6th grade.  Many of these kids lived near the school, and the mosque was across the street from the school, their parents associated with only Muslims usually, they themselves went to Muslim schools for much of their lives, MANY OF THEM EVEN WORE HIJAB. With all these Muslim influences around them, they shouldn’t have been meeting boys secretly. Of course, all the Muslim influences weren’t necessarily Islamic.  But the main reason I saw for it was that they were hooked on television, their parents didn't put any limits.  Some of the parents even had a loose definition of what is Islamic and what is not.  My classmates were hooked on "Friends" and 90210, they read Young and Modern and Seventeen, they owned tones of music by people like Madonna and Alanis Morset, etc. These kids saw a life style on TV and in movies that they emulated- it seemed more fun, and they hadn’t been given reasons to follow the way of their parents. I understand that TV may have some benefits, but if it’s going to get out of control, are those benefits actually important? -Fatoosh

Re: TV or not TV?
Al-Basha
02/17/01 at 03:21:30
Salamu Aliakom, Fatoosh you're definatly right, those kinds of trashy GenX shows and magazines are like gasoline that fuels the fire of munkar. For example, go to any supermarket and 99.9999% of the time you will not only find trashy magazines but also trashy tabloids. Everyone knows about those crazy headlines those media slaves come up with, but the thing that most ppl don't know is how far those catchy headlines reach the sub conscious mind. Realize that they put those kinds of things there deliberatly , what else is the shopper going to do whilst waiting in line? You know back when I was living in Maryland, there was a supermarket I used to go called "Giants". Surprisngly enough they actually had an aisle with no candy and no magazines/tabloids? Why? Because some of the shoppers with children had requested there be at least one aisle without those kinds of things. Maybe they should have more of these "no candy/tabloids/magazines" aisles.

Re: TV or not TV?
jawadio
02/17/01 at 16:29:14
salam... Get rid of the TV.   For the person that asked: alhamdulillah, I do not own a television.  I do however still watch movies, but that is on the sharp decline, given that i am not bombarded with advertisements for all the latest movies.  also, with not owning a television, you also lose touch on what's going on in the music world, so that's another bad habit that you can drop when you dump the TV. as for the spouse that wants that as part of the marriage contract: alhamdulillah, those people are rare, so don't let them go. i personally know a number of couples that don't own televisions and all of them say that it has opened all the doors of communication between them.  One in particular were having serious problems and were going to separate.  The guy sold the TV, was packing, etc... then he said, "I have to give this one more try... " and so he went to his wife and said, "We need to fix this marriage and make it work."  They agreed to try work things out again and not divorce, even though they had been at this point many times before.  Much to their benefit, they didn't go out and buy another television, and strangely enough they found themselves actually talking to each other, eating meals together, and (really the most important one) relating to each other again. As for kids: letting the TV babysit them is a load of rubbish.  Good friend of mine has two kids (13 and 11) and they don't own a tv.  For fun, they play sports, hike, and read (a lost art).  They know all the nature trails around their house, and in all the parks and have a strong connection with nature - Allah's creation.  They are really the most well-rounded kids i have ever met. lastly, one shaykh told me this much: consider tv bad company, and remember the hadith of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) that people are upon the religions of their friends.  many of those people on tv - by the fact of our constant and regular association with them - are thus our "friends,"  and we end up taking their characteristics.  and in all honesty, no Muslim should want to be like any of those people. Wa Allahu `alim, Wa salam, -j.

Re: TV or not TV?
BrKhalid
02/17/01 at 16:50:30
Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) Jazakallah Khair Jawad for sharing your experiences [quote]Much to their benefit, they didn't go out and buy another television, and strangely enough they found themselves actually talking to each other, eating meals together, and (really the most important one) relating to each other again.[/quote] That's a real heart warming story. [quote]Good friend of mine has two kids (13 and 11) and they don't own a tv.  For fun, they play sports, hike, and read (a lost art).  They know all the nature trails around their house, and in all the parks and have a strong connection with nature - Allah's creation.  They are really the most well-rounded kids i have ever met.[/quote] As was that one.

Re: TV or not TV?
Tarar
02/20/01 at 21:57:33
Asalaam O' alaikum I know almost all the Mujahid's of Laskar e taiba have broke their Tv's. they are not even selling, as they say that they don't want to forward this Shaitan to any other brother. Wasalaam Tarar

Re: TV or not TV?
Arsalan
02/21/01 at 00:21:20
Assalamu alaikum, Tarar - tell us about the Lashkar-e-Taiba!  I'm sure many people on here don't know anything about it.

Re: TV or not TV?
Tarar
02/21/01 at 22:25:13
Asalaam O' alaikum Arsalan Laskar e taiba is Jihadi organization fighting along with mujahideen's of Chechnya and kashmir. This is Laskar e taiba web site. http://www.markazdawa.org/ wasalaam o alaikum Tarar
NS

Re: TV or not TV?
jade
02/22/01 at 14:19:33
Asalaamu Alaikom, Television is not the tool of the devil nor has it been substanciated that it has harmful physical/mental effects on childeren. as for showing young people the kufaars style of living (friends, 90210..ect) well it can also show the flip side if muslims would take it upon themselves to do something. another thing, do you think that young muslims who do haram do it specificaly because they saw someone on TV do it? the issue is alot more complicated than that. Haram is all around them, not just on TV. These kids have very low iman plus the fact that the environment they live in is compleatly corrupted, I don't specificly mean home environment. Bad TV programs showing haram is only an outgrowth of this corruption. again I have to go back to my old analogy: a car can take you to a bar or the mosque. what do you do? take away the car or burn down the bar salaam

Re: TV or not TV?
Arsalan
02/22/01 at 14:28:46
[slm] Just thinking out loud here: If the Prophet (pbuh) were to visit your house, where would you sit him?  In the living room of course!  Would you turn the TV on for him, say, to show him the news?  Imagine him (pbuh) staring at the female news-caster!  Worse, what if it's the end of the hour and they're covering "Entertainment"?? Hmm.... Laqad kaana lakum fee Rasulillahi uswatun Hasanah, right?? Indeed you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example (to follow). I don't really buy that car/bar analogy.  The car is in your control, all the time.  The TV isn't (unless we're talking about a utopic world of the Islamic Khilafah, where all the programs on TV would be Islamic and screened and approved by shuyookh!)

