Top Five Excuses For Television.

Dhagax-Tuur · March 17, 2004

Thought i should this with you. It is true to life.

Source: Islamweb.net: By Ishrath Farhana

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It is the second time in a row that I need to get my vision corrected. My eyesight is miserable, "punishment for your sins" pops a little message in my head. "Yeah, yeah…" I mutter, "too much TV for too many years." And how many years is that? As many years as these eyes are old. Doctors will tell you that watching too much TV is bad for your health, and that is not bunkum. It's only the tip of the iceberg. It may be bad for the eyes, but it's worse for the mind and cancer for the soul.

Yet, the medium is so pervasive that even the poorest household does not lack a set. We talk big about repudiating the Coca-Cola colonization, but are the first victims. Everyone knows that soap operas are a colossal waste of precious time. But no conversation is free from primetime antics of the myriad protagonists. Of them, the Noble Qur'an says, "But there are among men those who purchase idle tales without knowledge or meaning, to mislead men from the path of Allah and ridicule it. For such there will be a humiliating penalty. When Our Signs are rehearsed to such a one, he turns away in arrogance as if he heard them not, as if there was deafness in both his ears - announce to him a grievous penalty." [Luqman 31: 6,7]

Where we shudder to allow a non-mahram (marriageable) person entering the privacy of our homes, we hardly twitch an eyebrow about ogling a thousand strangers all day long. There is a reason why television is also called the "boob tube". Just ask anyone who has followed the Asiad with avidity, where champions didn't own a scrap of clothing to their name! The media is only too aware of this human frailty and exploits it to the hilt. The largest beneficiary is the channel that airs the most titillating shows. Satan gleefully takes over. My dad once said the antenna on the roof is the banner of Shaitan, marking it off as his territory, and the satellite dish antenna, why, that just shows the house is under his umbrella!

Tomes have been filled analyzing the ill effects of television upon impressionable young minds. I summarize only a few.

Fluctuating light from the TV strains the eyes. It dries up the cornea, and it is responsible for many youngsters wearing glasses. The melodrama and extremes of emotion depicted in soaps and movies are responsible for mood swings and depression. No other era in civilization has had so many humans on the therapist's couch. We are only too aware that mood swings are one of the factors responsible for heart disease. Heart disease, which used to be "an older person's disease" is now tolling for younger folks!

Children constantly wonder how adults are cramped up in a little box. This is not funny. It means the experience of watching TV is as "real" for them as you or I in real life. We no longer remain the authoritative figure in their life. The adults whom they watch on TV influence them, and never for the better.

The TV throws the same program at a 6 year-old as it does towards the 60 year-old. But the child is not equipped to deal with the primetime hodgepodge. It culminates in hero-worship towards a character that may be a criminal, rapist or pervert. While the parents' authority disintegrates, the role models' grip strengthens. The nature of the television as a medium is not for kids.

To emphasize the responsibility that we have towards the spiritual wellbeing of our family, I go no further than the Holy Qur'an, "O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones, over which are appointed angels, stern and severe, who flinch not from executing the Commands of Allah, but do precisely what they are commanded." [Tahreem 66: 6]

Five Excuses:

1. In defense of television, it must be said that it has many advantages but the disadvantages far outweigh them. This scribe is the last person to abuse the virtues of the ***** box. But as Allah says, even alcohol and gambling have some infinitesimal profit for man. "They ask you concerning wine and gambling. In them is great sin and a small profit for men. But the sin is greater than the profit." [baqara 2: 219]

2. It is an indispensable tool for news and information. Honestly, when was the last time anyone watched TV just for news or a nature program? Even if we have the will power to stick to news, what if the anchor is from the opposite sex? How could we "lower our gaze" as Allah commands? There are surely media to find news and information without falling back on the TV.

3. Another classic justification that is used all the time to watch TV is saying that if the heart is pure, if the person is good, nothing can affect him. Well, how pure is the heart? How good can a person be? More than the Prophet's noble Companions or the Apostles themselves? Allah's command is for everyone and if they were commanded to follow it, where do we ordinary mortals stand? Sure can't claim to have stronger faith or purer hearts than the Prophets!

But why malign the television set, when newspapers and magazines have photographs and we cannot help having some kind of image in the house. It is true that pictures of animals and other living things are ubiquitous these days. Anything from children's clothes to shoes to feeders has cartoons on it. In my opinion, TV is worse because the pictures are moving, and make sounds, which make them more life-like.

