QUESTION:
What do the scholars of the Dīn and muftīs of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: Nowadays, people learn everything from TV, films, videos, etc. so are films regarding the Noble Prophets permissible in order to learn about their blessed lives?
Questioner: Abdullah from UK
ANSWER:
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب
It is a sin and impermissible to make characters out of the Noble Prophets – upon whom be countless peace & blessings – and present this in the form of dramas and movies, and one must avoid watching such things at all costs because there are many false parts added to the characters in order to make the story more entertaining which are not appropriate nor worthy of the Blessed Prophets – upon whom be peace & blessings. Sometimes, such characters utter such statements which – God forbid – are clearly blasphemous and derogatory against the Noble Prophets – upon whom be peace & blessings – themselves as well as the Blessed Companions – may Allāh Almighty be content with them all. Moreover, purposely disrespecting the Noble Prophets – upon whom be peace & blessings – is disbelief, and Islām does not permit such propagation & preaching in which there is a fear of the preacher himself falling into disbelief. This is why to film, watch or show such movies is severely impermissible; Muslims must totally and absolutely abstain from this in the utmost regard. In fact, it is also Fard [a religious obligation] upon Muslim governments to issue shutdowns of such films and stop people from this. Honouring the Noble Prophets – upon whom be peace & blessings – is Fard and the smallest form or amount of dishonour is disbelief, just as it is stated in al-Shifā al-Sharīf,
“اعلم وفقنا الله وإياك أن جميع من سب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أو عابه أو ألحق به نقصا في نفسه أو نسبه أو دينه أو خصلة من خصاله أو عرض به أو شبهة بشئ على طريق السب له أو الإزراء عليه أو التصغير لشأنه أو الغض منه والعيب له فهو ساب له والحكم فيه حكم الساب يقتل كما نبينه ولا نستثني فصلا من فصول هذا الباب على هذا المقصد ولا يمترى فيه تصريحا كان أو تلويحا وكذلك من لعنه أو دعا عليه أو تمنى مضرة له أو نسب إليه ما لا يليق بمنصبه على طريق الذم أو عبث في جهته العزيزة بسخف من الكلام وهجر ومنكر من القول وزور أو عيره بشئ مما جرى من البلاء والمحنة عليه أو غمصه ببعض العوارض البشرية الجائزة والمعهودة لديه وهذا كله إجماع من العلماء وأئمة الفتوى من لدن الصحابة رضوان الله عليهم إلى هلم جرا”
[al-Shifā bi Ta’rīf Huqūq al-Mustafā, vol. 2, p. 214]
واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری
Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Haider Ali Madani
Read the original Urdu answer here: [Q-ID0849] Can we watch cartoons, films or dramas that portray the lives of the Prophets (peace be upon them)