Is spreading Islam Permissible Through Ertugrul Diliris, Kurulus Osman & Other Films & Dramas? Sharia Ruling & Answer of Misconceptions
Question
Nowadays historical drama serials “dirilis Ertugrul” and Usman ghazi” has gained much popularity and the whole world is watching it. The main goal of these dramas are to propagate islam and islamic culture consequently the western world and hollywood are also worried about its popularity and historical status. Some people are suggesting that Instead of watching bad and obscene things it is better to watch these serials while gaining historical information about ottoman Empire. Now the question arisis is it permissible to watch such historical dramas or movies?
Answer
First of all it is very important to understand some basic and essential rules of Shari’ah.
1) It is absolutely not permissible to draw, own, or look at a picture of any living being. It is a sin to look at the picture of a women unnecessarily. The shariah has interpreted it as an adultery of the eyes.
والعینان تزنیان وزناہما النظر۔ مسند أحمد بن حنبل ۲؍۳۴۲
The prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said that the eyes commit adultery, their adultery is to look at the non mahram. Dramas and films contain pictures of living beings as well as pictures of women, so watching dramas and films are absolutely forbidden.
2) Furthermore movies and dramas are not devoid of music and dance therefore to encourage people to watch films and dramas is not permissible (in addition to showing and watching picture of women and other living beings) it is totally forbidden to assign or help in sin.
عن جابر رضي اللّٰہ عنہ قال: قال رسول اللّٰہ صلی اللّٰہ علیہ وسلم : الغناء ینبت النفاق في القلب کما ینبت الماء الزرع۔ رواہ البیہقي في شعب الإیمان، مشکاۃ المصابیح، کتاب الآداب / باب البیان والشعر، الفصل الثالث ۴۱۱
It is clearly stated by prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that music creates hypocrisy in the hearts like water creates crops.
3) It is not permissible to use (haraam) forbidden and illegitimate means to achieve any legitimate goal.
Therefore the history of Ottoman Caliphate can be traced back through the history books and literature related to it. Creating and viewing films or dramas for this purpose is certainly not allowed.
4) Forbidden or unlawful means should not be adopted to prevent any haraam and unlawful act. Making these type of historical dramas or movies is not the solution to avoid indecent films and dramas as it is also unlawful. Therefore both are poison. It is necessary to avoid and refrain from these forbidden act and this can only be done by a person’s own intention and a focused attitude. There is no need to take up illegitimate ways for this, Rather legitimate means can be adopted.
5) The fact that any illegal act becomes famous and popular and spreads all over the world cannot be an argument in favor of the legitimacy of this (haraam) forbidden and illegal act.
6) We are obliged to guide and preach our religion of islam but only by lawful means not by haraam and illegitimate means.
قُل لاَّ يَسْتَوِي الْخَبِيثُ وَالطَّيِّبُ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكَ كَثْرَةُ الْخَبِيثِ فَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ يَا أُوْلِي الأَلْبَابِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“Say: The bad and the good are not equal, though the abundance of the bad may please you; so be careful of (your duty to) Allah, O men of understanding, that you may be successful”.
7) It is totally forbidden for a person to watch, support and encourage films and dramas. To tempt and invite others to watch films and dramas is not permissible in Shari’ah. It is also a grave sin to make, work and invest in movies and dramas.
It should be noted that in the past many so called reforms and preaching efforts were made through films and dramas by different islamic countries and also in the western world, and many films and dramas were made on the lives of the prophets and companions in which “The Message”, “The ten commandments” Al-Risalah”, etc. films are note worthy, but it is also very clear that such films have failed to leave a positive and lasting impact on the viewers (muslims or non muslims). Even if they have an effect this combination of evilness will not be acceptable at all.
Conclusion
We conclude this answer (on the subject of preaching of Islam through media) with an incident written by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani in his book “Nuqoosh e raftagan”.
Mufti Taqi Usmani writes, Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Banuri (may Allah have mercy on him) in the last days of his life went to islamabad to attend the meeting of Islamic Ideology Council. On that occasion he was invited to address at an official level on national radio and television. He accepted the invitation to address on the radio but rejected the offer to appear on the television. The summary of what Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Banuri (may Allah have mercy on him) said about his decision is as follows:
One thing I would like to say in this regard is that we are not commissioned by Allah to make everybody a Muslim in every possible way, indeed we are obligated to preach Islam by adopting all the legitimate means and resources available to us with the best possible efforts.
Where Islam has commanded us to preach the religion it has also taught us dignified methods and etiquette of preaching. We are bound to follow these rules and manners. if we succeed in our preaching efforts while applying these legitimate means and etiquette our mission is complete, but if we do not have complete success after using all legitimate means than we are not obliged to do so. There are those who preach the religion by putting behind the rules and ways of preaching instead they use illegitimate means and try to make people their allies in every possible way.
