Statement from the Standing Committee warning against “Star Academy” and similar shows

Question

Praise be to Allah.

The Standing Committee has issued a statement warning
against the “Star Academy” show and all such shows that are known as
“reality TV”, which show the lives of people with their evil and
corruption so that the Muslims can imitate them and be influenced by their
evil. We will quote their statement here for the benefit of readers.

Statement warning against the “Star Academy” show and
similar shows

The Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing
Fatwas has studied the questions from a number of proud Muslims concerning
the program broadcast by some Arabic satellite channels which is called
“Star Academy” and other similar shows. After studying the matter, the
Committee thinks that these shows should be banned and it is haraam to watch
them, finance them, take part in them, call them to vote or to express
admiration of them, because of what these shows include of allowing
forbidden things concerning which there is consensus that they are
forbidden, and doing so brazenly. According to the hadeeth, the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There will be among my
ummah people who will regard as permissible zina (adultery), silk, alcohol
and musical instruments.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari from the hadeeth of Abu
Maalik al-Ash’ari (may Allaah be pleased with him). And it was narrated that
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “All of
my ummah will be fine except those who commit sin brazenly. It is part of
brazenness that a man does something at night, then in the morning when
Allaah has concealed him, he says, ‘O So and so, I did such and such last
night.’ His Lord concealed him all night, but in the morning he uncovered
that which Allaah had concealed for him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim
from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him). What
brazenness in committing haraam and immoral actions can be worse than these
shows which include a number of serious evils? These include:

1 – free mixing of the sexes. Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):

“And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask
them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and for their
hearts”

[al-Ahzaab 33:53]

According to the hadeeth,
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No one
of you is alone with a (non mahram) woman but the Shaytaan is the third one
present.” Narrated by Imam Ahmad with a saheeh isnaad from ‘Umar ibn
al-Khattaab.

So what about these programs, the main idea of which is
mixing between the sexes and removing all barriers between them, as well as
the wanton display and unveiling on the part of the women, and displaying
their charms which leads to much evil? Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):

“… and not to show off their adornment except only that
which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer
palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron), and
to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks
and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands …”

[al-Noor 24:31]

2 – Blatant promotion of immorality and the means that lead
to it.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, those who like that (the crime of) illegal sexual
intercourse should be propagated among those who believe, they will have a
painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allaah knows and you
know not”

[al-Noor 24:19]

3 – The call to remove haya’ (modesty, shyness) and gheerah
(protective jealousy, pride) from the hearts of the Muslims by making them
get used to seeing these shameful scenes that provoke desires and distancing
them from good morals and virtue.

According to a hadeeth, the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: “Among the words that have come down to the
people from the earlier Prophets is: If you feel no shame then do as you
wish.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari from the hadeeth of Abu Mas’ood al-Badri (may
Allaah be pleased with him).

And it was narrated that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Faith has seventy-odd branches, and
haya’ is one of the branches of faith.” Agreed upon; from the hadeeth of Abu
Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him).

It was also narrated that he (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “Are you surprised at the gheerah (protective
jealousy) of Sa’d? I am more jealous than he is, and Allaah is more jealous
than I.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari from the hadeeth of al-Mugheerah ibn
Shu’bah (may Allaah be pleased with him).

It is not sufficient for you to abstain from watching these
shows; you should also advise and remind those whom you know watch them or
take part in them in any way, because that comes under the heading of
cooperating in righteousness and piety, and forbidding one another to engage
in sin and transgression.

The Committee also calls upon the businessmen who finance
these shows to fear Allaah with regard to the blessing of wealth that Allaah
has bestowed upon them, and not use it for things that will adversely affect
the youth of this ummah, destroy the symbols of Islam and serve the enemies
of Islam, for this is a kind of ingratitude for blessings and is a cause of
their loss.

It is obvious that these kinds of shows are among the causes
of disasters that strike Islam and the Muslims. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):

“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of
what your hands have earned. And He pardons much”

[al-Shoora 42:30]

In al-Saheehayn it is narrated from the hadeeth of
Zaynab (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) entered upon her suddenly and said: “Laa
ilaaha ill-Allaah (There is no god but Allaah), woe to the Arabs from an
evil that has drawn nigh! Today a (hole) like this was opened in the wall of
Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj,” and he made a circle with his thumb and forefinger.
Zaynab bint Jahsh said: I said: “O Messenger of Allaah, will we be destroyed
when there are righteous people among us?” He said, “Yes, if there is a
great deal of evil.”

We ask Allaah by His Most Beautiful Names and His Sublime
Attributes to protect us and all the Muslims from the sources of temptation
both obvious and hidden, and not to punish us for what the foolish among us
do, and to show us the truth as truth and enable us to follow it, and to
show us falsehood as false and enable us to avoid it.

May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad
and all his family and companions.