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Why do some "students of knowledge" and "religious people" initially denounce the introduction of satellite channels, then later bring them into their homes and watch what they call "Islamic films" and "Islamic anthems" which contain musical rhythm and women, while they had forbidden such things to others?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Satellite dishes are not inherently haram (forbidden) or halal (permissible); rather, their ruling depends on what they are used for. In the past, they led to temptation due to the absence of legitimate channels. However, now with the multiplicity of purposeful channels, there is no objection to their use if the user adheres to the Sharia (Islamic law) guidelines. One who previously refrained from using satellite dishes and then acquires one, while observing the Sharia guidelines, is not to be judged as contradictory. Watching forbidden content via satellite dishes is a temptation, but this description should not be generalized to everyone, and the default is to assume the best of Muslims. The criterion for judging series and films as Islamic is their adherence to Sharia guidelines, not merely that they narrate an Islamic story. Preachers should strive for noble matters and forgo some permissible things to preserve their standing.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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