Why Watching Tom and Jerry is Not Haram with 3 Proofs
C.J Ahmed-18.03.2023
Tom and Jerry is an innocent cartoon of a cat chasing a mouse that children of several generations have been enjoying for decades. Unfortunately the ignorant idiots among Muslims who have giving self-proclaimed fatwa against Tom and Jerry blaming that violent extremism in the middle east is due to people watching cartoons like Tom and Jerry. A Vox article carried an article mentioning the following g,
“According to a top Egyptian state official, it's Tom and Jerry, the feuding cat-and-mouse duo from the classic children's cartoon.
Sure, why not.
As reported by Egyptian Streets' Mohamed Khairat, during a speech at a conference called "The Media and the Culture of Violence" at Cairo University, Ambassador Salah Abdel Sadek, the head of Egypt’s State Information Service, told the audience that the Tom and Jerry cartoon, which is popular with children across the Middle East, sets an idea in the viewer’s mind that violence is natural.
"[Tom and Jerry] portrays the violence in a funny manner and sends the message that, yes, I can hit him … and I can blow him up with explosives. It becomes set in [the viewer’s] mind that this is natural," said Sadek.
Following the ambassador's statements, the privately owned Egyptian media outlet Youm7 ran an article titled "Causing terrorism: 5 charges faced by the cartoon 'Tom and Jerry' in Egypt," which warned parents that the cartoon "conveys negative habits like smoking and drinking alcohol," "teaches children that stealing is normal," "distorts the concept of justice," and helps children "invent sinister plans" using "sharp instruments" such as chainsaws and pistols.”
(Article link- https://www.vox.com/2016/5/5/11592512/tom-jerry-extremism)
Watching cartoons is not haram in Islam because even during the time of the prophet (sal), there were many forms of entertainment. Many try to say that watching cartoons can sometimes corrupt the minds of children. This argument has no basis in Islam or in science. The truth is everything has a something that could leave one to do something that is haram. Below are the two hadith proofs proving why it is not haram to watch cartoons.
1.The Abyssians played and danced
It was the day of Eid and the Abyssinians were playing with shields and spears. Either I asked the Prophet or he asked me whether I would like to watch and I said yes. Then the Prophet made me stand behind him while my cheek was touching his cheek and the Prophet was saying, “Carry on, O tribe of Arfida.” I became tired and the Prophet asked me, “Are you satisfied?” I said yes, so I left.(Bukhari and Muslim).
The above hadith is clear evidence that the prophet (sal) allowed Aisha (rali) to watch the Abyssinians play with spears in the mosque as a form of entertainment. Similarly using T.V to watch programs which does not contain things that are haram is allowed in Islam and Muslims should not go in to extremes.
2 Asha (rali) sang songs
-Aisha(rali)reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to my house when two girls were beside me singing songs of Bu’ath. The Prophet laid down and turned his face to the other side. Then, Abu Bakr came in and spoke to me harshly, saying, “Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet?” The Prophet turned his face toward him and he said, “Leave them alone.” When Abu Bakr became inattentive, I signaled to the girls and they left. It was the day of Eid and the Abyssinians were playing with shields and spears. Either I asked the Prophet or he asked me whether I would like to watch and I said yes. Then the Prophet made me stand behind him while my cheek was touching his cheek and the Prophet was saying, “Carry on, O tribe of Arfida.” I became tired and the Prophet asked me, “Are you satisfied?” I said yes, so I left.(Bukhari and Muslim).
The above hadith is clear evidence that the prophet (sal) allowed Aisha (rali) to watch the Abyssinians play with spears in the mosque as a form of entertainment. Similarly using T.V to watch programs which does not contain things that are haram is allowed in Islam and Muslims should not go in to extremes.
3. Spreading corrupt beliefs of Shirk and Kufr
The other argument I see is the argument that cartoons will corrupt the belief of a Muslim chid and make him deviant. To answer this, we have to understand the argument in the right perspective. Giving blanket fatwas and saying that it is haram does not prove anything. First of all. The person who is guided by Allah cannot be misguided by anyone else. Allah (Swt) says in the Quran:
"And whom Allah guides, there is none that can lead him astray"
(Al-Quran-39:37)
Some will try to say that these movies or dramas contain stories of idols worship, soothsaying, certain things that are forbidden in Islam etc. and by watching such movies or soap operas; a Muslim could get drawn to all these sins. I do agree that many of these films do contain Shirk, kufr and all sorts of deviations but there is a big difference between watching a person worshipping an idol and actually doing it. A Muslim whose aqeada is not sound or his/her Iman is weak can fall prey to such deviations portrayed in a movie but still that depends on the individual and giving a blanket fatwa is clearly wrong.
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (Rali):
A man asked the Prophet (Sal) whether one who was fasting could embrace (his wife) and he gave him permission; but when another man came to him, and asked him, he forbade him. The one to whom he gave permission was an old man and the one whom he forbade was a youth.
(Abu Dawud-Graded Hasan-Sahih by Albani)
The above hadith is clear proof that forbiddance does not apply to everyone and differs specifically from person to person. There is no evidence in the Quran or authentic hadiths stating that watching something entertaining is haram. If so, then the prophet (Sal) would have forbidden Aisha (Rali) from watching the Ethiopians dancing in the mosques with spears. A person can listen or look at a non-Muslim engaging in idolatry practices without supporting or engaging in it. The evidence is as follows.
Auf b. Malik Ashja'i reported we practise incantation in the pre-Islamic days and we said:
"Allah's Messenger. What is your opinion about it? He said: Let me know your incantation and said: There is no harm in the incantation which does not have Shirk in them are fine"(Sahih Muslim)
If listening or looking at Shirk was forbidden, then the prophet (Sal) would have forbidden the companion but he allowed the incantation to be said to determine whether it was shirk or not. Abu Hurayrah (Rali) narrated:
The people of the Book used to read the Torah in Hebrew and then explain it in Arabic to the Muslims. Allah's Messenger (sal) said (to the Muslims). "Do not believe the people of the Book, nor disbelieve them, but say, 'We believe in Allah and whatever is revealed to us, and whatever is revealed to you.' "
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
In the above hadith, the prophet (Sal) did not forbid the Muslims from listening to what the Jews and Christians were preaching in the Torah or Bible. I advised the Muslims to say 'We believe in Allah and whatever is revealed to us, and whatever is revealed to you.' "
Conclusion
Watching cartoons such as Tom and Jerry is not haram in Islam because Islam never forbids entertainment. Those who try to forbid entertainment modes such as watching television, cartoons or movies are arguing without any evidence.
Tom and Jerry is an innocent cartoon of a cat chasing a mouse that children of several generations have been enjoying for decades. Unfortunately the ignorant idiots among Muslims who have giving self-proclaimed fatwa against Tom and Jerry blaming that violent extremism in the middle east is due to people watching cartoons like Tom and Jerry. A Vox article carried an article mentioning the following g,
“According to a top Egyptian state official, it's Tom and Jerry, the feuding cat-and-mouse duo from the classic children's cartoon.
Sure, why not.
As reported by Egyptian Streets' Mohamed Khairat, during a speech at a conference called "The Media and the Culture of Violence" at Cairo University, Ambassador Salah Abdel Sadek, the head of Egypt’s State Information Service, told the audience that the Tom and Jerry cartoon, which is popular with children across the Middle East, sets an idea in the viewer’s mind that violence is natural.
"[Tom and Jerry] portrays the violence in a funny manner and sends the message that, yes, I can hit him … and I can blow him up with explosives. It becomes set in [the viewer’s] mind that this is natural," said Sadek.
Following the ambassador's statements, the privately owned Egyptian media outlet Youm7 ran an article titled "Causing terrorism: 5 charges faced by the cartoon 'Tom and Jerry' in Egypt," which warned parents that the cartoon "conveys negative habits like smoking and drinking alcohol," "teaches children that stealing is normal," "distorts the concept of justice," and helps children "invent sinister plans" using "sharp instruments" such as chainsaws and pistols.”
(Article link- https://www.vox.com/2016/5/5/11592512/tom-jerry-extremism)
Watching cartoons is not haram in Islam because even during the time of the prophet (sal), there were many forms of entertainment. Many try to say that watching cartoons can sometimes corrupt the minds of children. This argument has no basis in Islam or in science. The truth is everything has a something that could leave one to do something that is haram. Below are the two hadith proofs proving why it is not haram to watch cartoons.
1.The Abyssians played and danced
It was the day of Eid and the Abyssinians were playing with shields and spears. Either I asked the Prophet or he asked me whether I would like to watch and I said yes. Then the Prophet made me stand behind him while my cheek was touching his cheek and the Prophet was saying, “Carry on, O tribe of Arfida.” I became tired and the Prophet asked me, “Are you satisfied?” I said yes, so I left.(Bukhari and Muslim).
The above hadith is clear evidence that the prophet (sal) allowed Aisha (rali) to watch the Abyssinians play with spears in the mosque as a form of entertainment. Similarly using T.V to watch programs which does not contain things that are haram is allowed in Islam and Muslims should not go in to extremes.
2 Asha (rali) sang songs
-Aisha(rali)reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to my house when two girls were beside me singing songs of Bu’ath. The Prophet laid down and turned his face to the other side. Then, Abu Bakr came in and spoke to me harshly, saying, “Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet?” The Prophet turned his face toward him and he said, “Leave them alone.” When Abu Bakr became inattentive, I signaled to the girls and they left. It was the day of Eid and the Abyssinians were playing with shields and spears. Either I asked the Prophet or he asked me whether I would like to watch and I said yes. Then the Prophet made me stand behind him while my cheek was touching his cheek and the Prophet was saying, “Carry on, O tribe of Arfida.” I became tired and the Prophet asked me, “Are you satisfied?” I said yes, so I left.(Bukhari and Muslim).
The above hadith is clear evidence that the prophet (sal) allowed Aisha (rali) to watch the Abyssinians play with spears in the mosque as a form of entertainment. Similarly using T.V to watch programs which does not contain things that are haram is allowed in Islam and Muslims should not go in to extremes.
3. Spreading corrupt beliefs of Shirk and Kufr
The other argument I see is the argument that cartoons will corrupt the belief of a Muslim chid and make him deviant. To answer this, we have to understand the argument in the right perspective. Giving blanket fatwas and saying that it is haram does not prove anything. First of all. The person who is guided by Allah cannot be misguided by anyone else. Allah (Swt) says in the Quran:
"And whom Allah guides, there is none that can lead him astray"
(Al-Quran-39:37)
Some will try to say that these movies or dramas contain stories of idols worship, soothsaying, certain things that are forbidden in Islam etc. and by watching such movies or soap operas; a Muslim could get drawn to all these sins. I do agree that many of these films do contain Shirk, kufr and all sorts of deviations but there is a big difference between watching a person worshipping an idol and actually doing it. A Muslim whose aqeada is not sound or his/her Iman is weak can fall prey to such deviations portrayed in a movie but still that depends on the individual and giving a blanket fatwa is clearly wrong.
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (Rali):
A man asked the Prophet (Sal) whether one who was fasting could embrace (his wife) and he gave him permission; but when another man came to him, and asked him, he forbade him. The one to whom he gave permission was an old man and the one whom he forbade was a youth.
(Abu Dawud-Graded Hasan-Sahih by Albani)
The above hadith is clear proof that forbiddance does not apply to everyone and differs specifically from person to person. There is no evidence in the Quran or authentic hadiths stating that watching something entertaining is haram. If so, then the prophet (Sal) would have forbidden Aisha (Rali) from watching the Ethiopians dancing in the mosques with spears. A person can listen or look at a non-Muslim engaging in idolatry practices without supporting or engaging in it. The evidence is as follows.
Auf b. Malik Ashja'i reported we practise incantation in the pre-Islamic days and we said:
"Allah's Messenger. What is your opinion about it? He said: Let me know your incantation and said: There is no harm in the incantation which does not have Shirk in them are fine"(Sahih Muslim)
If listening or looking at Shirk was forbidden, then the prophet (Sal) would have forbidden the companion but he allowed the incantation to be said to determine whether it was shirk or not. Abu Hurayrah (Rali) narrated:
The people of the Book used to read the Torah in Hebrew and then explain it in Arabic to the Muslims. Allah's Messenger (sal) said (to the Muslims). "Do not believe the people of the Book, nor disbelieve them, but say, 'We believe in Allah and whatever is revealed to us, and whatever is revealed to you.' "
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
In the above hadith, the prophet (Sal) did not forbid the Muslims from listening to what the Jews and Christians were preaching in the Torah or Bible. I advised the Muslims to say 'We believe in Allah and whatever is revealed to us, and whatever is revealed to you.' "
Conclusion
Watching cartoons such as Tom and Jerry is not haram in Islam because Islam never forbids entertainment. Those who try to forbid entertainment modes such as watching television, cartoons or movies are arguing without any evidence.