What is the ruling on lying to one's bedridden father by feigning sleep to avoid watching television during the remembrance of Allah, and what is the solution to this problem?

Spending time with a bedridden father, comforting him, and showing kindness to him is an act of filial piety (birr), and it is the middle gate of Paradise.

If the television is free of unlawful content and the father commands his daughter to sit with him, she is obligated to obey him if the conditions for the obligation of obedience are met. It is forbidden for her to disobey him or to deceive him with lies.

The reward for one who is occupied with an obligatory act over a supererogatory one is greater in the sight of Allah, because the obligatory act is more beloved to Him.

The solution in this case is to remind the father, advise him, and encourage him to engage in dhikr (definition) (remembrance of Allah) and supererogatory acts, using appropriate language and at suitable times. One should also continuously supplicate for him to be strengthened in obedience.

If the television contains unlawful content, there is no obedience to him in disobeying Allah. In such a case, filial piety is demonstrated by advising him and denouncing the wrong in accordance with the regulations for enjoining good and forbidding evil upon parents.

If the daughter finds no way to use allusions or indirect speech, she is permitted to lie if it is the only means to avoid sin, because speech is a means to achieve praiseworthy objectives. If the objective cannot be achieved except through lying, it is permissible, though using allusions is more cautious.