Is money earned from working for a satellite channel considered mixed [halal and haram] if it broadcasts religious, economic, and news programs, in addition to programs that include music and the appearance of immodestly dressed women? How can the halal portion of this money be determined, what is the ruling on disposing of the saved portion of it, is Zakat obligatory on it, and does the hadith "Whoever institutes a bad practice" apply to him because of his work there?
Working in satellite channels is forbidden due to their inclusion of overt prohibitions, such as images, music, forbidden advertisements, usurious dealings, and the mixing of unveiled women with men. The money earned from this work, if its earner was ignorant of its prohibition, or was given a fatwa by someone he trusts permitting it, then what has passed is his, and there is no sin upon him in benefiting from it, with the obligation to leave it immediately. However, if he was aware of its prohibition, then the money earned is unlawful (haram), and it must be disposed of by spending it on charitable and good causes, while estimating the proportion of unlawful money. If estimation is difficult, then half of it should be disposed of. Whatever he has spent from this money does not obligate him to give its equivalent in charity, and if he is in need of it, he may take from it what he needs and give the rest in charity.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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