Television and Video

by Dawud Wharnsby Ali

Turning Off The Tube

• Unplug the television during the summer months. TV watching may seem like a simple way to keep the kids occupied and somewhat quiet, but violent and loud programs watched on a regular basis (including cartoons) can pump up the energy level of many children. Bedtime becomes difficult when a child's body has not burned off enough energy during a day of television watching and their mind continues racing with flashing images they have seen on it.

• Excessive television watching not only promotes materialism (through commercials) but also promotes violence and exposure to subject matter that is far beyond the bounds of Islam. Watching too much TV, too often, drains creativity of the mind. It is addictive and may leave your child without much desire for physical activity or outdoor play with other children.

Family TV Viewing

• If viewing can be monitored closely by parents, one suggestion is to regulate the time spent in front of the television. Schedule TV viewing times to watch as a family – make an event of it, where the family is the focus – not the glowing box! (As part of TV night, teach the kids how to make popcorn the old fashioned way with a pot on the stove instead of the nuclear-microwave way. Learn to do it yourself, it will be fun for you too!)

• Choose previewed, appropriate programming. There are plenty of good Islamic videos available for children these days.

Take A 'Classic' Approach

• Give your kids a historic look at media by checking out some old classic films (easily available at most rental shops) filmed during the days when entertainment was pretty innocent and clean. Silent films are available without music or with soundtracks which can easily be turned down to promote family interaction while still enjoying an educational look at the development of media. (Many old films have been colorized, for kids who may have an issue with black and white pictures.)

Home-style Hollywood

• Use the family video camera (or an inexpensive rental) to help the kids write, direct and produce their very own video movie! It will help them understand the inner workings of the movie industry while stimulating their creative juices. They can base their story on a Hadith or make their own Adam's World video with homemade paper-bag Adam & Aneesa puppets! Urge them to send us a copy at Sound Vision, we'd love to see it!

True Belief

Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "No one of you becomes a true believer until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself". [Al-Bukhaari &Muslim].

Islam through its instructions and legislations was keen to organize people’s relation with their Lord the Almighty, in order for them to attain happiness in both this life and the Hereafter. At the same time, Islam legislates what governs people’s relations amongst each other, in order for love and harmony to prevail in the Muslim community. This can be achieved only when each individual is keen to protect and guard the welfare of others just as he would his own, and only then will the Muslim community become strongly bonded and well-established.

For this great objective to be fulfilled, the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, guided his nation to accomplish the principle of solidarity saying: "No one of you becomes a true believer until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself", clarifying that for faith to become deeply rooted in the heart one must love good for others just as he likes to attain it himself, whether it is to be blessed with bounty or relieved from an agony; this is the path towards a perfect level of belief in ones heart.

If we ponder the above narration, we find that accomplishing such a state of belief requires the soul to possess a high degree of excellence and good manners when dealing with others. In this state a person overlooks mistakes, perseveres regardless of the harm others may afflict on him and forgives ill treatment. Additionally, he shares the joy and sadness of his fellow Muslims; he visits the sick, comforts the needy, sponsors the orphan, provides for the widow and offers help to others and cheers them with a smile.

Just as he likes people to be happy, he also wishes that they prosper in the Hereafter, and thus he always strives to guide them to the right path, whilst remembering the saying of Allaah (which means): “And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, `Indeed, I am of the Muslims`” [Quran: 41: 33].

The narration also goes beyond the boundaries of the Muslims to cover wanting good to reach disbelievers. He likes that Allaah blesses them with the bounty of belief and that Allaah rescues them from the darkness of associating with Allaah and disobedience. This meaning is substantiated with the narration in which the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "Being a true Muslim is achieved by loving for people what you love for yourself". [At-Tirmithi].

Indeed, in the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, we have the best example; he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, once said, advising Abu Thurr, may Allaah be pleased with him: "O Abu Thurr! I see that you are a weak person, and I love for you what I love for myself, so never be in charge of (even as little as) two people, or be responsible for an orphan’s wealth". [Muslim].

Our Salaf (i.e. righteous predecessors) may Allaah have mercy upon them, took upon themselves the implication of this Prophetic advice, and were very sincere in its implementation in the best manner. Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “I pass by a verse in the Book of Allaah, and wish that all people would have the knowledge I have about it”.

Another such example is when Waasi’ Ibn Muhammad, may Allaah have mercy upon him, wanted to sell a donkey of his once. The man who was buying it from him said to him: “Do you think it is good for me”. He, may Allaah have mercy upon him, replied saying: Had I not thought so, I would not have attempted to sell to you in the first place.

These two examples and many more reflect the loftiness in faith these people reached which yielded such results.

One of the implications of the narration we are addressing is that a Muslim should not want for others what he hates to happen to himself. This forces the person to shun many bad qualities, like envy, spite, selfishness, stinginess and other dispraised qualities which he would hate people to use when dealing with him.

Finally, one of the fruits of practically applying this great narration is that a virtuous community would be established for the Muslims when its members enjoy common love and a strong bond between them, so that they resemble one strong body that can not easily be defeated. Thus, the Muslim nation would achieve the sought after prosperity.

Source:http://www.islamweb.net