Statement from the Standing Committee warning against “Star Academy” and similar shows
Question

                What is the ruling on watching “Star Academy”? Is it permissible to take part in these shows via telephone or voting?.
Praise be to Allah.
      The Standing Committee has issued a statement warning 
      against the “Star Academy” show and all such shows that are known as 
      “reality TV”, which show the lives of people with their evil and 
      corruption so that the Muslims can imitate them and be influenced by their 
      evil. We will quote their statement here for the benefit of readers. 
Statement warning against the “Star Academy” show and 
    similar shows 
, the Lord of the Worlds, and blessings 
    and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and all his family and companions. 
    
    The Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing 
    Fatwas has studied the questions from a number of proud Muslims concerning 
    the program broadcast by some Arabic satellite channels which is called 
    “Star Academy” and other similar shows. After studying the matter, the 
    Committee thinks that these shows should be banned and it is haraam to watch 
    them, finance them, take part in them, call them to vote or to express 
    admiration of them, because of what these shows include of allowing 
    forbidden things concerning which there is consensus that they are 
    forbidden, and doing so brazenly. According to the hadeeth, the Prophet  
    (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There will be among my 
    ummah people who will regard as permissible zina (adultery), silk, alcohol 
    and musical instruments.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari from the hadeeth of Abu 
    Maalik al-Ash’ari (may Allaah be pleased with him). And it was narrated that 
    the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “All of 
    my ummah will be fine except those who commit sin brazenly. It is part of 
    brazenness that a man does something at night, then in the morning when 
    Allaah has concealed him, he says, ‘O So and so, I did such and such last 
    night.’ His Lord concealed him all night, but in the morning he uncovered 
    that which Allaah had concealed for him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim 
    from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him). What 
    brazenness in committing haraam and immoral actions can be worse than these 
    shows which include a number of serious evils? These include: 

    1 – free mixing of the sexes. Allaah says (interpretation of 
    the meaning): 

    “And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask 
    them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and for their 
    hearts”

    [al-Ahzaab 33:53]
According to the hadeeth, 
    the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No one 
    of you is alone with a (non mahram) woman but the Shaytaan is the third one 
    present.” Narrated by Imam Ahmad with a saheeh isnaad from ‘Umar ibn 
    al-Khattaab.  

    So what about these programs, the main idea of which is 
    mixing between the sexes and removing all barriers between them, as well as 
    the wanton display and unveiling on the part of the women, and displaying 
    their charms which leads to much evil? Allaah says (interpretation of the 
    meaning): 

    “… and not to show off their adornment except only that 
    which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer 
    palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron), and 
    to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks 
    and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands …”

    [al-Noor 24:31]

    2 – Blatant promotion of immorality and the means that lead 
    to it. 

    Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “Verily, those who like that (the crime of) illegal sexual 
    intercourse should be propagated among those who believe, they will have a 
    painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allaah knows and you 
    know not”

    [al-Noor 24:19]

    3 – The call to remove haya’ (modesty, shyness) and gheerah 
    (protective jealousy, pride) from the hearts of the Muslims by making them 
    get used to seeing these shameful scenes that provoke desires and distancing 
    them from good morals and virtue. 

    According to a hadeeth, the Prophet  (peace and blessings 
    of Allaah be upon him) said: “Among the words that have come down to the 
    people from the earlier Prophets is: If you feel no shame then do as you 
    wish.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari from the hadeeth of Abu Mas’ood al-Badri (may 
    Allaah be pleased with him). 

    And it was narrated that the Prophet  (peace and 
    blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Faith has seventy-odd branches, and 
    haya’ is one of the branches of faith.” Agreed upon; from the hadeeth of Abu 
    Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him). 

    It was also narrated that he  (peace and blessings of 
    Allaah be upon him) said: “Are you surprised at the gheerah (protective 
    jealousy) of Sa’d? I am more jealous than he is, and Allaah is more jealous 
    than I.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari from the hadeeth of al-Mugheerah ibn 
    Shu’bah (may Allaah be pleased with him). 

    It is not sufficient for you to abstain from watching these 
    shows; you should also advise and remind those whom you know watch them or 
    take part in them in any way, because that comes under the heading of 
    cooperating in righteousness and piety, and forbidding one another to engage 
    in sin and transgression. 

    The Committee also calls upon the businessmen who finance 
    these shows to fear Allaah with regard to the blessing of wealth that Allaah 
    has bestowed upon them, and not use it for things that will adversely affect 
    the youth of this ummah, destroy the symbols of Islam and serve the enemies 
    of Islam, for this is a kind of ingratitude for blessings and is a cause of 
    their loss. 

    It is obvious that these kinds of shows are among the causes 
    of disasters that strike Islam and the Muslims. Allaah says (interpretation 
    of the meaning): 

    “And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of 
    what your hands have earned. And He pardons much”

    [al-Shoora 42:30]

    In al-Saheehayn it is narrated from the hadeeth of 
    Zaynab (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet  (peace and 
    blessings of Allaah be upon him) entered upon her suddenly and said: “Laa 
    ilaaha ill-Allaah (There is no god but Allaah), woe to the Arabs from an 
    evil that has drawn nigh! Today a (hole) like this was opened in the wall of 
    Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj,” and he made a circle with his thumb and forefinger. 
    Zaynab bint Jahsh said: I said: “O Messenger of Allaah, will we be destroyed 
    when there are righteous people among us?” He said, “Yes, if there is a 
    great deal of evil.” 

    We ask Allaah by His Most Beautiful Names and His Sublime 
    Attributes to protect us and all the Muslims from the sources of temptation 
    both obvious and hidden, and not to punish us for what the foolish among us 
    do, and to show us the truth as truth and enable us to follow it, and to 
    show us falsehood as false and enable us to avoid it. 

    May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad 
    and all his family and companions.