Why Watching Television While Eating is Not Haram in Islam
C.J Ahmed-04.04.2023
Watching television while eating is not forbidden in Islam. There is no evidence from the Quran or the authentic Sunnah prohibiting eating while engaging in activitie such as watching television. Watching T.V is not haram because television can be made use for various good purposes.
Many try to say that television has many evils and can corrupt the mind of the Muslim by watching things which are haram. The truth is everything has a something that could leave one to do something that is haram. For an example, using the internet is one such thing. Many who try to falsely argue by trying to say that that watching T.V is haram amazingly justify using the computer or smart phone. They wrongly argue that if you switch on the television channel you will anyway come across watching programs which contain things which are haram. If that argument is put forward in browsing the internet, then according to their argument, browsing the internet is more dangerous than watching T.V because you can watch anything the way you like and can be done privately. On the other hand you cannot watch any television program the way you like because you have to watch the programs which are broadcasted by the respective television station. The argument against watching television is based on the view that scantily clad women could entice the viewer and will lead him to sin. This argument is totally wrong because looking at scantily clad women in television is not at all haram because what is forbidden is to look at the awrah of real men and women and not people in television screens.
Aisha(rali)reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to my house when two girls were beside me singing songs of Bu’ath. The Prophet laid down and turned his face to the other side. Then, Abu Bakr came in and spoke to me harshly, saying, “Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet?” The Prophet turned his face toward him and he said, “Leave them alone.” When Abu Bakr became inattentive, I signaled to the girls and they left. It was the day of Eid and the Abyssinians were playing with shields and spears. Either I asked the Prophet or he asked me whether I would like to watch and I said yes. Then the Prophet made me stand behind him while my cheek was touching his cheek and the Prophet was saying, “Carry on, O tribe of Arfida.” I became tired and the Prophet asked me, “Are you satisfied?” I said yes, so I left.(Bukhari and Muslim).
The above hadith is clear evidence that the prophet (sal) allowed Aisha (rali) to watch the Abyssinians play with spears in the mosque as a form of entertainment.
Etiquette of eating
Eating food while engaging in other activities are nt forbidden an what has been encouraged while eating is mentioned in the following hadith,
‘Umar ibn Abi Salamah said: I was a young boy in the care of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and my hand used to wander all over the platter (of food). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to me, “O young boy, say Bismillah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is directly in front of you.”(Bukhari and Muslim)
There is nothing haram to watch T.V while eating.
Watching television while eating is not forbidden in Islam. There is no evidence from the Quran or the authentic Sunnah prohibiting eating while engaging in activitie such as watching television. Watching T.V is not haram because television can be made use for various good purposes.
Many try to say that television has many evils and can corrupt the mind of the Muslim by watching things which are haram. The truth is everything has a something that could leave one to do something that is haram. For an example, using the internet is one such thing. Many who try to falsely argue by trying to say that that watching T.V is haram amazingly justify using the computer or smart phone. They wrongly argue that if you switch on the television channel you will anyway come across watching programs which contain things which are haram. If that argument is put forward in browsing the internet, then according to their argument, browsing the internet is more dangerous than watching T.V because you can watch anything the way you like and can be done privately. On the other hand you cannot watch any television program the way you like because you have to watch the programs which are broadcasted by the respective television station. The argument against watching television is based on the view that scantily clad women could entice the viewer and will lead him to sin. This argument is totally wrong because looking at scantily clad women in television is not at all haram because what is forbidden is to look at the awrah of real men and women and not people in television screens.
Aisha(rali)reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to my house when two girls were beside me singing songs of Bu’ath. The Prophet laid down and turned his face to the other side. Then, Abu Bakr came in and spoke to me harshly, saying, “Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet?” The Prophet turned his face toward him and he said, “Leave them alone.” When Abu Bakr became inattentive, I signaled to the girls and they left. It was the day of Eid and the Abyssinians were playing with shields and spears. Either I asked the Prophet or he asked me whether I would like to watch and I said yes. Then the Prophet made me stand behind him while my cheek was touching his cheek and the Prophet was saying, “Carry on, O tribe of Arfida.” I became tired and the Prophet asked me, “Are you satisfied?” I said yes, so I left.(Bukhari and Muslim).
The above hadith is clear evidence that the prophet (sal) allowed Aisha (rali) to watch the Abyssinians play with spears in the mosque as a form of entertainment.
Etiquette of eating
Eating food while engaging in other activities are nt forbidden an what has been encouraged while eating is mentioned in the following hadith,
‘Umar ibn Abi Salamah said: I was a young boy in the care of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and my hand used to wander all over the platter (of food). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to me, “O young boy, say Bismillah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is directly in front of you.”(Bukhari and Muslim)
There is nothing haram to watch T.V while eating.