The Use of Television

THE USE OF TELEVISION I n the August 2004 issue of the New Delhi–based Urdu daily Rashtriya Sahara, a report was published presenting two different legal opinions regarding television. One opinion holds that the use of television for preaching and religious outreach is permissible. The other opinion takes the opposite view: it argues that television is primarily a means of entertainment on which obscene programs are shown, and therefore its use for religious programs is not permissible (p. 1). Conveying the message of Islam to people and removing misunderstandings about it is a duty obligatory upon Muslims. This responsibility must be discharged in every age and under all circumstances. It is evident that this work can only be done where people are present, or through a medium that reaches people. It cannot be carried out in isolation or in seclusion. If, under such circumstances, it is made a condition that this task will be performed only in places or through media where no evil exists at all, then the task