Fatwa ID: 09426
Answered by Mufti Sakib Shadman
Question:
I used to watch many islamic videos and discussions (some of them are debates but with good manners and some not) about proving islam and disproving Christianity. but I see a lot of fatwas regarding this that watching debates is haram. My question is, is it really haram to watch these videos if it doesn’t violate any sharia or correct sunnah? Because there are many daeeh who follow the correct islamic manner about these topics.
I watch this one brother from youtube who is very knowledgeable about the Quran and sunnah that whenever he wants to prove a point about Islam, he refers to the Quran and sunnah with correct references and authentic ahadith. I never saw him shout in any of his videos and they are filled with islamic knowledge. He proves islam first with quran and sunnah and in his streams whenever anyone claims things about christianity, he disproves Christianity as most of these are just lies from the church. and as i watched his videos for 2 years now, my assumption is that this brother learned from scholars from an islamic institute because this much knowledge is hard to gain with just researching Islam on your own.
There are other youtube channels which are like an organisations that shows proof about Islam with the linguistics of the Quran, the description of the natural world mentioned in the Quran that were not known by science that are known to be objectively true today (for example the quran mentions the sea having layers of wave and darkness, mountains function as pegs etc.), proving Islam with prophecies that came true that are recorded in the sahih authentic sunnah (some of them are recorded in history as well, and some are happening in front of our very own eyes), disproving Christianity and many other topics. I get sad when I read fatwas like this because I learned so much about Islam that are from the Quran and sunnah by watching these videos. My question is, is it really haram to watch these videos if it doesn’t violate any sharia or sunnah?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
It is permissible to listen to Muslim–Christian debates/discussions under the following conditions:
- The Muslim debater must have correct Aqidah (belief).
He must not hold theological positions that contradict the creed of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama‘ah. For example, one must avoid debaters who promote anthropomorphism, i.e. claiming that Allah Ta‘ala literally possesses physical limbs such as a hand, leg, or face (may Allah protect us). The authentic position of Ahlus-Sunnah is that such words, when mentioned in the Qur’an or Sunnah, are recited and affirmed without asking how and without assigning physical meaning, leaving their true reality to Allah Ta‘ala. [4]
- The Muslim viewer must not be influenced or confused by Christian arguments.
If a person feels that listening to such debates may cause doubt, confusion, or attraction to Christian theology, then it becomes impermissible for him to watch them. [1]
For this reason, comparative religion should be approached after a person’s foundational Islamic knowledge is sound. Without this foundation, one may misunderstand arguments or be negatively affected. Furthermore, one should consult with trusted Islamic scholars to determine which Muslim debaters are authentic, and which debates will strengthen one’s Iman, rather than leading one to become inclined towards Christian beliefs/arguments. [6]
- There must be no portrayals of non‑Mahram women.
Any debate or video containing inappropriate exposure, immodesty, or impermissible interaction should be avoided. [2]
- The debates must not be consumed as entertainment.
The purpose should be learning, strengthening one’s Iman, or understanding comparative religion, not treating debates as amusement or drama.
Thus, if Muslim–Christian debates are free from misinformation, haram elements, inappropriate visuals, mockery/disrespect [3], or arguments that may sway the individual Muslim, then it is permissible to watch them.
Finally, it is important to note that many Muslim debaters are well‑versed in comparative religion and theology. However, the average Muslim sometimes assumes that such debaters are scholars in all Islamic sciences, such as Fiqh, Hadith, and Tafsir. When these debaters are asked questions outside their area of expertise, some respond without the necessary training, which can lead to serious mistakes. [5] Therefore, you may benefit from their discussions related to theology and comparative religion. But for matters of other specialised fields, you should consult qualified scholars who are experts in those respective sciences. This principle applies to scholarly videos proving that Islam is the truth. If the Scholar is an expert in deriving proofs from Qur’an and Sunnah based on his in-depth knowledge of Tafsir and Hadith, then you may view such videos.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Mufti Sakib Shadman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
١٠ – دفع المضار مقدم على جلب المنافع
Kitab al-Wajiz fi Usul al-Fiqh al-Islami, Dār al-Khayr li al-Taba’ah wa al-Nashr wa al-Tawzi’, 2nd ed., 2006. Vol.1 p.126.
[2]
وَأَمَّا) النَّوْعُ السَّادِسُ وَهُوَ الْأَجْنَبِيَّاتُ الْحَرَائِرُ فَلَا يَحِلُّ النَّظَرُ لِلْأَجْنَبِيِّ مِنْ الْأَجْنَبِيَّةِ الْحُرَّةِ إلَى سَائِرِ بَدَنِهَا إلَّا الْوَجْهِ وَالْكَفَّيْنِ لِقَوْلِهِ ﵎ ﴿قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ﴾ [النور: ٣٠] إلَّا أَنَّ النَّظَرَ إلَى مَوَاضِعِ الزِّينَةِ الظَّاهِرَةِ وَهِيَ الْوَجْهُ وَالْكَفَّانِ رُخِّصَ بِقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى ﴿وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا﴾ [النور: ٣١
Badaai’ Al-Sanaai’, Daar Al-Kutub Al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1910. Vol.5 p.121.
[3]
وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا آيَاتِ اللَّهِ هُزُوًا) هم لم يتخذوا آيات اللَّه هزوا؛ ولكن هزوا بالأحكام التي لها آيات فأضاف الهزء إلى آياته، ولكن من استخف بحكم من الأحكام التي لها آيات كان ذلك استخفافا بآياته، واللَّه أعلم
Kitab Tafsir al-Maturidi, Dār Kutub al-’Ilmiyyah, 1st ed., 2005. Vol.5 p.420.
[4]
وهذا هو منهاج أهل السنة والجماعة، فقوله: (لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ) رد على المشبهة والممثلة؛ فهو سبحانه وتعالى ليس كمثله شيء، فلا يماثل أحداً من خلقه، ولا تماثل صفاته صفات أحد من خلقه، ولذا قال: {لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ} [الشورى:١١
Kitab Sharh Lum’ah al-I’tiqad li al-Mahmud, Mawqi’ al-Shabakah al-Islamiyyah. Vol.1 p.12.
[5]
ومن أخلاق العلماء عدم التكلف فيما لا يحسن. ومن قال لا أدري فقد أفتى، لأن ليس إلى الإحاطة بكل العلم سبيل
Kitab al-Tarbiyah al-Islamiyyah Usuluha wa Tatawwaruha fi al-Bilad al-Arabiyyah, ‘Alam al-Kutub, 2nd ed., 2005. p.350.
[6]
والنهي نوعان: أحدهما: ما يكون المنهي عنه مفسدة في نفسه، والثاني: ما يكون وسيلة إلى المَفْسَدة، فصار (٢) سد الذرائع المُفْضِية إلى الحرام (٣) أحد أرباع الدين
Kitab I’lam al-Muwaqqi’in ‘an Rabb al-’Alamin, Dār ibn al-Jawzi li al-Nashr wa al-Tawzi’, 1st ed., 2003. Vol.5 p.66.