Question:

There is a TV channel in Turkey called Fox TV that shows programs made by Turkish production companies, but as this channel is owned by international group and one of its affiliates called Fox shows a program called American horror story that has some religiously objectionable ideas like apocalypse and referring to someone as second coming of messiah (nauzubillah).
And was also showing person as Jesus (pbuh). Fox also showed a western saying if mountain doesn’t come i won’t repeat the saying as i heard that its befitting for Muslim to repeat it but i can tell that it originated from Francis bacon’s writing, so you can search for it.

Now I have following questions:
1. Can a person be doing kufr if he just watches Turkish content through Fox TV while boycotting fox or watches Fox TV content by torrent .

2. And one more thing if actor works in Fox TV so is it kufr for us to get inspired by those actors or like them? Is that actor also doing kufr? If the program he works for is free of kufr. Actually one of my friend works in a production house as actor and that production house makes shows for Fox TV. Does these acts constitute kufr? Explain according to Hanafi school of thought

Answer:

All the prays belongs to Allah subhanahu wata`la

Islam forbids any kind of entertainment that involves music shows, or any other shows that has religiously objectionable content such as apocalypse, and ideas that leads to many kind of sin.

Anyone who sees an evil specially if it involves act of kufr –  such as reviling Islam or casting aspersions upon the messages or the Messengers, or belittling the rulings and laws of Islam, or mocking them, such as the beard and niqab – as many misguided people do now a days and approves of it and accepts it, and does not denounce it, will commit the same sin as the one who does it. In addition, imitating by playing the role of the messengers of Allah (such as Esa a.s) in the movies will never constitute his actual characteristic of his prophet hood, this is also unjustifiable acts which is a great sin.   

Allah, almighty, says:

“And it has already been revealed to you in the Book (this Quran) that when you hear the Verses of Allah being denied and mocked at, then sit not with them, until they engage in a talk other than that; (but if you stayed with them) certainly in that case you would be like them”  [an-Nisa’ 4:140]. (see also Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 1854)

In another place Allah says:

“If you ask them (about this), they declare: ‘We were only talking idly and joking.’ Say: ‘Was it at Allah and His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His Messenger (SAW) that you were mocking?’’

Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after you had believed”  [at-Tawbah 9:65, 66].

As mentioned above If a person watches or listens to that and approves of it, then he comes under the same rulings as the one who does it. If he hates it in his heart but he continues to watch and listen, then he is in grave danger; though he is free from Kufr he will not be safe from falling into sin and disobedience.

So answering question 1: same ruling will apply as above whether you watch the contents through fox tv or by Torrent.

Answer for question 2: (a) same ruling will apply as above if you get inspired by such act of Kufr and you don’t denounce it. (b) again applying the same rule it will depend on the above mentioned rules, whether he is also doing Kufr or not. (c) However, if the program that he or she works for is fee of Kufr then this would not constitute Kufr, but working in the environment of Kufr will definitely incur great sins.  He or she should look for alternative and better way of living for halal income or halal entertainment. These are the Hanafi and nearly all other scholars view. Wallahu A’lamu bissawab.

And Allah knows the best.

References:

[1] Surah an-Nisa’ 4:140 [2] Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 1/860 [3] Sahih Muslim Hadith: 1854 [4] Ahmed vol-3, p-239 [5] Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 28/221-222 [6] Surah at-Tawbah 9:65, 66