How can one reconcile the fatwa which states that looking at something forbidden while the heart disapproves does not remove the sin, but rather removes disbelief, with the other fatwa which mentions that observing something forbidden indicates approval of it and is considered aiding in sin?

Contentment with something is an act of the heart. The mere presence at, or sight of, a reprehensible act does not constitute contentment with it. Rather, it may be for the purpose of denouncing it. However, it can be a sign of contentment if there is no denunciation in the heart. Some jurists have described being present at a reprehensible act as "being like contentment with it" or "it signals contentment."

Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar mentioned the prohibition of attending a feast that includes a reprehensible act, because it is like being content with it. Al-Alusi, in his interpretation of the verse: {And those who do not bear false witness}, stated that they do not attend gatherings of falsehood because of the signal of contentment with it that such attendance conveys.

As for Al-Jassas, in his "Ahkam al-Qur'an," he clarified, in his interpretation of the verse: {So do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation; indeed, you would then be like them}, that a person becomes like them in their contentment with their state in outward appearance, and that contentment with disbelief and mockery of Allah's verses is disbelief. However, whoever sits with them while disapproving of that state does not disbelieve, even if it is not permissible for him to sit with them.

This indicates that presence with disapproval in the heart does not constitute contentment, even if it involves sin. The jurists' saying that being present at a reprehensible act is contentment with it can be interpreted as referring to the situation where there is no denunciation in the heart.

Therefore, one must refrain from watching TV series that contain mockery of religious rituals. It is not permissible to watch them even with disapproval in the heart; even if disbelief is negated, sin is inextricably linked to it. Sheikh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy on him, said concerning watching forbidden things with disapproval in the heart: "Being present at a forbidden act, even if one dislikes it in one's heart, makes one a participant with the doer."