Tick tock tick tock…
AbuKhaled
02/23/01 at 14:01:03
Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem, Beloved Brothers & Sisters, Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullah. I have two questions, and some remarks interspersed. 1. Since we as Muslims have been created to worship Allah ta'ala, and we cannot fulfil this directive unless we know a particular action to be halal/haram *prior* to engaging in it, have you ever investigated the hukm related to television, or do you just presume it is halal? If anyone watches tv without knowing beforehand if it is halal/harm, their action is of no benefit to them in the akhira, for it hasn't been undertaken on the basis of knowing whether Al-Shaari' [The Legislator] indeed allows it. In which case such an action is not in your favour. If knowing that is not troubling or of concern then it is symptomatic of a more grave problem. It is *not* a case of it being halal if the program is virtuous or haram if it is not. No. For that is not a shari'i (i.e. legal) argument to make the act of watching, halal. And even if it was, we are not of those who can reason actions  to be halal/haram. So, how many of us who watch tv - having begun to practice our Deen - possessed even the wara' [scrupulousness] to investigate whether in doing so we were doing that which is halal, *before* continuing with this practice which in many cases was initiated at an age before takalluf [legal responsibility for our deeds], and/or interest in the Deen? Or do we choose to be those who are indifferent and heedless about the hukm because we don't think Islam has anything to say on such matters, or it never occurred to us that for this too there is accountability? Bottom line? Watching tv is an issue of fiqh. Beyond that it becomes a matter of pursuing excellence in Deen as opposed to mediocrity. And this applies mainly to the area of ibaha [permissibility]. That just because an act is mubah [permissible] doesn't make it the best option. It is reported about one of the Salaf that he refused to eat a fruit *even though it was halal to do so* because their was no transmission about *how* our Beloved Prophet (saw) ate that same fruit!! Subhan'Allah! How times have changed. We have so far to go. *Such* was the absolute intensity of the Salaf in seeking complete emulation of the Prophetic character, to the utmost detail, which probably in today would be dismissed as excessive, wal iyadhubillah! Yet, if we paused to reflect, we'd realise that if they went to such an extent in matters which seem trivial, then what must have they been like in that which was more important? We struggle with that which is required - be it wajib [obligatory] or mandoub [recommended] - so how do we then intend to deal with a matter which at *best* may be mubah [permissible] - wallahu a'lam - in a manner most conducive to our hereafter? Look deep within yourself and the condition of your iman, Islam and ihsan. Knowing the distance you need to travel, stopping off unnecessarily at the services, and/or for too long at a time, will it help or hinder you on your journey? What must it take before you awaken to your reality? You want to crawl towards pleasing your Creator (swt), or run? 2. Regarding the unsubstantiated harmful effects of tv. This is an opinion stated by the beholder, which suggests they've looked into the matter to thus be able to form such a view. I wonder, for our edification could some sources of the sufficiently extensive investigation undertaken in reaching this view be cited? I provided only one source, and it was authored by someone who has the requisite professional expertise and specialist knowledge required to have a view worth considering. Coupled with the endorsement of a Muslim whom you have the prerogative to trust or not if you place a question mark over material authored by non-Muslims as a preclusionary clause to accepting such research. You could also read Neil Postman's "Amusing Ourselves to Death", Jerry Mander's "Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television", and "Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media", by Edward S Herman & Noam Chomsky, to name a few. It is important to note that the research by such non-Muslims in and of itself holds no probative value in terms of a shariah argument, *but* it can be used to form the basis of understanding, or corroborating evidence, or additional evidence, about the *reality* of television, which the Shar'iah will then place a hukm upon. The more comprehensively one studies the issue the better able the fuqaha are to derive the correct rule regarding it. Which means conversely that if the reality is not understood adequately then the hukm is less likely to be right - wallahu a'lam -  for the reality is other than that which the hukm is addressing. So understanding the reality is crucial. To say the detrimental effects are unsubstantiated is, bluntly speaking, nonsense. It is not true and perhaps based on ignorance of the research out there. It is patently untrue to assert that, simply because there is substantiation, and the book I cited provides some. Rather than dismissing it, provide some proof to the contrary. What may have been more accurate to say is that the degree of substantiation is probabilistic rather than definite, due to the methodology of research. Or bring forth the research that concludes no link whatsoever, in order to buttress the claim that there is no substantiation. The point being, for those who've said that the harmful effects are unsubstantiated, is such an opinion based on *how much* one has investigated the matter before forming their opinion, or how little? I would also mention another point. Even if we say - for the sake of argument - that tv has the hukm [legal rule] of ibaha [permissibility], then know that our Prophet (saw) was not a Prophet (saw) whose life was characterised by ibaha. And it is reported about his (saw) Sahaba [Companions] (raa) that they forsook nine tenths of the ibaha. They actively chose*not* to fritter their time away with that which was merely mubah. Why? Because they were people of excellence, not mediocrity. You have a choice. Either you fill your time and the time of those under your responsibility, with acts which bring you no closer to your Lord (swt), or with acts that will be of some benefit to you, on that Day when pleading for more time to amass good deeds will avail you not one iota, for by then it will be too late, your record will be closed. Leaving the mubah for that which is greater is also part of the Sunnah, but perhaps requires a deeper level of understanding. All these feeble justifications about positive content is redundant, for there are other, better - non-passive - avenues for cultural, scientific, edification if that is the argument for tv. We just need to be more creative. More than this, who are *we*? Are we people of wara' [scrupulousness]? Of high taqwa? Of little propensity to wawasa [satanic whisperings]? Of such moral resoluteness, that we don't succumb to the haram that is on tv when it is just us and no one else around to see us? Is it enough - when Muslims are meant to be people of excellence, for Allah ta'ala loves excellence - that as soon as a scene, or an advert appears which reveals some nudity, or vulgarity, some profane language, we rush to our remotes and switch the channel, or turn it off? I think not. It still means that that was a *reaction*. You had to see/hear it briefly, rather than not at all. Because only by realising it was there could you take some aversive action. Brothers and Sisters, do you really delude yourself into thinking that those momentary glimpses are so easily delible, and leave no impact? Or is it the beginning of a slippery slope into increased desensitisation towards that which displeases Allah (swt)? At first we tolerate nothing. But then slowly we become accustomed and start to draw lines. So, we'll watch a film which has profanity, but not if it has nudity, as if that is some major moral stride we've made in drawing that line. We'll allow the kids to imitate dance routines from some pop group they saw on tv, but if they sing the vulgar lyrics we'll give them a stern look. Masha'Allah. Wake up. The example I gave about those fleeting glimpses of nudity, or the hearing of bad language, etc., can be made into an analogy. If we consider the issue of fajr salat. What is the case of the one who has trouble waking up, yet insists on staying awake late regularly (for no justifiable reason), or who only sets one low-resonance alarm when s/he has the ability to set another which is really loud? S/he has no excuse before Allah ta'ala, right? Because s/he has the means and chooses not to take them. So whilst sleep (ing through an alarm, or oversleep, etc.) can be a valid reason for missing fajr, it isn't when it is a regular occurrence and occurs as a result of not taking the appropriate measures to combat this problem, as opposed to in