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Quranic verses and TV on walls in same room

Question

Assalaamu alaykum, Shaykh. I am sorry if I am causing any annoyance, but I just need this cleared. You directed me to another fatwa, which made me confused. Am I just suffering from Waswaas (devilish whisperings) regarding the issue which I mentioned in my last question? Should I be worried about it, or is it just Waswaas which I should forget about and move on? The whole issue is regarding having Quranic verses on the wall in the living room. We also have a TV mounted on the wall; we watch all kinds of things like, for example, sports, dramas, etc. If we listen to music through the TV or music shows, movies, etc., does this make us disbelievers, or is this a sin which does not take us out of the fold of Islam? Does this count as mocking the verses of the Quran? We in no way or form intend to mock or belittle the Quran or Islam in any form. We never even suspectec that it could amount to that; we have the frames to remind us of Islam, etc. It is just that this causes me a lot of issues. I get thoughts that on the Day of Judgement, my family and I go to Hellfire and my parents ask me why I did not warn them about this and say that they cared soo much for me but that I allowed them to fall into this sin which took them to Hellfire, etc. I feel guilty when I walk to the mosque with my dad. I feel as if I am a bad son. I briefly spoke to my dad about this. He said that music is haram and that we sin by listening to it, but he did not think it amounted to mocking the Quran or Islam. He did not actually say that, but from what he was saying, it sounded like that. Is he correct? I am just worried. So does this take us out of the fold of Islam or not? Please help this brother of yours who is in need. May Allaah reward you.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

What your father said is correct, that even though music is forbidden, listening to it in a room in which there are verses of the Quran on the walls does not amount to Kufr (disbelief). Such thinking resembles Waswaas. Considering something to be a reason for Kufr for a futile reason could lead to unpleasant consequences.

What you should do is hasten to repent from listening to forbidden songs and musical instruments, abide by Islamic rulings in general when watching television programs, and not waste time in doing what is not pleasing to Allah or which does not bring any benefit to the Muslim in his religion and his worldly matters.

Ibn ‘Abbaas  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him narrated that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said, "There are two blessings in which many people incur loss: health and free time." [Al-Bukhaari]

It should be noted that there is a difference of opinion among the contemporary scholars on the ruling of hanging Quranic verses on walls. Some of them permitted it with some conditions, such as Shaykh Ibn Baaz, and some of them absolutely forbade it, such as Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  them both.

There is no doubt that it is better to not do this in order to be on the safe side, because avoiding the difference of opinion is desirable. For more benefit, please refer to fatwa 90983.

Allah knows best.

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