Forbidding son to read news for fear of radicalization

15-1-2017 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum. My mum told me that I cannot read the news online because she thinks that if I read about Aleppo and other Middle Eastern affairs, I might get 'radicalised'. This is what I read: With regard to that which is beneficial to the individual and is not harmful to the parents, there is no obligation to obey the parents, whether they forbid it or allow it, because it does not cause any harm and it serves an interest (that of the child). I realised that if I read online news, I will not become 'radicalised', and if I do not read the online news, then it would harm me as it is important to know what is going on around the world. So my question is, is it permissible for me to read the online news? Please answer ASAP. May Allaah reward you.

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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 is His slave and Messenger. 

The matter is as you read regarding obedience to parents; it is limited to those conditions. We have already clarified them in fatwas 84942 and 131695.

The basic principle is that there is no blame on you for reading the news on the Internet or otherwise and that your parents have no right to prevent you from doing so for the reason that you mentioned in the question.

However, if you fear that you would be affected by that and what your mother fears would happen, then you must obey her, as there would then be a reason that requires obeying her.

Allah knows best.