Question: As-Salamu `alaykum! Is watching pornographic movies haram (prohibited)? Please answer me as soon as possible! Jazakum Allahu Khayran.


Answer:


Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear brother, we commend your eagerness to become well acquainted with Islam and its teachings, which is the way Allah has chosen for the welfare of His servants.

In response to the question, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, former president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), states:

"Pornographic pictures and movies are haram (prohibited). Muslims should not watch, sell or make such movies. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said: 'The eyes commit adultery, the tongue commits adultery, the hands commit adultery, the feet commit adultery and then the private parts confirm it or deny it.' (Reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal)

This means that watching pornographic movies, listening to such songs or singing them, using one’s hands and feet for this purpose, all these are sins that are related to Zina and then the final act of Zina takes place through haram intercourse.

Of course haram intercourse is a major sin but that which leads to sin is also a sin. If one persists in a minor sin, it also becomes a major sin.

Those who are involved in such addiction should repent sincerely and implore Allah earnestly to forgive them; they should pray to Allah to clean their hearts and give them the strength of resolution and protection from the Shaytan.

It is better for a person who is suffering from this addiction to stop watching TV for some time, until he gains control over himself.

In addition, one should not leave obligatory prayers if one is involved in this sin. If one is involved in one sin, this does not mean that one should start other sins as well. One should try to get rid of sins, not to increase them. Sometimes, people make promise to Allah and repent and then, under the influence of the Shaytan, they break their promises. It is for this reason that it is recommended that one should move from the place of sin or do something extra to get out of this vicious circle. It may be good to disconnect and put away the TV and VCR. This will remind one more about the promise made to Allah.

As far as the punishment is concerned, I can say that sin is a serious matter and one should not take it lightly. Only Allah knows what will be the punishment. May Allah protect us from sins and save us all from His wrath and punishment, Amen!"

Also on this issue, the prominent Muslim scholar,Sheikh `Abdul-Khaleq Hasan Ash-Shareef, adds:

"The person who watches such pornographic movies should repent to Allah sincerely and should not mosey around boasting about such nasty habit. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said: 'All of my Ummah would not be punished except for those who crow over their sins (i.e., sins they commit in private).'

Hence, I advise those who are involved in such a sin to repent sincerely to Allah, keeping in mind that if one sincerely repents, Allah Almighty will accept his repentance and reward him generously."

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