spite of taking them. In the same way one *may* (and it's questionable) be able to invoke an excuse for glimpsing/hearing something haram once in a while on tv, but regularly, knowingly, avoidably? And if you don't know the answer to this, then better to adopt the manner of the muttaqeen [pious ones] and avoid it rather than presume that ignorance will be your excuse when Allah ta'ala questions you about it. If that isn't enough then you have to ask yourself: what kind of a Muslim is it who would risk their Islam by allowing the *possibility* of such things to enter their soul? Who is comfortable with the possibility of such filth dashing past their eyes/ears? Do you understand how tv works? How it's images and sounds are processed (by you)? And what kind of a Muslim parent is it who is ready to pollute the pure fitrah of their child by risking exposure to something unwholesome? Because the point is, when it's there, so is the possibility for distance from Allah (swt). Isn't that alone enough to discourage us? Don't kid yourself. Television is not a neutral technology like computers or cars. You don't control the content (unless you only use it to watch videos), you only control your reaction to it. And like we've already said, the issue isn't one just of substance. And please, think before answering. Answers like "Well if you're going to say we shouldn't hear swearing on tv, then what about the fact that it is unavoidable outside our homes? Should we walk around with our fingers in our ears?! We hear it anyway." I really hope no one answers like this, for this is symptomatic of finding an excuse to justify that which should not be being justified on such a basis in the first place. There is an asl [source] of law which many of the usuliyyun [scholars concerned with legal methodology] adopt known as *sadd adh-dharai* [preventing/blocking the means]. It is basically where the existence of means that could lead to something haram are made haram. For example, the existence of pornography may lead to the sexualisation of a society to a destructive level, so on this basis (though there are others too) the means to it's production could be prohibited. (NB: I say "could" not because of any question about pornography being halal - a'uzubillah - but because the asl may not be agreed upon by all as a probative one, so other usuliyyun may resort to other usul, qawa'id and dalail). Of course, then you have to contend with the "what is the proof that pornography damages societies" argument, where it is as if they seek a proof along the lines - as an example - of a rapist being caught with pornography in his possession at the incident of rape to prove the link, and nothing less is sufficient!!! In the same way once you allow the existence of tv on a generic level, then it is not long after that the black and white guidelines drawn for what is un/acceptable material to be seen, becomes hazy and we too become careless and lax in reinforcement. Many are the times when children end up watching the tv unsupervised, despite the best intentions of their parents. Maybe the supervising parent leaves the room for a while and in those few minutes something unislamic appears on screen. Children are sponges and impressionable. Moreover, the dictates of life mean it is incredibly difficult to keep an eye on them all the time. Another dimension to this discussion are parents whose arguments for the continued presence for tv in their homes is less to do with their children than themselves and their own desires. They despicably use their kids as a front to argue for the need for tv, when really it is their own nafs which wishes for it to be there, especially when the tv is situated communally, but also because children tend to question double-standards with less tact and more innocence than adults. This can be noted especially when the arguments are mainly aqli [rational], as it is indicative of a lack of concern to turn to the naql [text]. I''m not at all hinting that that is the case here, astaghfirullah. As for the issue of whether - for example - violence on tv leads to violence-inclined kids, this again is a fickle manner of reasoning for the perpetuation of having tv. What kind of proof do you seek? Consider the type of the proof required to make such a correlation and how virtually impossible it would be to make a satisfactory link. Does that mean there is none? It's like advertising. It raises a *general awareness* about a brand. Say Coca-Cola, they advertise profusely. But do any of you ever see an advert for coke and suddenly desire to drink it? Or, if you were in a shop and buying some coke and someone asked you which advert you'd seen that influenced your decision, you probably wouldn't be able to pinpoint one specific advert (e.g. "I saw a billboard on the way here" ), rather it would be the general high level nature of Coke's advertising that reinforces the brand in your mind. Thats the whole point of advertising, you don't just do it once, or place one. You do it regularly and loudly. It is the impact of suffusion that penetrates, not one isolated ad for a product/service seen once in one place (there are, as always, exceptions). It is the same with tv. Its not one single factor, but the general prevalence of undesirable and unislamic aspects to it (including the technology). As for allowing it because of a lack of alternatives, (i) that is again not a shari'i argument and (ii) *go and create those alternatives*! Don't wait for the initiative to come from others, go and *do it* yourself. "I lack time." "Why?" Because you spend it watching tv, lol! Subhan'Allah, must we remain so reactive? This Deen teaches us to be pro-active: seeking knowledge, this is a pro-active endeavour. Da'wah, it is pro-active (though it can be reactive). And so on… These endeavours needn't be grand-scale projects, there are so many small-scale ways of replacing tv time with your children that the children will find so fulfilling, and needn't exhaust you.  Don't let it be that a day comes when you lament over the time you could have spent with your children, your husband/wife, your family, which was lost because you lacked the creativity, initiative and imagination to compete with that mesmerising box of tricks in the corner of a room in your house. Are you really willing to let it steal all that quality time? But bottom line Brothers and Sisters? If *you* don't want to stop watching it, or get rid of it, you aren't really going to care what Allah (swt) and His (awj) Messenger (saw) have to say about it, are you? You'll do as you please, as if with impunity, like we (i.e. many of us, not all) always do. Having read all this though, you'll no longer be able to escape prosecution on the basis of claiming a defence of ignorance. When there is *so much* groundwork to be done for children these days, in preserving their fitrah let alone preparing their Islam for the world outside, do you really have the time/inclination to allow that which is less beneficial (if you want to claim it's not harmful) instead of that which is more? We have enough curing of problems to deal with already. Perhaps if we focussed on prevention more, then we could free up some time, energy and resources to deal with other matters which are destroying us. Surely it is sheer foolhardiness to allow problems to manifest that are avoidable. And does anyone here disagree that tv *does* cause problems, be they immediate or longer-term? Given that we live in an age where it is even a mammoth task just clinging to the fundamentals given the onslaught of the kufr culture, the ominous way in which it looms all around us, and it's prevalence even within the sanctity of the walls we call our homes, it is hard to see how tv can be *so flippantly* reasoned to displace actions which are more pressing, better, worthwhile, and frankly, necessary to the point of urgency. Only a parent who was naïve to the nature of kufr, and underestimated it's grip on a child could even dismiss so casually the notion of getting rid of television. Those hours can definitely be spent in more productive ways, which will be sources of ajar, thawab and barakah for the parent, and the child. Only a parent who didn't appreciate the value of this or was apathetic/indifferent in preparing in the best manner - for themselves and their offspring - for the hereafter could be blind to this. The worst conclusion to this might be that one day, many years later - as I have heard *many times* from adults and youth who are beginning to learn their Deen - the parent's manner of upbringing their child becomes an argument against them for their child, as the children come to realise what the parents didn't, about tv. The child blames wasted years concerning their Islam, on the parent. Will the tolerance of tv and the culture of passivity in pursuing Islam it engendered and helped to perpetuate, be worth that single solitary heartbreaking sentence? The choice is yours. Abu Khaled

