Attending to the Mother While She Is Watching T.V. Programs

1-8-2021 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamu'alaykum warahmatullahi wabarokatuh.Shaikh, I want to ask. What is ruling on helping my mother doing thing that is used to enjoyed with watching TV when she watches TV such as giving her a snack when she watches TV, or giving her a pile of untidy clothes that she asked it, so she could iron the clothes while enjoying TV? Is this counted as helping in sins as I fear that doing that will cause she to watches the TV for longer time where as the TV shows are containing something that is impressible such as music?Thank 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.

If you see your mother watching on television programs containing forbidden matters, then you have to advise her gently and leniently. If she takes heed, then praise be to Allah; otherwise, just leave her.

Ibn Moflih may Allaah have mercy upon him said:

“Ahmad said in the narration by Yoosuf ibn Moosa: One should order his parents to enjoin good and forbid evil, and he said in the narration of Hanbal: if he sees his father doing something that he dislikes, he teaches him without violence or abuse, and he should not speak to him in a harsh way, otherwise he should leave him because a father is not like a stranger [a person who is not a relative].” [End of quote]

Merely giving her some food or drink or anything permissible is not considered as helping her in sin. If she asks you for anything of this, then you are obliged to obey her in doing so because it is obedience in what is permissible.

For more benefit on correct approach to give advice to parents or elderly people, please refer to Fatawa 297928, 343564, 351385 and 13288.

Allah knows best.

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