Can TV Interfere with Family?

18Jan08

Quick Summary

• This is not about haram and halal
• Allah Commands us to be good and kind to our parents
• There are 2 Ayat and 1 Hadith
• What do you want to see on the Day of Judgment?

(Photo: James Good)

Subhan’Allah people–it’s amazing the different doors that the Shaytan will come through. Let me make this clear from right here though–I am not here to talk about whether TV is right or wrong, halal or haram, or things of that sort.

In this post, we want to just explore one simple question–can TV interfere with family? Is it possible for TV to become something that gets in the way of familial relationship? Can it come between mother and son, father and daughter, brother and sister? It can. Will it necessarily? No.

To answer these questions we will turn to the same sources we turn to for all other questions–we turn towards the Qur’an and the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammed (saw). And so, let us take a quick look at 2 Ayat from the Qur’an and a Hadith from an authentic source (Bukhari):

• “Worship Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good to parents.” [Sûrah al-Nisâ’: 36]

• “Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to parents.” [Sûrah al-Isrâ’: 23]

• Al-Aswad ra said : I asked A’isha ra : “What did Rasulullah saw used to do in his house ?”. She said : “He used to work for his family, and when prayer (time) came, he went out for prayer “

The first Ayah in Surah Al-Nisa places your parents immediately following the worship of Allah (swt). Our Creator, Sustainer, and Lord has again repeated that same command, not suggestion, in Surah al-Isra. Subhan’Allah. Look at the importance Allah (swt) gives to parents. Out of anything and everything that He could have coupled with His Worship–He (swt) chose our parents.

One of the problems that come when our families gathers around the TV is that we begin to lose the ability to properly communicate. What do I mean? Well, instead of being able to hold meaningful conversation–we become family who only communicates through comments. Our conversations end up becoming comments on whatever is being watched. The test? The next time you are sitting in the living room with the TV on–turn it off and leave it off for a week. Never mind a week–keep it off for one hour or even 30 minutes.

You will find that there may not really be all that much to be said, and if there is we are forced to come up with things to talk about. The natural flow of communication between family has become interrupted because TVs in our living rooms have become a part of the conversation. If you are unable to turn the TV off for even that long then notice that even when we do talk while the TV is on, we barely look at each other when talking. With laptops, it is likely that someone in the room will also have a laptop on in addition to watching TV.

Brothers and Sisters in Islam, this does not do justice to Allah’s command to be good and kind to our parents. Why not? Well, instead of providing a long, elaborate explanation–let’s paint a picture of your future. I’m not suggesting that I know anyone’s future of course. What I am talking about here is the Day of Judgment.

There will come a Day–100% guaranteed–that you will be standing in front of Allah (swt). As every second and minute detail of your actions is being judged, you need to decide from right now what you want to see. Take one football game–over 2 hours. Multiply that by season after season–and then add the other sports. Add now all the news programs and game shows. Add the dramas and sitcoms. Add the Seinfeld reruns and late night talk-shows.

Is this what we want to stand in front of Allah (swt) with? Is this what you want to be judged on? Wouldn’t you prefer being judged by serving your parents and having conversations that make them happy? If you are a parent, imagine the benefits that comes in increasing the love between yourself and your spouse–yourself and your children.

So can TV interfere with family? Yes it can. But the bigger question is something that is even more specific to us as Muslims. What do you want to see on the Day of Judgment? That answer is up to you.

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Tags: Ayat, Family, Hadith, Hereafter, Others, TV