Re: Tick tock tick tock…
Arsalan
02/23/01 at 12:46:23
[quote]Will the tolerance of tv and the culture of passivity in pursuing Islam it engendered and helped to perpetuate, be worth that single solitary heartbreaking sentence?[/quote]No.  Never!  A'udhu billahi min dhaalik! Brilliant post Br. Abu Khaled.  May Allah reward you for it with the best. Wassalamu alaikum.

Re: TV or not TV?
destined
02/23/01 at 13:12:35
he always has brilliant posts masha'Allah =)

Re: TV or not TV?
BrKhalid
02/23/01 at 16:48:38
Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) [quote]But bottom line Brothers and Sisters? If *you* don't want to stop watching it, or get rid of it, you aren't really going to care what Allah (swt) and His (awj) Messenger (saw) have to say about it, are you? You'll do as you please, as if with impunity, like we (i.e. many of us, not all) always do. Having read all this though, you'll no longer be able to escape prosecution on the basis of claiming a defence of ignorance.[/quote] wow

Re: TV or not TV?
jade
02/26/01 at 09:24:07
salaamu alaikom, in responce to Arsalan, "Imagine him (pbuh) staring at the female news-caster" I would imagine that the prophet (peace be upon him) would see things alot worse just walking down any street in any part of the world. "I don't really buy that car/bar analogy.  The car is in your control, all the time.  The TV isn't " you are in full control of what you tune in to and what you don't. you can choose to watch something appropriate or not. -------------------------------------------------- in responce to AbuKhalid "1. Since we as Muslims have been created to worship Allah ta'ala, and we cannot fulfil this directive unless we know a particular action to be halal/haram *prior* to engaging in it, have you ever investigated the hukm related to television, or do you just presume it is halal?" first let me state the following: in islamic fiqh the rule is clear: everything is considered halal untill a daleel can be found to the contrary. so the burden of proof is on you and not me. second: I have seen countless muslim scholars on television, people better than you or I. and so I think it's safe to assume that they have no problem with the medium. "Regarding the unsubstantiated harmful effects of tv. This is an opinion stated by the beholder, which suggests they've looked into the matter to thus be able to form such a view. I wonder, for our edification could some sources of the sufficiently extensive investigation undertaken in reaching this view be cited?" the idea that TV is in some way harmful has not been proven. and does not have acceptance within the medical community. in other words, there is no PROVEN connection between any form illness, mental or otherwise, and TV. "Rather than dismissing it," its not my place to dismiss it. I left that to the majority of the medical community. I need not do any research to know this obvious point. Are at least willing to accept that the idea that TV is harmful isn't widly accepted? "They actively chose*not* to fritter their time away with that which was merely mubah." the idea that TV is just waste of time is YOUR opinion. I would rather say that it depends on what you are watching. "All these feeble justifications about positive content is redundant, for there are other, better - non-passive - avenues for cultural, scientific, edification if that is the argument for tv. We just need to be more creative." feeble? when I first began to discover my religion I was gently steered in the right direction by the many shaikhs I used to see on TV. each of them taught me something different. each I grew to respect and love. how many people other than me have these great men touched positivly. in how many other parts of the world? and how many people would have even known there names without TV. what about the news abu khaled? what about educational films? what about documentaries? what about charitable events? and on and on -------------------------------------------------- "if you don't want to stop watching it, or get rid of it, you aren't really going to care what Allah (swt) and His (awj) Messenger (saw) have to say about it, are you?" wrong, I didn't WANT to stop smoking, yet I did. and I'm sure many of the sahabah didn't WANT to stop drinking, yet they did. Denying yourself what you want, that is true Iman. Iman is wanting Allah's forgivness and mercy over any other thing. that quote is rubish. salaam....

Re: TV or not TV?
bhaloo
02/26/01 at 11:46:29
slm There used to be this half hour show that was produced in Los Angeles, called I think "IIS" and they would talk about Islam.  They would talk about very basic things, but I think it was good.  I think due to lack of funding they had to cancel the show.  I think it was a good way to do dawah and clear up misconceptions many non-Muslims have about Islam. I wonder if other communities in the west did something like this? ???

Re: TV or not TV?
donia
03/01/01 at 10:47:46
If the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him ) were to visit your house, where            would you sit him?  In the living room of course!  Would you turn           the TV on for him, say, to show him the news? Assalamu alaykum everybody I found this post interesting br. Arsalan, however I imagined the prophet's (pbuh) reaction to be different. I imagined him to be upset because while we have such an incredible "daawa" tool, still most of the human beings living on earth (including some born muslims) think that Islam is a barbaric religion and that all the muslims are terrorists.  And all we will be able to say then is that we chose to be negative and stay away of this technology because we thought it was evil. SubhanAllah salam

