Ruling on operating and maintaining of broadcast equipment for satellite channels and radio stations
Question

                I am a communications engineer, working in broadcast engineering. The nature of my work involves operating and maintaining electronic equipment that is used to re-transmit signals to some Arab countries and some local radio stations. Please note that I do not have anything to do with the nature of the programs offered by these channels or stations. Please note these channels and stations propagate and promote goals. Is this work haraam, and if so, why?.
Praise be to Allah.
    Satellite channels 
    are not all the same, although most of them are not free of evils, 
    innovations and sinful or immoral content, and even kufr and heresy. 

    These channels may 
    be divided into three main groups: Islamic channels; music and movies; and 
    news channels which also offer educational and political programs. 

    Working for 
    Islamic channels in operating, re-transmitting and maintaining equipment is 
    permissible work; indeed the one who does that will be rewarded for it if he 
    intends thereby to guide and teach people and to protect their religious 
    commitment and morals. What we mean by Islamic channels is those that 
    propagate the beliefs of Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa‘ah and that avoid showing 
    women or using music. Examples of that are al-Majd, ar-Rahmah, al-Hikmah and 
    an-Naas. 

    The opposite is 
    the ruling on working for indecent channels which propagate immorality 
    through their programs, such as movies, soap operas, music, love stories and 
    misbehaviour. These channels may contain all kinds of corruption and evil, 
    or they may specialise in some kinds, such as channels that offer movies, 
    music and indecent messages. There should be no difference of opinion 
    concerning the fact that it is haraam to work for these channels in any way, 
    because just as Allah, may He be exalted, forbade the believer to disobey 
    Him, He also forbade him to help the sinner in his disobedience. Allah, may 
    He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

    “Help you one 
    another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do 
    not help one another in sin and transgression”

    [al-Maa’idah 
    5:2]. 

    With regard to 
    news channels, they are permissible in principle, but because those who are 
    in charge of them usually do not pay attention to Islamic rulings, they end 
    up transgressing the shar‘i limits, such as having female presenters with 
    full adornment, or music, or trailers for movies, or sports news in which 
    the ‘awrahs of men and women appear, or interviews with heretics and 
    innovators, and other things that are well known. 

    Working for these 
    channels in operating, transmission and maintenance of their equipment is 
    not free of sin, because of the things we have mentioned in the content of 
    these channels. What is most befitting for the Muslim is to avoid working 
    for them, transmitting their content or maintaining their equipment, so as 
    to protect his religious commitment and ensure that his earnings are halaal 
    and free of any haraam contamination. 

    It should also be 
    noted that the details discussed above apply equally to audio channels as 
    well as video channels; there is no difference. 

    Allah, may He be 
    exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “And verily, 
    they shall bear their own loads, and other loads besides their own, and 
    verily, they shall be questioned on the Day of Resurrection about that which 
    they used to fabricate”

    [al-‘Ankaboot 
    29:13] 

    “They will bear 
    their own burdens in full on the Day of Resurrection, and also of the 
    burdens of those whom they misled without knowledge. Evil indeed is that 
    which they shall bear!”

    [an-Nahl 16:25]. 

    It was narrated 
    from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of 
    Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever calls others 
    to guidance will have a reward like that of those who follow it, without 
    that detracting from their reward in the slightest. And whoever calls others 
    to misguidance will have a burden of sin like that of those who follow it, 
    without it detracting from their burden in the slightest.”

    Narrated by 
    Muslim, 2674. 

    The two channels 
    asked about fall into the second and third categories, hence it is not 
    permissible to maintain their broadcast equipment, because that is helping 
    in the sin that is prevalent in their work, except in the case of one who it 
    is known or thought most likely that he will only use it for permissible 
    purposes. 

    Please see the 
    answer to question no. 41105 
    for a discussion on the ruling on working for a company that broadcasts 
    satellite channels. 

    Remember that 
    whoever gives up something for the sake of Allah, Allah will compensate him 
    with something better than it. 

    We ask Allah to 
    make you independent of means with that which He has permitted so that you 
    will have no need of that which He has forbidden, and that He will suffice 
    you from His bounty.  

    And Allah knows best.