Using Satellites is a Big Munkar
From `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn
Baz to whoever reads it
amongst Muslims. May Allah guide all Muslims and me to all that pleases Him and
protect them and me against all that leads to His wrath and punishment, Amen.
As-salamu `alaykum warahmatullah
wabarakatuh (May Allah's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!).
It is well known that the so-called
satellite (dish, etc.) has spread nowadays amongst Muslims. It broadcasts all
that the world produces and involves different sorts of Fitnah (temptation, trial,
sedition, etc.), corruption, false creeds, and calls to Kufr (disbelief) and
atheism. Moreover, the satellite televises women's images, Khamr (intoxicant) and
prohibited gatherings, as well as all other evils of foreign countries. Since I
came to know for sure that many people in our country have already started to
use the satellite and that its instruments are sold and made here, it is
incumbent on me to warn against its dangers. I thus state that it is Wajib
(obligatory) to combat satellite, to beware of it, and to ban its use at home
and all other places. It is also Wajib to ban its selling, buying, and
manufacturing as all this leads to serious harms, huge corruption, helping one
another in sin and transgression, and spreading Kufr and immorality amongst
Muslims and calling to this by word and action.
Consequently, every male and female
Muslim has to be aware of the bad effects of the satellite and enjoin
abandoning it, so as to act upon Allah's Saying: Help you one another in Al-Birr and
At-Taqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin
and transgression. And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment.
Allah (Glorified be He) also says: The believers, men and women, are
Auliyâ’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another; they enjoin
(on the people) Al-Ma‘rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders
one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief
of all kinds, and all that Islâm has forbidden) and: By Al-‘Asr (the time). Verily, man is in loss, Except those who believe (in Islâmic
Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth
[i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma‘ruf) which
Allâh has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds
(Al-Munkar which Allâh has forbidden], and recommend one another to patience
(for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allâh’s
Cause during preaching His religion of Islâmic Monotheism or Jihâd). Besides, the Prophet (peace be upon
him) said: Whoever, amongst you, sees
something abominable, he has to rectify it with his hand; and if he has have
not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue; and if he
has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his
heart, and that is the least of Faith. And: Din (religion) is based on
advising one another. Upon this we said: "For whom?" He replied:
"For Allah, His Book, His Messenger and for Muslims' leaders and
public." and: None of you will believe
until they love for their brother (or sister) what they love for themselves. In addition, it is reported in the
Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) on the
authority of Jarir ibn `Abdullah Al-Bajaly (may Allah be pleased with him) who
said: I gave the pledge of
allegiance to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to offer Salah (Prayer)
perfectly, to pay the Zakah (obligatory charity), and to give sincere advice to
every Muslim.
It is worth mentioning that there
are many Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) and Hadiths to the same effect, i.e. implying
that it is Wajib on Muslims to exchange advice, recommend one another to the
truth, and help one another in goodness. All Muslim governments and people have
thus to act upon such Ayahs and Hadiths. They have to exchange advice,
recommend one another to the truth, recommend one another to patience, and be
aware of all types of corruption and warn people against them aiming at being
rewarded by Allah, conforming to His Commands, and being aware of His wrath and
punishment.
I ask Allah to guide all Muslims and
me to all that pleases Him, to set right all our hearts and deeds, to help our
authorities to repel and eradicate this calamity, and protect Muslims from its
evils. May Allah help our authorities do all that leads to the well-being of
Muslims and their countries, set right their retinue, and help them to support
the truth. May Allah guide Muslim authorities all over the world to all that
pleases Him. May He help them support the truth, and guide them to apply the
rulings of Shari`ah (Islamic law), abide by them, and be aware of all that
opposes them. May Allah set right the conditions of all Muslims, grant them the
sound understanding of Din, keep them firm on this, and enable them to be aware
of all that opposes it. Verily, Allah is the One Who controls all the affairs
and Who is able to do whatever He wills. As-salamu `alaykum warahmatullah
wabarakatuh.
Chairman of the Departments of
Scholarly Research, Ifta', Da`wah, and Guidance
Modified
for presentation purposes from the original source: http://alifta.com/