The Burdens of Proofs
AbuKhaled
03/02/01 at 18:19:18
Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem. Dear Sister Jade, Wa-alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah. At the outset I would like to say that if, having read this, you found my manner brusque, my tone offensive, my words harsh, and a general perception of pompousness in the way I have written, please forgive me and counsel me how to improve my “way”, for this is an acknowledged shortcoming that plagues me. I posted this earlier and - alhamdulillah - a Brother notified me that it carried a tone of harshness, which is not conducive to such discussions and not becoming of a Muslim towards others who are his Brothers/Sisters. So consequently, I have endeavoured to remove all traces of that, but if you find I still fell short then I ask your oversight, and welcome your advice. I would prefer to be corrected than manifest a lack of compassion towards you or anyone else who read these words. My intention was not to offend, belittle, or make you feel humiliated through this, and it is better for my akhira to maintain adab than pursue a discussion in it’s absence. I solicit the help of any who might read this from amongst my Brothers and Sisters, to aid me in overcoming this unbefitting and blameworthy trait. For s/he who cannot show mercy to others should not expect it shown unto him/her by Allah (swt). May Allah (swt) reward the one who brought to my attention a reminder about this despicable characteristic within me, astaghfirullah. <first let me state the following: in islamic fiqh the rule is clear: everything is considered halal untill a daleel can be found to the contrary. so the burden of proof is on you and not me.> I know the rule you are alluding to, but it needs itqan [precision] - no offence to you - when referring to the qawa'id fiqhiyyah [fiqh principles], because the implications that can occur if they are not worded as stated can lead one off the beaten track so to speak. I will expound on the qa'ida momentarily. But before then there are a few remarks to be made. Istihlal [to declare something halal] is no light matter, and if I invoke a shari'i qa'ida as if to imply something is halal, unaccompanied by the force of authority of anyone who is qualified to apply that qa'ida, then I have made myself into a reference point before Allah ta'ala. In the absence of referring to a qualified authority in fiqh, I will have assumed responsibility for istihlal, ma'adallah. And as I've quoted previously, Imam Ibn al-Qayyim said about this in his seminal "I'lam al-Muwaqqi'een", that it is like signing on behalf of Allah. This frightens me tremendously. It is a fascinating qa'ida that you alluded to. Such qawa’id normally have shurut [conditons] and mawani' [impediments]. They are rules governing when it can be applied and when it cannot. Can it, for instance, be applied in the presence of a *direct* shar'a daleel? Meaning, if you have a direct evidence relating to the matter, can a qa'ida which is an indirect daleel be applied, either as corroboration, affirmation, reinforcement, or in opposition? I ask this because I wonder if the qa’ida here is applicable, and I will explain below. Due to the complexities of fiqh – as I’m sure you appreciate – and I have learnt the hard way ;-) it is not enough to have a general vague understanding of such qawa'id. One needs to study them fi tafseel [in detail], else erroneous conclusions might be made. This is why, as my first post stated clearly, I was not giving a hukm nor a fatwa declaring tv to be illicit (i.e. haram). I don't wish to bear the responsibility for that. So, I am about to elucidate why I disagree that the burden of proof lies upon me, and why a presumption of legality for *watching* tv should not be deduced from this qa’ida. I welcome your corrections if what I write is wrong. And every tawfeeq is but from Allah (swt), we seek His (awj) pleasure, and acknowledge that He (swt) Knows best. In fact, I have posted this comment about this qa'ida before, so this is just an edited paste (which I'll bracket between double hashes) of that. After which I'll address the rest of your response, insha'Allah. ## When the famous shari'i qa'ida "everything is halal unless there is a text that says its haram", is applied to the context of *actions*, it highlights a misunderstanding and misapplication of the qa'ida. This qa'ida does *not* refer to amal, but to *things*. Despite the common application of this qa'ida to actions, it is nonetheless wrong, and in proof of this assertion I will adduce some quotes of what two of the Classical Ulema have said on the issue. Thereafter, those who might still venture to disagree, could you please then - for my own edification - cite the daleel and hujja [proof] which permits the extrapolation of this qa'ida to actions. I will be greatly indebted, since I cannot see any justification for this erroneous application, other than my own ignorance, which granted, is abundant. To quell any possible concern that I am speaking without basis, I would like to quote from "The Reconstruction of Legal Thought in Islam"; authored by Dr Riaz-ul-Hasan Gilani [revised edition published around 1977]. Sayyid Gilani was the Advocate to the Supreme Court of Pakistan and Secretary for the Lahore High Court Bar Association, and lectured in the Punjab University Law College. He was, according to Maulana Abul A'la Maudoodi (ra) (who wrote the Foreword) well-versed in modern law & jurisprudence, as well as Islamic Law. I mention this not as an endorsement, but just for your information, so you are aware of his background, and because my words carry no weight. [NB: words which are parenthesised in {} are mine, and tend to be transliterations of arabic from the quoted text] "The famous legal maxim *as aslu fi al-shiya' ibaha* means that the basic presumption in the case of things is permission. It may be noted down that the presumption of permission is with things [al-shiya'] and not with social actions [af'al]. Things may mean the material objects and techniques which are basically permitted to be selected according to the option of the people unless something is specifically prohibited. Sometimes things are confused with social actions, but it should be noted that basic presumption in case of actions is the provisions of the Shari'ah and not the freedom or permission [ibaha]. Every social action is end in itself. The presumption or freedom in case of actions amounts to the dangerous belief that the provisions of the Shari'ah are not comprehensive. Ibn Taimiya while confronting with such attitude, writes: "In the Shari¡¦ah no action {amal} is obligatory {wajib} unless it is made so by the Prophet (peace be upon him). Similarly no action is prohibited {haram}, desirable {mustahab}, undesirable {makruh} or permissable {mubah} unless declared by him (peace be upon him)." [Ibn Taimiya, Al-Qa'idat al-Jalilah, p99] And he writes in another book: "And the basic and comprehensive presumption is reliance on the provisions of the Qur¡¦an and the Sunnah." [...] Ghazali says: "And the right version is that an argument without support from the text in the negative or positive is unimaginable in the Shari'ah." [Ghazali, Al-mankhul, p132]" [taken from pp 137-138 incl.] ENDQUOTE. Even if - just for arguments sake - one were to concede to the application of this principle by those who use it to justify actions as being halal, it would still force such an advocate to go to the text *first*, before declaring the act as halal. Because were it to be adhered to properly, it too would force the proponent to go to the naql [text] first, in order to know whether there is a specific text prohibiting that alternative, beforehand. One could not just presume the alternative to be halal without consulting the text, and this would require an exhaustive and comprehensive visit to all the primary usul [sources], and the dalail which spring from them, rather than just a cursory glance through our Sahih al-Bukharis and Muslims, and the other common books, which only constitute a part of the available dalail, and by no means all of them. But like I said, that is just if one concedes to the argument, which I don't. So it is not enough - nor appropriate - to issue a presumption of legality just because "I haven't seen any evidence which says you can't", for this presumes access to *all* the necessary dalail, and who but the Ulema have recourse to this? Without this intimacy of the primary sources, to assume shari'i il/legality is to shoulder a responsibility which may have grave consequences in the akhira if one was wrong, for to make halal what was haram, and vice versa, as well as that which lies in between, is to sign on behalf of Al-Shaari' [The Legislator], as Ibn al-Qayyum (ra) mentioned in I'lam al Muwaqi'een. Thankfully none of us here (in this thread) has transgressed this limit, alhamdulillah. May Allah (awj) protect us all from pseudo-scholarship. I hope this shows that the words of this ignoramus (i.e. me) are not based on his own ra'y [opinion] and hence weightless. But that the Classical Scholars were of this view, wallahu a'lam, and this is from where the correct, authentic and orthodox Islamic understanding is taken. No doubt I admit of the possibility that within the Clasicial Scholars there *may* have been disagreement on this point. I'm *not* saying there was/is, but merely admitting that due to my unlearnedness there may have been, so I would welcome being corrected, for what we seek is the best and soundest fahm [understanding] of the matter. Wallahu a'lam. Furthermore, as one whose ignorance characterises his words it is not appropriate to rush and issue hasty judgements. Not that one elevates onself to the lofty position of being able to do so anyway, ma'adallah. For verily the one who seeks a rank beyond that which one occupies, may be tested by it by the One (awj) who Tests. Of course if there is a *valid* ikhtilaf, then no inkar [objection] should be made. So let us say that due to my lack of knowledge, I am unaware of such ikhtilaf, and so I shouldn't - with the foresight of due diligence- discount the possibility of it's existence, which is why I am not.## Moving on to the rest of your post: <second: I have seen countless muslim scholars on television, people better than you or I.