Is It Permissible to Watch Umar Series?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

The Umar (Ibn al-Khattab) series is known to be very accurate. Is one allowed to watch it since it is controlled for educational purposes because it depicts Umar and other companions but not the Prophet and his wives?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

The Umar series is a drama series that tells the story of Islam through the perspective of Umar Ibn al-Khattab (Allah be pleased with him), the second  Caliph. The production team maintained responsibility for the portrayal by consulting a committee of Islamic scholars to ensure historical accuracy and avoid sensationalizing the life and legacy of Umar ibn al-Khattab.

There is disagreement among scholars on the matter of digital photography. Some are inclined towards its permissibility, while others are inclined towards impermissibility. There is some scope of the permissibility of watching digital photography.

Points to Bear in Mind

One has to remember that this drama and other similar historical semi-fiction dramas have music, women characters, and many hourly-long episodes and series. One should think about the following:

If by watching drama series and anything on TV, spending time on social media for that matter, if one’s life purpose is distracted, worshiping Allah Most High, performing the daily prayers, obeying one’s parents, fulfilling rights of others, etc., guarding of the gaze, spending endless hours, is compromised then it would be obligatory to avoid, and one should focus what matters.

Value of Time and Life Purpose

Ibn Abbas reported, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “There are two blessings which many people waste: health and free time.” [Bukhari]

Imam al-Ghazali mentions that every single breath of yours is a priceless jewel because it is irreplaceable; once it is gone, there is no return. So do not be like fools who rejoice daily as their wealth increases while their lives decrease. [Ghazali, Bidayat al-Hidaya]

One point one has to remember is that before the dawn of modern TV, for centuries, people learned their history and entertained themselves through reading books, especially on the history of the past. There are many well-written books on Islamic History. One may study those books to understand the history of Islam through these books.

Related:

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• What is the Ruling on Taking Photographs of Humans?
• Unveiled Woman on TV
• Can I Watch a Movie Using a Filter That Removes Sexual Scenes?
• Is It Permissible to Look at Women Who Don’t Wear Hijab?
• Is It Permissible to Watch Movies and Cartoons If I Fast-Forward the Kissing Parts?

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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.