Some years ago, I came across an article in an Urdu paper that mentioned two conflicting fatwas on a particular issue. The first fatwa declared that the use of television for purposes of preaching Islam was permissible. The second fatwa came to precisely the opposite conclusion. It argued that television was a means for entertainment and that immoral programmes are often broadcast on television channels. Hence, it declared, it was impermissible to use television even for Islamic programmes.
This matter can be properly gauged and judged by keeping in mind the fact that it is a duty incumbent upon Muslims to seek to counter wrong conceptions and images of Islam. Obviously, this work entails reaching out to people who have these negative views about Islam and interacting with them, directly or indirectly. This sort of work certainly cannot happen by sitting on an isolated island all by oneself and choosing not to have any interaction at all with people who hold wrong views about Islam.
This point can better be understood by reflecting on the life of the Prophet. He received Prophethood in 610 C.E. At this time, 360 idols were present in the Kaabah. That is to say, the Kaabah had been practically made into a place of idolatry. Large crowds would gather at the Kaabah every day, and so it was an appropriate place to address the people of Makkah with the message of Islam. For the cause of effectively communicating Islam to the Makkans, the Prophet began preaching at the Kaabah, despite the fact that there were so many idols inside the structure. He overlooked the fact that many people would gather there because of their idols that were present there, and would go there and recite the Quran and preach to them. This wise approach of the Prophet exemplifies the principle, 'Ignore the problems and use the available opportunities.'
The same approach must be adopted in the matter of television. That is to say, we should overlook the various irrelevant or immoral programmes that some channels broadcast, and at the same time we must use the medium of television to broadcast good Islamic programmes. Because television has such a vast reach, it can be used to get the Islamic view across to a massive number of people.
In this regard, I also wish to broach the matter of certain programmes that are being broadcast by some Muslim groups on television which are presented as 'Islamic programmes'. In practical terms, these programmes are often not effective, and, like other television programmes, are moulded in order to entertain people. In other words, they are often simply entertainment programmes using an Islamic label. One might characterize many such programmes as 'Islamic entertainment' rather than as 'Islamic programmes' in the true sense of the term.
Many non-Muslim organisations are also using the television to broadcast the teachings of their faiths. To the best of my knowledge, the best made, from the technical and artistic points of view, of such programmes are those by some Christian groups. Islamic television stations in several Muslim countries also broadcast religious programmes. However, as far as I know, relatively few people watch them. Probably this is because many of them are sub-standard. I know from personal experience based on my visits to Muslim countries that often people turn off their television sets when Islamic programmes are broadcast, saying that these are simply government propaganda.
A major problem with influential sections of the Muslim religious leadership, particularly in South Asia, is that they often fiercely oppose every new development. One instance of this is their reaction to television. Many maulvis consider television to be wholly anti-Islamic. In this regard, my advice is that we must make a crucial distinction between television and the wrong use of television. Television is a reflection of the potentialities created by God. The principles behind the working of a television were made by God, and were kept dormant in nature. Human beings only discovered these principles and used them. In other words, television technology is a gift from God.
It is true that many immoral programmes are indeed broadcast on television. This represents a misuse of television. It is not the fault of television as a medium itself. Everything can be used in a wrong way, even religion. But to abandon anything simply because it can be misused by others is a wrong approach. Instead, we must use good and useful things, but in a proper way.
The responsibility of our ulema in this regard must not be simply to reject, denounce and then clear off. Instead, they have a constructive and positive role to play. They must seek to understand the importance of television and its technical and artistic aspects and also seriously study how they can best use television for social and religious reform. They need to develop good quality Islamic television programmes for this purpose that would attract the interest of viewers and that address the modern mind.
The correct Islamic approach is not one of negative reaction. While in this world, people are always faced with challenges and problems, our task is to seek out positive aspects and opportunities despite these negative conditions and use them appropriately. This principle is referred to in the Quran when it says that opportunities are present along with problems. So, one must overlook the problems and use the available opportunities. This is an eternal principle. It applies as much to the matter of television and its use as it does to every other issue.
(Translated from Urdu by Yoginder Sikand)
This is a translation of Maulana Wahiduddin Khan's essay titled Television Ka Istemal in his book Islam Aur Intihapasandi
('Islam and Extremism')