> It is not for us to assume who is better than who, that is in the realm of knowledge which is unknown to you, for it entails knowing also the hearts, and none but Allah ta'ala is the Knower of this, wal iyadhubillah. <and so I think it's safe to assume that they have no problem with the medium.> Whilst your deduction has weight, it is not a hujja [proof], and if that is a basis upon which one engages in this activity then it is not following that which should be being followed, for everything which is not a proof is itself in need of a proof. So, what needs to be known is the basis upon which such Ulema appear on tv, not that their appearance constitutes a shar'a daleel for the licitness of watching tv. <the idea that TV is in some way harmful has not been proven. and does not have acceptance within the medical community. in other words, there is no PROVEN connection between any form illness, mental or otherwise, and TV.> Can you disprove Dr Johnson's research, that you've made such a bold claim? Secondly, if you require general acceptance from the medical community about this, then by the same reasoning you must also believe in macro-evolution too, for that also has general acceptance within the scientific community. Thirdly, either one is at the forefront, or one is led. The masses only found out about the human genome project, genetic cloning, IVF treatments, etc., once the media began clamouring about these things, yet they were known and gained acceptance within the circles of science ages before that. So just because something is not trumpeted publicly does not mean it is not admitted. Also, do not discount the massive corporate interests vested into the medium of tv. The billions of dollars in advertising revenue, syndication of tv program rights, and more. Medical ethics aren't always so pure and righteous that the truth becomes known as soon as it is established. Sometimes other interests outweigh the public interest. But that's just a point of note, I am *not* hollering conspiracy theory.  ;-) <its not my place to dismiss it. I left that to the majority of the medical community. I need not do any research to know this obvious point.> So it would be true to conclude that your sole justification for believing this is that you've not heard anything to the contrary? That doesn’t really satisfy what is known as a rigorous falsification criterion. A presumption of obviousness based on no validation, merely reactive supposition, not pro-active investigation and thoroughness. In fact this issue (of falsification) was an epiphany in science, and quite intriguing in it’s own right if such things interest you. <<"They actively chose*not* to fritter their time away with that which was merely mubah.">> [< - my words] <the idea that TV is just waste of time is YOUR opinion. I would rather say that it depends on what you are watching.> Actually here you responded to a point I didn’t make. ;-) I did not say that tv was a waste of time. What I said was that at best it is mubah [permissible]. The argument here was centred on the axis of ibaha [permissibility] not time-wasting. To restate the point: tv - at best - is an act of ibaha (wallahu a'lam). There are *other* acts which may be undertaken in that same time which possess a *higher* legal value. Say reading the Qur¡¦an, which is mandoub [recommended] (wallahu a'lam). So, taking this example, either you can spend your time watching tv and gaining no reward from Allah (swt), because by definition an act of ibaha carries with it no reward, or you can spend it doing an act of nadb [recommendation], which will result in not only gaining reward, but drawing closer to your Lord (swt). Now, since *every* action you do in life is built on the ahkam khamsah [five legal rules] then everytime you want to watch tv, you can ask yourself if there is another action of *greater* importance/value which you could be doing. If ones choice is then to opt for the mubah in place of the wajib/mandoub, then it reflects a psychology which doesn't truly appreciate the importance and need to acquire reward, and who amongst us can afford to forego the accrual of reward? This issue of how we decide what action to do when we have an option before us to do more than one thing is not confined to tv, it touches the very essence of our lives, so it is fundamental to our afterlife that we understand it. Please don't misunderstand, I'm not at all judging anyone for watching tv, Allah (swt) knows I am riddled with hypocrisy, disobedience, sin, and shortcomings. The point however is that we have an eternity to prepare for, and choosing acts that whilst benefiting us in dunya terms, don't increase for us the weight on the scales in our favour, seems like shortchanging our future. That realisation is what should be the ultimate arbitrator of what we decide to do when faced with whether to watch or not. And that is only if you follow an opinion that says tv is mubah. Some Ulema have already said it is haram. Others may disagree. To give you an example, the reason why my reply to you took till now. The day I read your response a situation erupted where a brother I was in contact with threatened to beat the living daylights out of his fiance, may Allah (swt) keep her safe. He was livid with her and intended to hurt her badly in order to (i) extract some information he wanted from her, and (ii) to exact some revenge for something that had transpired. So I have spent much time over the last few days trying to prevent her from being beaten, calming him down, easing tensions and dealing with a situation in which it was extremely hard to know if I wasn't being lied to, or taken for a fool. So, I had to make a choice between replying to you, or dealing with that. That choice was based on the ahkam khamsah, which dictated that which was more important.   In fact, this is yet another reason why even if it was considered mubah to watch tv, I would find it hard to dedicate (much?) time to it, when our communities have problems which need to be dealt with, our families, etc., all of which requires time and effort. <feeble?> Sorry, you made a good point here about how tv aided you in your Deen. That is my mistake, let me clarify. When I said feeble here, in relation to positive content and there being other non-passive avenues for pursuance, I meant as an argument for the licitness of tv. Because whilst we can debate back and forth about content, the bottom line is that even if the content is positive, that is not a hujja in a shari'i sense. Thus, what you then followed with questions alluding to the merits of news, educational programmes, documentaries, etc., are all valid points, but ultimately, not the issue. I don't disagree with you about their worth and that they can be beneficial. But that again is not a shar'a daleel. Nonetheless, one should not become so blinded by trying to prove their point that they wrongly dismiss every word others who disagree with them say, for that is to abandon what is good and may be true, and manifests closed-mindedness. <<"if you don't want to stop watching it, or get rid of it, you aren't really going to care what Allah (SubHana Wa Ta`ala ) and His (awj) Messenger (saw) have to say about it, are you?">> [< -my words] <wrong, I didn't WANT to stop smoking, yet I did. and I'm sure many of the sahabah didn't WANT to stop drinking, yet they did.> With respect, but is this your speculation about their (raa) state? Have you read any accounts of their (raa) words that lead you to conclude this? I ask because I don’t think it is not true that they did not want to, though of course I could be wrong, wallahu a’lam. When a hukm came, their hearts inclined to it immediately, wallahu a'lam. They were the best of generations (raa). If you refer to ayat 4:65, one realises that it was they (raa) who submitted with no resistance and full conviction, *in all matters* as soon as the hukm of Allah (swt) was made known to them, for the generality of the text preponderates over the specificity of the asbab an-nuzool [causes of revelation], unless a qarina [indicator] exists to suggest otherwsie, wallahu ta'ala a'lam. Nothing less is befitting in attribution to them (raa). Our lowly motivations and desires are a world apart from their exalted and excellent stations. I would caution myself, and us all, against taking our own reality as a presumption for how it possibly was for them. <Denying yourself what you want, that is true Iman. Iman is wanting Allah's forgivness and mercy over any other thing.> Upon whose authority is this statement made? As poetic and affecting as your words are - masha’Allah -  is this a normative statement regarding what is true iman as you understand it? Or is it one of the lower states that reflect the reality of one's iman rather than reflecting that which constitutes it? I am reminded of the words of our beloved Shaykh Adhami who mentioned in a four part article on Shar'iah he authored: "When Ata replied to a question, the questioner asked: "is this answer opinion [ra'y] or knowledge ['ilm]?" And Ata, the Imam of the Tabi'een in Mecca, said: "We heard from so and so [that] he heard the Prophet (saw) say..." Did you learn this from authority, or is it ra'y? I don’t ask abrasively, but to know, for I recognise the truth in such an experience of the self. Please educate me, for I am ignorant about this. It is my understanding that what you are referring to is not concerning iman but ihsan, and even then it is not from the higher states. In proof of this I will adduce what I think is relevant, in reply to your next comment: <that quote is rubish.> We should all ittaqillah about that which we relegate to the bin. Perhaps you did not know it, and why should you have, but what I wrote was not based on ra'y, but built upon the noble hadith of our Beloved Prophet (saw), whereupon it is reported that he (saw) said that, "None of you truly believes until his very desires/inclinations are in accordance with what I have brought." [aw qama qal]. So, unless I am wide of the mark, what is true iman is that you *want* what Allah (swt) and His Habib (saw) want, not that you succumb to it through denial, though obviously the latter is not without it's virtue. Zuhd [abstinence] has it's place, but please – with respect my Sister - be careful of what you describe as being rubbish in future. <salaam....> Wa-alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah. Abu Khaled

