Ruling on operating and maintaining of broadcast equipment for satellite channels and radio stations

Satellite channels
are not all the same, although most of them are not free of evils,
innovations and sinful or immoral content, and even kufr and heresy. 

These channels may
be divided into three main groups: Islamic channels; music and movies; and
news channels which also offer educational and political programs. 

Working for
Islamic channels in operating, re-transmitting and maintaining equipment is
permissible work; indeed the one who does that will be rewarded for it if he
intends thereby to guide and teach people and to protect their religious
commitment and morals. What we mean by Islamic channels is those that
propagate the beliefs of Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa‘ah and that avoid showing
women or using music. Examples of that are al-Majd, ar-Rahmah, al-Hikmah and
an-Naas. 

The opposite is
the ruling on working for indecent channels which propagate immorality
through their programs, such as movies, soap operas, music, love stories and
misbehaviour. These channels may contain all kinds of corruption and evil,
or they may specialise in some kinds, such as channels that offer movies,
music and indecent messages. There should be no difference of opinion
concerning the fact that it is haraam to work for these channels in any way,
because just as Allah, may He be exalted, forbade the believer to disobey
Him, He also forbade him to help the sinner in his disobedience. Allah, may
He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Help you one
another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do
not help one another in sin and transgression”

[al-Maa’idah
5:2]. 

With regard to
news channels, they are permissible in principle, but because those who are
in charge of them usually do not pay attention to Islamic rulings, they end
up transgressing the shar‘i limits, such as having female presenters with
full adornment, or music, or trailers for movies, or sports news in which
the ‘awrahs of men and women appear, or interviews with heretics and
innovators, and other things that are well known. 

Working for these
channels in operating, transmission and maintenance of their equipment is
not free of sin, because of the things we have mentioned in the content of
these channels. What is most befitting for the Muslim is to avoid working
for them, transmitting their content or maintaining their equipment, so as
to protect his religious commitment and ensure that his earnings are halaal
and free of any haraam contamination. 

It should also be
noted that the details discussed above apply equally to audio channels as
well as video channels; there is no difference. 

Allah, may He be
exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And verily,
they shall bear their own loads, and other loads besides their own, and
verily, they shall be questioned on the Day of Resurrection about that which
they used to fabricate”

[al-‘Ankaboot
29:13] 

“They will bear
their own burdens in full on the Day of Resurrection, and also of the
burdens of those whom they misled without knowledge. Evil indeed is that
which they shall bear!”

[an-Nahl 16:25]. 

It was narrated
from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of
Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever calls others
to guidance will have a reward like that of those who follow it, without
that detracting from their reward in the slightest. And whoever calls others
to misguidance will have a burden of sin like that of those who follow it,
without it detracting from their burden in the slightest.”

Narrated by
Muslim, 2674. 

The two channels
asked about fall into the second and third categories, hence it is not
permissible to maintain their broadcast equipment, because that is helping
in the sin that is prevalent in their work, except in the case of one who it
is known or thought most likely that he will only use it for permissible
purposes. 

Please see the
answer to question no. 41105
for a discussion on the ruling on working for a company that broadcasts
satellite channels. 

Remember that
whoever gives up something for the sake of Allah, Allah will compensate him
with something better than it. 

We ask Allah to
make you independent of means with that which He has permitted so that you
will have no need of that which He has forbidden, and that He will suffice
you from His bounty.  

And Allah knows best.