Cape Town “Halaal” Cinema Is HARAAM
QUESTION: A poster titled ‘Cape Town Halaal Cinema’ is being circulated. This cinema is dated for a date in December. It also states ‘movie starts after Magrib’. Kindly comment on this information brought to your attention.
ANSWER: There is no doubt – no iota of doubt – that such a Haraam event can ever be Halaal. There is no such thing as ‘Halaal’ cinema. Stay far, very far away from such events. Such events bring the Azaab and La’nat (Curse) of Allah Ta’ala.
The time from Maghrib, in fact, even prior to sunset, is an important time. Regarding the time just before sunset, Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “When night falls, then keep your children (indoors), because the Shaitaans spread out (on earth)…” (Bukhari Shareef)
Further, regarding the night, Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “… And close the doors (at night) and take Allah’s Name thereupon; and cover your utensils and take Allah’s Name thereupon…” (Bukhari Sahreef)
Hence, the night in the life of a Muslim is not to be spent outdoors, unnecessarily and in Haraam activities. Imagine how many layers of darkness we are covering ourselves in; the darkness of the night, the darkness of the sin of cinema; and the darkness of the erroneous claim of dubbing a Haraam cinema as ‘Halaal’ cinema – making Halaal what is Haraam is a terrible major sin! Three layers of darkness! The nights are to be spent indoors, with one’s family – wife and children – and in some Nafl Ibaadat.
The nights, in fact from prior to Maghrib Salaah, should be spent in Ibaadat. Allah Ta’ala says, “Glorify (make Tasbeeh) the praises of your Rabb before sunrise and sunset. And glorify Him during a portion of the night as well…” (Qaaf)
Hence, the Qur’anic way of spending one’s nights is clearly explained above. There is no scope for cinemas, TVs and other Haraam activities. The sin is aggravated when these futile and Haraam pastimes are dubbed as Ibaadat, or Thawaab, or ‘Halaal’, as in the case of ‘Halaal cinema’. May Allah Ta’ala grant us Tawfeeq to see the Haq in the Fitnahs presented to the Ummah. And may Allah Ta’ala grant the organizers of this Haraam event Tawfeeq to retract and cancel the cinema, Aameen.
The Ulama-e-Haq of South Africa state that picture-making is Haraam. Hence, cinemas, TVs, You-Tube videos, etc. are also Haraam!