Re: TV or not TV?
Al-Basha
03/02/01 at 20:39:50
[slm] All these super super long posts make me wonder how much space is being taken up on the server hosting this webboard. Of course you could say that I am wasting space by posting this right now :)

Re: TV or not TV?
humble_muslim
03/04/01 at 4:00:58 PM
AA I'm out of my leauge here, but for what it's worth : "Temptations will be presented to men's hearts as reed mat is woven stick by stick and any heart which is impregnated by them will have a black mark put into it, but any heart which rejects them will have a white mark put in it. The result is that there will become two types of hearts: one white like a white stone which will not be harmed by any turmoil or temptation, so long as the heavens and the earth endure; and the other black and dust-coloured like a vessel which is upset, not recognizing what is good or rejecting what is abominable, but being impregnated with passion."  Sahee Muslim. Is this hadith not, in fact saying what Jade says, "Denying yourself what you want, that is true Iman. " ?
NS

Re: TV or not TV?
princess
03/05/01 at 14:43:05
as'salaamualikum :) i agree with the few ppl here that said it depends on what u watch..:) to answer the original question (would i give up the tv if my spouse wanted..) no, i wouldn't..i don't think it's that big of a deal :) but couldn't the same thing apply to computers? things r just as accessible, (if not easier) to ahh, "fall into fit'nah" (for lack of better words..) what's everyone thoughts on that? we all spend a fairly decent amount of time on the internet..would anyone give that up, if their spouses wanted? most of the ppl that post here, seem to be married..it'd be good to get input from them :) just wondering :) ma'salaam ;-D

Re: TV or not TV?
hydrolicious
03/06/01 at 01:10:33
Assalamu alaikum.... c'mon princess...u can't be serious...even if your husband said pretty plz with strawberries on top... :) I personally feel,,,that everything done in moderation which takes into account the responsibilities we have to our creator..our family, our wives, husnabds..and so on....   Through having this awareness of our duties and obligations....it helps to curb any deviant activites inshallah... long live petaabays feamanallah Inspector gadget

Re: TV or not TV?
PacificBreeze
03/06/01 at 02:49:49
assalaamu alaikum wrwb, quick comments: WOOOOOOOOW masha'allah abu khaled...those were awesome posts masha'allah! :) shukran ala juhoodik wa barakallahu feeka! :) actually there have been numerous of reports and teacher orgs denoucning Tv and there's even a national unplug the TV week...and the movment and study behind the "tv makes you dumb" slogan..most ppl are so used to not using their mind to think b/c they spend most of the time just staring at the tube...which is the sort of state of mind that carries over.. certain tv prgms like docs, news, even certain made movies etc are different in comparision to the general content shown on tv...and with a vcr, you're able to select what you would like to watch etc...i think there's a difference btwn using the tv as a medium, as in a box that displays whatever you put in it and a "tv" the 'uncensored' stuff you can't control that gets propagated (sitcoms, tv progrms, etc..)..which you could just call junk tv lol ;) btw, bro bear...yeah i remem that show..isn't it called "watch islam"? it still airs..on the weekends though..early morning...i know in VA they used to answer live calls for this islamic show, masha'allah.. just one more thing: Eid Mubaaaaaaarrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiikkkkkkkkkkkk!! :) wa salaamu alaikum wrwb

Re: TV or not TV?
BrKhalid
03/06/01 at 12:14:26
Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) [quote] we all spend a fairly decent amount of time on the internet..would anyone give that up, if their spouses wanted? [/quote] You mean give up jannah.org? Oh my, now that is a quandry ;-)

Re: TV or not TV?
Mona
03/06/01 at 23:39:26
Assalamu alaikum, From today's issue of Toronto Star (6 March, 2001).   Labouring at AbuKhaled's riddles is healthy after all :) wassalam ---------------------------------------------- 'Brain exercise' stalls Alzheimer's [i]TV viewing may be a risk factor, scientists say[/i] Paul Recer ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON - Adults with hobbies that exercise their brains - such as reading, jigsaw puzzles or chess - are 21/2 times less likely to have Alzheimer's disease, while exclusive TV watching may increase the risk, a study says. A survey of people in their 70s showed those who regularly participated in hobbies that were intellectually challenging during their younger adult years tended to be protected from Alzheimer's disease. The finding supports other studies showing brain power unused is brain power lost. The study is more bad news for the couch potato, said Dr. Robert P. Friedland, first author of the research appearing today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "Television watching is not protective and may even be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease," said Friedland, an associate professor of neurology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and member of the medical staff at University Hospitals of Cleveland. Dr. Zaven Khachaturian, senior medical adviser to the Alzheimer's Association, said the study is important because it supports other research showing the onset of Alzheimer's is delayed by education and by intellectually demanding professions. Alzheimer's disease is a fatal, brain-destroying disorder that is generally diagnosed after the age of 60. The disease progressively destroys memory and eventually, the ability to care for oneself. In the study, Friedland and his co-authors analyzed the leisure activities in young and middle adulthood of 193 Alzheimer's patients and of 358 controls, people who did not have any symptoms of the disease. All the participants were in their 70s. [color=black]"The Alzheimer's patients were less active in all activities except for TV watching," said Friedland.[/color] In Canada, 300,000 suffer from Alzheimer's and one in three Canadians over 85 is affected by it or a related dementia.

Re: TV or not TV?
princess
03/07/01 at 01:04:06
walikumas'salaam warahmatullah :) [quote]c'mon princess...u can't be serious...even if your husband said pretty plz with strawberries on top... :)[/quote] i'm totally serious :) i totally believe that inshAllah, when i do get married..or that i find someone to marry..that we'll inshAllah be on the same level..i have that much trust in Allah :) call me crazy..but i believe everyone's gotta mate..:) (plz read my signature :)) [quote]long live petaabays[/quote] what in the world is petaabays? ??? is that even a real language? ??? just wonderin :) ma'salaam ;-D

Re: TV or not TV?
Arsalan
03/07/01 at 18:13:25
[slm] Abu Khaled wrote: [quote]it is reported that he (saw) said that, "None of you truly believes until his very desires/inclinations are in accordance with what I have brought." [aw qama qal]. [/quote]Where can this hadith be found?  And also, what is the Arabic word used for 'desires/inclinations'? Jazak Allahu khairan.

