14. DO YOU WATCH TELEVISION?

Are you in the habit of watching television? If so when? Do you switch on the TV just to watch the knowledgeable and informative items? Or to see the tele-serials? Do you see the cinematic dances? Do you switch on the TV when in the company of your parents, brothers, sisters etc.
When did you start watching the TV? Did some of the programmes create a kind of dissonance in you when you first watched the TV? Thereafter the difficulty was lessening, as you continued watching the TV and gradually you developed an interest in watching the programmes. Didn't you feel ashamed when you watched some of the programmes along with your children, husband, parents and other members of the family. Now a days such scenes are very rare on the TV. What is the reason? Have the programmes been improved or you have developed an immunity to such programmes?
The prophet said that shame is half of the faith in Allah “If you are not ashamed, you can do whatever you like.”
When you start watching TV, and you are aware of the eyes, which watch it. There are 600 crores human beings on earth - that is there are 12000 crores eyes watching. But your eyes are unique and they are quite different from your ears. Allah has made your eyes very carefully and meticulously.
During my visit to UAE last time I disembarked at Sharja airport. This time the authorities took the computerised pictures of the eyes of the passengers as a record. During the previous visits, they had obtained copies of the passport as a travel record. This experience made clear that each person's eyes have something unique which distinguishes them from several others' eyes. The Lord of the universe has created the eyes very meticulously so that you may use them properly and not to use them as you like. The use of your eyes will be evaluated on the Day of the Judgment. Do you remember this when you watch the TV? Have you ever come across the Quranic statements about the eyes Allah has given you. Allah said:
“Allah gave you the power of hearing, sight and heart. So that you may be thankful to Him.” (16: 78)
“It is Allah who created you and gave you hearing, seeing and understanding. But you are little thankful to Him.” (67: 23)
“For surely the hearing, the sight, the heart all of those shall be questioned of.” (17: 36)
Are you conscious about time when you watch the TV? Do you remember that time once passed will not be brought back and the days gone by will never return? We must always remember that the links of time that dropped out from our life-span will never be got back and therefore we are slowly approaching death. In the life Hereafter, Allah will question how we had spent our time on earth, the Holy prophet has warned us about this? Do you remember any Hadith (the sayings and ways of prophet) which advise you to manage your time properly and profitably? Do you ensure when you watch the TV that the programme you see are kept within the limits set by God.
How much has the TV influenced you? Has it changed your character, behaviour, speech and taste? Has it changed your culture and views? And your eating habits and even food? If so, has it been positive or negative? Has it forced you? Has the possession of TV made you buy any item which is not essential. Since the installation of TV in your house, have you experienced that there has been less care in the matter of worships. Has the TV affected the Quran recitation. Has it affected your learning? Has the frequency of the visits of the neighbours incresed or decreased?
Has the TV influenced your children anyway? That is has it made any changes in their daily activities and behaviour such as standing, sitting, eating, drinking, playing, bathing, etc. etc. Do they use the words, expressions, and styles, songs etc. that they usually hear on the TV? Do they just imitate the style of walking that they usually see on the TV? Who do they imitate? Who do children like much? Are they their brothers, neighbours, relations, friends or the stars usually appearing on the TV?
Has the television adversely affected your children's learning? Do you watch TV when they are learning? If so, the TV would attract them to it. Thus it adversely affects their learning.
These types of questions are to be asked yourselves and try to find answers. It will make you aware of the adverse effects of the TV on your children and the family. We must be conscious of the fact that Allah always observes us. We are accountable to Him. He says: "He knows all those little things they do.” (3:120, 4:108, 8:47)