Watching
TV and videos has become the most popular modern pastime for
young people. Business people have made good use of this and are
continually producing more and more exciting, enthralling films.
We can sit down to a smorgasbord of soap operas, live talk
shows, scary films, horror films, science-fiction films, action
films, old black-and-whites, or bloodthirsty revolting
films—just about everything a depraved heart could desire. To
be fair though, there are also informative programs, nature
programs, documentaries, news, current affairs, and lots of
other inspirational and enlightening programs. There is so much
to choose from that a person could sit in front of the TV all
his life and still never watch all there is to watch. Is that
however a noble pursuit? How much has TV come to dominate our
lives? And how much of our talk is based around the latest film?
Some
people are not content to watch a film or program now and again
but have reached the extent that they are addicted to watching
TV. You might think this is a strange thing to say, but there
are many people who cannot be in their home unless the TV is on,
even in the background. As soon as they enter the house, on it
goes. If there happens to be an electricity cut they will move
around feeling lost, not knowing what to do with themselves.
Even reading a book, sewing, doing any kind of hobby, or sitting
with friends is all done with the TV in the background. How many
people, if you ask them “What are you doing tonight?” or
“What did you do last weekend?” will answer, “Watching
TV”?
If
you were to ask such people about this phenomenon of being glued
to the TV, you’ll probably find that watching TV and video
helps them to escape from reality. Is reality so bad that they
have to escape from it? Or is it that they no longer recognize
reality or don’t know how to deal with it? How often have you
heard about people who actually copy what they see on TV even to
the extent that they might murder, plan a theft, rape, or do any
other type of depraved behavior? So people say they are escaping
from reality into the world of TV only to act out what they see
there in their “reality.” It sounds strange. If watching TV
helps people escape the reality around them, which they perceive
to be uncomfortable or even unbearable for them, then in this
way it acts like drugs and alcohol to a certain extent, numbing
the brain and the senses. The film plays with their emotions and
leads them to excited heights or lets them drop to the depths of
despair. Films play with us—forming our ideas, engaging our
emotions, and mostly, wasting our time.
The
questions are, why can’t we use things in moderation? Why do
people get addicted to something that harms them? Surely, since
TV and videos are part of a massive market and money-making
enterprise, the supply will fit the demand. If people demand
quality programs, they’ll get them. Is it that TV has become a
reflection of ourselves?
People
are often driven by their desires; that’s why some people
overeat and others might oversleep, or practice other kinds of
extreme behavior. It’s up to us to work on our behavior and
channel our energy into things that do us good, instead of harm.
So you have to decide whether the amount of video and TV
you watch is just a pastime or if it has started to turn into
something else. You control the on/off switch. But if you are
going to make TV play only a small part in your life, then you
must replace it with something else—something beneficial for
you.
The
month of Ramadan is the perfect time to make a fresh start in
every aspect of your life. I know of many people who really
turned their lives around in Ramadan, with the help of Allah
Almighty. One person gave up smoking, another person started
performing prayers on time, and this lasted far beyond the time
of Ramadan. Another person I met gave up old friends who were
influencing her in a negative way. She used the time and
opportunity in Ramadan to meet new friends in the mosque, and
those friendships have lasted.
Since
we know that TV and videos now dominate the lives of so many
young people around the world, it is then our responsibility to
question ourselves on how we use these technological devices.
They can be a means to learn, to gain experience, to see the
perspectives of different people; but they can also be used to
help waste our time, which is so very precious. But if you feel
that videos and TV are crowding you in your life and you want to
decrease their role, then use Ramadan as a starting point.
So
here is the challenge. Switch off the TV during Ramadan. I mean
don’t switch it on at all! After that, you will be left with
only yourself and your reality. How will you feel? How will you
pass your time? If you think this will be difficult, then why
not get a few friends together and help each other out by
reminding and encouraging each other. At the same time,
encourage filling your time, the time you would have spent
watching TV, in doing something beneficial. Here are some ideas:
-
Set
aside some time every day to read Qur’an.
-
Help
out more in your home.
-
Spend
time with your brothers and sisters.
-
Visit
friends who are good for you.
-
Read!
Make sure it is something from which you’ll learn
something.
-
Take
up a hobby like any kind of craft, collecting things, and so
on.
-
Get
a CD about some Islamic subject.