If we make one person a practicing Muslim by following legitimate manners and etiquette of preaching then our preaching is successful and acceptable, but if by using illicit means we make hundred men our allies this success has no value in the eyes of Allah, because what will be preached by violating the rules of religion is not preaching of islam but is something else!
The medium and characteristics of Film and Television are against Islam therefore we are not obliged to preach the religion through this medium. If a person accepts our invitation through a lawful and dignified manner, then our hearts and mind are wholly for him, but if a person is not ready to accept or follow islam without watching films or movies we are not obliged to invite him.
If we take this stance today and start using the medium of film and TV for preaching keeping in mind the trend and temperaments of people and also make efforts to invite people to follow religion through dance and ceremonial gatherings then it will be a violation of an important commandment of preaching Islam. “This was the last speech of Maulana Yousuf Banuri RA and if we look closely, this was the last advice and will of Maulana Yusuf Banuri RA for the preachers of islam. These golden words should be written on the hearts of people who work for tableegh e deen.
فی الدر المختار
قلت: وفي البزازية: استماع صوت الملاهي – كضرب قصب، ونحوه – حرام؛ لقوله عليه الصلاة والسلام: “استماع الملاه معصية، والجلوس عليها فسق، والتلذذ بها كفر” أي: بالنعمة، فصرف الجوارح إلى غير ما خلق لأجله كفر بالنعمة، لا شكر، فالواجب كل الواجب أن يجتنب كي لايسمع؛ لما روي أنه عليه الصلاة والسلام أدخل أصبعه في أذنه عند سماعه، وأشعار العرب لو فيها ذكر الفسق تكره، اهـ أو لتغليظ الذنب، -كما في الاختيار -، أو للاستحلال، – كما في النهاية -. الشامية، كتاب الحظر و الإباحة، قبيل فصل في اللبس، ٩/ ٥٠٤، ط: دار عالم الكتب
وفی البريقة المحمودية في شرح الطريقة المحمدية لبركلي
قال قاضي خان عن النبي صلى الله تعالى عليه وسلم: (استماع الملاهي معصية، والجلوس عليها فسق، والتلذذ بها من الكفر، إنما قال عليه الصلاة والسلام ذلك، على وجه التشديد و إن سمع بغتةً فلا إثم عليه، و يجب عليه أن يجتهد كلّ الجهد حتي لايسمع؛ لما روي: أنّ رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم أدخل أصبعيه في أذنه. انتهي. الباب الثاني / في الأمور المهمة في الشريعة، ٥ / ٤، ط: دار الكتب العلمية
وفی مرقاة المفاتيح
٤٨١١ – «وَعَنْ نَافِعٍ – رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ – قَالَ: كُنْتُ مَعَ ابْنِ عُمَرَ فِي طَرِيقٍ، فَسَمِعَ مِزْمَارًا، فَوَضَعَ أُصْبُعَيْهِ فِي أُذُنَيْهِ وَنَاءَ عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ إِلَى الْجَانِبِ الْآخَرِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي بَعْدَ أَنْ بَعُدَ: يَا نَافِعُ! هَلْ تَسْمَعُ شَيْئًا؟ قُلْتُ: لَا، فَرَفَعَ أُصْبُعَيْهِ مِنْ أُذُنَيْهِ، قَالَ: كُنْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ فَسَمِعَ صَوْتَ يَرَاعٍ، فَصَنَعَ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعْتُ. قَالَ نَافِعٌ: فَكُنْتُ إِذْ ذَاكَ صَغِيرًا» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ، وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ.
وَفِي فَتَاوَى قَاضِي خَانْ
أَمَّا اسْتِمَاعُ صَوْتِ الْمَلَاهِي كَالضَّرْبِ بِالْقَضِيبِ وَنَحْوِ ذَلِكَ حَرَامٌ وَمَعْصِيَةٌ لِقَوْلِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: ” «اسْتِمَاعُ الْمَلَاهِي مَعْصِيَةٌ، وَالْجُلُوسُ عَلَيْهَا فِسْقٌ، وَالتَّلَذُّذُ بِهَا مِنَ الْكُفْرِ» ” إِنَّمَا قَالَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى وَجْهِ التَّشْدِيدِ وَإِنْ سَمِعَ بَغْتَةً فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ، وَيَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَجْتَهِدَ كُلَّ الْجَهْدِ حَتَّى لَا يَسْمَعَ لِمَا رُوِيَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَدْخَلَ أُصْبُعَهُ فِي أُذُنَيْهِ. بَابُ الْبَيَانِ وَالشِّعْرِ ، الْفَصْلُ الثَّالِثُ، ٧ / ٣٠٢٥
To read Maulana Syed Muhammad Yusuf Banuri’s article on the same subject Click on the link below: