The Satellite Dish

A letter from 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullah bin Baz to whomever may read it from the Muslims may Allah guide us to all that pleases Him and protect us from anything that angers Him - Amin.

In recent years, what has come to be known as a "dish" has pervaded our society, bringing into every home all kinds of falsehood, disbelief, images of partially or fully naked women, scenes of drinking and debauchery, and other forms of evil. As it has come to my knowledge that most people here now own these devices and that they are made and sold here in our country, I must warn you of the inherent dangers involved and of the necessity of fighting these dangers, first by not bringing these devices into our homes and then by warning and preventing others from doing so. The production and sale of these devices must be made forbidden because of the tremen- dous evils they facilitate, causing the people to help each other

in sin and transgression, spreading disbelief and corruption among the Muslims. Such a call must be done with both statements and actions, so it is obligatory on every Muslim male and female, to beware of this and encourage each other to stay away from it, and they should advice in this manner according to the saying of Allah Almighty:
"Help you one another in virtue, righteousness, and piety; but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah, Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment."

And His saying :
"The believers, men and women, are Awliya' (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Ma'ruf (good), and forbid from Al-Munkar (evil)."

And:
"By Al-'Asr (the time). Verily! Man is in loss, Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth, and recommend one to patience."

The Prophet ﷺ said :
"Whoever from you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; if he is not able, then with his tongue; and if he is not able, then in his heart and this is the weakest level of faith."

He ﷺ also said:
"The religion is sincere advice, the religion is sincere advice."

He was asked, "To Whom, O Messenger of Allah?" He ﷺ said : "To Allah, to His Book, to His Messenger, to the Imams of the Muslim, and to the general population of Muslim."

In another Hadith, he ﷺ said:
"None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself."

In the Sahih it is recorded that Jarir bin 'Abdullah Al-Bajali said, "I pledged loyalty to the Messenger of Allah peace and blessings be upon him to perform the prayer, to give Zakah, and to be sincere to every Muslim."

The verses of Qur'an and Hadiths from the Prophet that obligate sincere advice, encouraging the truth, and helping one another to do good are indeed many.

We ask Allah Almighty to rectify us and all of the Muslims; that we do what pleases Him, and that He rectify our hearts and actions. We ask Him to facilitate the leaders to prevent us from this trial and to rule against it, to protect the Muslims from its evil and to help them in all that will benefit the people and the land. We ask Him to make their advisors good, and help them with the truth and to facilitate all of the leaders of the Muslims in every place to do what pleases Him, aiding them with the truth, helping them to rule with His Shariah and abide by it, warning against what opposes it. We ask him to rectify the situation of all of the Muslims, granting them understanding in the religion, making them steadfast upon it, and causing them to beware of what opposes it. Indeed Allâh is able to do that, He is the one who has control over it, and peace, mercy and the blessings of Allah be upon you.