What is the ruling on watching magicians on television or in the circus?

It is forbidden to watch the acts of sorcerers, whether on television or at the circus, for several reasons:

1. Watching them is considered going to soothsayers and sorcerers, which is forbidden by Islamic law, as stated in the Hadith: "Do not go to them." 2. It contains temptation and admiration for the sorcerer, even though Allah described them as mischief-makers. Allah Almighty says: (Indeed, Allah does not amend the work of mischief-makers). 3. It leads to trivializing evil and removing its reprehensibility from the heart, and these are acts of disbelief. 4. It is often accompanied by forbidden scenes, such as images of naked women. 5. It involves aiding them in their falsehood and disbelief, whether through dissemination or by paying money.

Scholars have warned against watching these shows and have considered anyone who intentionally watches them to be like one who went to them, incurring the warning that their prayers will not be accepted for forty days, unless it is for the purpose of denouncing the act or monitoring evil to warn against it.