Re: TV or not TV?
jannah
03/08/01 at 16:10:17
Here's a very similar article from England: Scientists hint at link between TV and Alzheimer's By Roger Highfield in London Television is the only mid-life recreation positively linked to developing Alzheimer's disease, says an American report being published Tuesday. Alzheimer's affects one in 20 aged over 65 and nearly a quarter of those over 85, causing bouts of dementia, loss of memory, wrenching personality changes and, eventually, death. The study found that the disease was linked to those less involved in recreation between the ages of 20 and 60 than healthy people of similar background. The only exception was watching television, where Alzheimer's patients were more active viewers in mid-life, Dr Robert Friedland reports in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, with colleagues at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the University Hospitals of Cleveland. "Of all the activities we quantified - passive, intellectual and physical - Alzheimer's patients are in middle life less active in all of them - except for one, which is television," he said. He accepts that it is possible for television to be intellectually stimulating "but probably that is not what is happening most of the time, especially in America, where people watch an average of four hours a day. I think it is bad for the brain to watch four hours of television a day." The brain has been honed by evolutionary forces to be active, and learning is an important part of life. "When you watch TV you can be in a semi-conscious state where you really are not doing any learning." The results suggest that recreational inactivity in mid-life may be either a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, a consequence of early, undetected symptoms of the disease, or both. Previous studies have shown that well-educated people are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Scientists in one study reported that each year of education reduced the risk of developing the disease by 17 per cent. Researchers have paid relatively little attention to the relationship between recreational activities - a hobby, gardening, reading or any activity other than work - and the disease. Dr Friedland's team questioned 193 patients who either possibly or probably had Alzheimer's and 358 of their healthy friends, neighbours or acquaintances about how frequently they took part in 26 recreational activities classed as intellectual, physical, or passive. They report that the healthy had been more involved in all three activity categories in mid-life than had Alzheimer's patients The Daily Telegraph, London

Re: TV or not TV?
Saleema
03/14/01 at 12:45:18
Assalam ualykum, We are going to get rid of our tv inshallah. I am going to make my mom do it. She locked it up but that's no enough cuz we sit down to watch the news and then switch throught the channels. Especailly me! I sit there and all I do is switch the channels, I can't even watch x-files anymore without feeling guilty! I feel so weird sitting there and watching all the subtle flirting and sexuality. It's amazing how hard it can be to give up something that you know it's not good for you. My personal crusade against tv started in my senior year in high school. One of our topics in debate was about the harmful effects of tv. of course all the research was by non-Muslims but it had a lot of wisdom in it. I threw away the tons of research papers that I got. I shouldn't have thrown them away. cuz first of all getting those research papers were expensive and it did have a lot of valuable information in it that I could have shared it with you guys. anyway, may Allah help me. wassalam

Re: TV or not TV?
Noura
03/15/01 at 15:06:49
assalaamu alaikum warhmatullahi wa barakatuh, there is def a difference bet muslims who watch tv 4 pleasure and muslims who don't.  if u want the former type, then the sister is not 4 u. if u want latter type, get 2 no the sis better.   u can read the news on the net. and kids r better off w/out present day cartoons except the adventures of winnie the pooh of course. wasalamau alaikum, sr noura

Re: TV or not TV?
Learner
03/29/01 at 18:23:27
slm Subhanallah, Forget about whether the TV is haraam or halaal for a moment and hear what the experts in social sciences and psychology have to say. Log into      www.bbc.co.uk/livechat           right now (before 1am BST) and talk to David Burke from White Dot (an organisation disseminating information regarding the harmful effects of tv) More later. wlm

Re: TV or not TV?
jade
04/02/01 at 02:33:05
salaamu alaikom, sorry for the delay in replying BrKhalid. life has been a little hectic of late. I hope you don't have a problem continuing our discusion where we left of?

Re: TV or not TV?
BrKhalid
04/02/01 at 05:08:12
Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) Welcome back Sr jade ;-) [quote]I hope you don't have a problem continuing our discusion where we left of? [/quote] *I* have no problem with it but I think you should address your question to Br Abu Khaled Don't worry we're always being mistaken for each other ;-)

Re: TV or not TV?
Arsalan
05/24/01 at 02:13:38
[slm] Jannah, one word ... HOW?

Re: TV or not TV?
jannah
05/24/01 at 09:05:03
[wlm] Ask BrKhalid he found it:) Most of the posts except a few sort of in the middle are still on the server. The problem is I don't know what numbers they are, so they don't appear in the listing of threads. He found the number of this one and with that I can put it up.

Re: TV or not TV?
BrKhalid
05/24/01 at 09:50:15
Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) [quote]Jannah, one word ... HOW?[/quote] [quote]Ask BrKhalid he found it :)[/quote] My lips are sealed ;-) Although I did surprise myself with my new found geekiness!! Seriously though, it would have been a shame if this thread had been lost forever. Lots of good posts within.

Re: TV or not TV?
chachi
05/25/01 at 11:27:19
stuff that gets my goat....having to pay for a licence even when i don't want to watch the Bharatiya Broadcasting Corporation aka the bbc big brother and propaganda combined

Re: TV or not TV?
slime
06/22/01 at 18:35:31
salam, last year, when i went to ISNA, Hamza Yusef gave a wonderful lecture on T.V. ever since then, i hardly watch tv, its down in the cold dark basement. i used to watch tv 24/7, now i havent watched it in weeks. tv is replaced by the computer for me, but now the computer is being replaced by outdoor activities :) hmm...i dont think my post makes sense :P

Re: TV or not TV?
meraj
06/28/01 at 16:59:37
slm, haha no slime i understand what you mean exactly.. i havent watched tv much in the last few months.. ive spent more time in front of the computer.. sure i waste time here too but i have actually benefited from it more than i have from tv... but yeah i should get out more... i have a job and i plan to start doing at least some exercise soon inshallah :)

Re: TV or not TV?
jannah
06/28/01 at 22:50:24
[slm] I watched television by 'accident' yesterday...This after a looong while of not watching it regularly and a short while of not watching it at all. I noticed that 90% of it was sexually laden content and believe it or not 10% was anti-Islam type made for tv movies where they're trying to buy nuclear warheads from iranians?!! Am I more sensitive to what's on or has it really just gotten worse and worse...

Re: TV or not TV?
BrKhalid
06/29/01 at 05:25:04
Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) [quote]Am I more sensitive to what's on or has it really just gotten worse and worse...[/quote] Probably a bit of both. I definitely subscribe to the view that too much TV desensitises you to certain themes and images.

Re: TV or not TV?
taueeya
06/29/01 at 05:56:24
Assalamu Alaikum,                Guess what brothers/sisters? The other name for television is Idiot Box. That's what I have heard! Wassalam.
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