4. The most insidious argument in favor of watching television, for the pious at least, is that there are also religious programs. Yes, the Friday sermons are broadcast, and salah is broadcast live from Mecca, which is pretty awe-inspiring. Sometimes I happen to catch Al Shari'yaa wal Hayat on Al Jazeera, which is interactive and exceedingly informative. And I confess I may be missing a great deal of "good" programs because of the language barrier.

The point is definitely not that we should "improve" the programs. The point is that for every good show we watch, there are 50 others that undermine our values, culture, or at worst, our religion. Even if we improve the quality of the programs it is jejune to think that we shall be watching that one Islamic show and ignoring the 600 odd channels that a dish antenna receives. Has anyone ever claimed that he got one ounce of guidance from the TV set?

For a moment let us accept that we have Herculean self-restraint and fortitude. We only watch the news and Discovery channel. But how can one guarantee that when we are away, our young ones are not abusing it? If one of our children gets so much as a minor burn from scalding water, how much we suffer, and what pains we take to cure it. What does it reflect but utter lack of Imaan, when our family is teetering over the brink of the Flaming Pit, and we smile on, encouraging the song and dance they are immersed in!

5. Now there will be people who will shrug at all this, "hey, aren't we just over-reacting and making a big deal about a little thing?" It's not as if watching TV is a career option or anything. It is just a little amusement, let your hair down and put your feet up and get a little cozy on the sofa with a pot of herbal tea. What could be possibly wrong with it? With Islam, everything ultimately boils down to Faith. If by a little amusement, you are disobeying Allah, mark the Qur'an where it says,

"If you question them they declare with emphasis and sincerity, we were only talking idly and in play. Say, was it Allah and His Signs and His Apostle that you were mocking at? Make no excuses, you have rejected faith after you had accepted it…"[Tauba 9: 65]

We all pride ourselves as rational beings, but the burden of rationality is to decide between right and wrong. Each of us has to weigh for ourselves the pros and cons of our actions, and conclude if something is worth the price. I don't want to miss going to Heaven just because I couldn't miss watching The Bold and the Beautiful!

"Ah, hindsight…" says the little voice in my head, "always perfect vision…"

"Shut up" I mutter, "better late than never

Warrior of Light · March 18, 2004

Geel Jire

thanks for the article. Its true Tv is the worst vice and teacher of evil in this century.

When i was young i never saw the wisdom when our parents only allowed us to watch tv on weekends maximum 2hrs and usually copied childrens programs.NO TV ON SCHOOL DAYS.Was something we hated but we had story books to comfort us,which instaled in us the love of books.

JazakAllah Kheir

7_steps_2_Heaven · March 19, 2004

waaw geel - jire

that was very informative and it maid me feel disapointed in my-self.

isn't it sad how we neglect our religion and fall under the spell of shaydan?

one should not make an excuse whatsoever for neglecting his/her religion, the truth is we all know watching TV is not good for us for many reasons, the most importantly it doesn't help us with our religion

but what can we do about it? distroy the tv?

even if we did distroy the telly, when you meet up with ur friends they will talk to you about what happend in Eastenders. that time you are listening to them isn't same as watching the eastenders? theres no way out.

all we can do is pray and ask for guidance...I would like to be the first one to admit I'm very weak, i guess i'm under spell...acuudi billah

do you know what's more scarier, on the day of judgement God will ask us have we called others to islam? how can we at this stage call to ANYONE to Islam when we are behaving like them.

we have 2 duties: 1- take care of your own faith and 2- call others to islam

I haven't achieved stage 1 let alone move on to the second one.

shamefull, i say...really how can I face God?

every time some one reminds me the religion as usual I say I'll change. honestly it's not anyones responsability to remind anyone about their religion, cos we know what we have to do to achieve janna or jahannama.

am I not right?

God only guides those who he wish to guide, may Allah make us one of them, surely the life of here after is ever lasting.

Ps, say NO to shaydan and say YES to Islam!

Abu-Salman · October 15, 2009

It is the second time in a row that I need to get my vision corrected. My eyesight is miserable, "punishment for your sins" pops a little message in my head. "Yeah, yeah…" I mutter, "too much TV for too many years." And how many years is that? As many years as these eyes are old. Doctors will tell you that watching too much TV is bad for your health, and that is not bunkum. It's only the tip of the iceberg. It may be bad for the eyes, but it's worse for the mind and cancer for the soul. [...]

Five Excuses: