There is currently a fascination behind the series Ertuğrul. Ertuğrul was the father of Osman, the founder of the ottoman empire. He was a noble and pious individual. May Allah grant him Jannah. However, from a factual perspective, not much is known about his worship in comparison to other pious figures from the past. The Sahaaba (RA) were so noble that Allah has praised them in the Qur’an and declared that He is pleased with them. This the height of piety and the ultimate goal of every believer. We have numerous books detailing their lives, victories and accomplishments. If we wish to become inspired, why not learn their stories and emulate them? Nabi ﷺ has been mentioned in the Qur’an as the best of examples. He is our greatest role model. Study his life and follow him.
Thereafter, there are many pious predecessors who have detailed biographies. Be inspired by them. But brother Ertuğrul, about whom so little is known, has suddenly been hailed as a great islamic figure. But do we know about how much Tahajjud Salah he prayed and Qur’an he read? Are we aware of the worship he performed and how he followed the Sunnah? Has that inspired us to perform more worship? No, as that is unrecorded in history and therefore, omitted from the TV series.
Instead, like many other time-wasting TV series, it follows his love story and marriage interests. There are emotional moments and battles in which he bravely fights like a warrior. That is it. Where is the religious benefit in this? This is the deception of TV. Allah has commanded us in the Qur’an to lower our gaze, but it is impossible to do this while watching TV. Music is played throughout to add sound effects and further dramatise the scenes. Yet, we watch happily assuming we are doing good. Some even justify their obsession by claiming it is islamic. In reality, we are accruing sins. The one who “misses out” has, in reality, missed out on sin.
There are claims that we need such dramas to spread Islam. However, it does not make sense to break the laws of Islam, to spread Islam. No one was able to spread this religion better than Nabi ﷺ. Yet, he never resorted to impermissible means. Nor should we. Thus, avoid watching these series. Do not become influenced by the hype, opt to read beneficial books or listen to lectures instead. That may not be as entertaining, but it certainly will be more beneficial in this world and the hereafter. May Allah grant us the ability to abstain for His sake, aameen.
— Shaykh Dawood Seedat حفظه اللّٰه
Above is an extract from Shaykh’s talk on 5/7/19 in Masjid-ut-Taqwa, Pietermaritzburg. To listen to the full audio, please click here.
