Watching movies at home
Question
Can we watch a movie at home where there is no danger of fitnah or bad environment?
Answer
 Besides the fact that you must stay away from ‘fitnahs’ and ‘bad environment’, it is also essential to know that as a Muslim, you are required to refrain from looking at that which is haraam. From among the things which are haram for a Muslim to view, some are:-
• The awrah (concealable parts of the body) of a male or female (for the male, the awrah is from the navel to the knees, and for a female, the awrah is her entire body except the hands (wrist) and the face). It is not permissible to look at areas of another person’s body which is within the awrah.
• It is not permissible for a Muslim to look at singing/dancing women and men. These are all haram.
• Compromising behaviour between those who are not husband and wife, like that of kissing, fondling, being in seclusion with each other and the likes are all totally haram. Hence, looking at these acts will be totally haram.
In general, movies contain many of the above haram things and ‘watching’ them will be equally haram. Movies also propagate many un Islamic and anti religious practices. They also promote a culture and trend that is opposing to the values of Islam. Some incite violence and hatred for parents and superiors. Others encourage ‘loose and free behaviour among young girls and boys’, and several of them push into the minds of our youths a modern western culture which is aimed at destroying the values of religious teaching.
Based on these, as well as other factors, almost all of our Muslims scholars have ruled against the ‘watching of movies’, since they comprise of many haram acts, some of which have been highlighted above.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan