Is it really permiited to watch a movie as long as you forward?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Respected Brother,

Allah Ta'ala has blessed us with many favors, amongst the greatest of which is our physical abilities and senses. It is our duty to express gratitude to Allah for these favors. As an expression of gratitude, we ought to use the favors of Allah in His obedience and ensure not to use it in his disobedience as we will be questioned about this.

Allah Ta'ala says:

إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْؤُولاً

Verily the hearing, sight and heart will all be questioned about. (Surah Israa’ – v36)

Furthermore, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam said: 

إِنَّ الْحَلَالَ بَيِّنٌ، وَ إِنَّ الْحَرَامَ بَيِّنٌ

Verily Halaal is absolutely clear and Haraam is absolutely clear... (Bukhari & Muslim)

It is not difficult for a believer to decipher between what is permissible and what is impermissible if he/she sincerely reflects over it. We should be wary of justifying our sins as this makes it difficult for us to repent and ask Allah's forgiveness for those sins.

Allah Ta'ala commands us to protect our eyes from gazing at anything impermissible:

قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ يَغُضُّوْا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ...

Say to the believers that they should lower their gazes (Surah Nur - v30)

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam has mentioned:

فَالْعَيْنَانِ زِنَاهُمَا النَّظَرُ، وَالأُذُنَانِ زِنَاهُمَا الاسْتِمَاعُ 

So the fornication of the eyes is in casting (lustful) glances, and the fornication of the ears is in listening…(Bukhari) 

We understand from the abovementioned Hadith that the eyes are liable of committing Zina by lustfully gazing at a woman who one is not permitted to look at. 

Most, if not all movies contain scenes of women who are inappropriately dressed and include music and other impermissible content.

Accordingly, it is impermissible to watch movies due to the many impermissible elements it contains. Simply forwarding certain scenes does not make it permissible. 

We recommend that you advise your friends with kindness and compassion. May Allah protect us all from the deceptions of Shaytaan.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Safwaan Navlakhi

Student Darul Iftaa
Durban, South Africa

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.