I want to ask about the rule: "Whatever is forbidden to act is also forbidden to observe"; is it absolute in every case? And is reading about something similar to observing it? For example: smoking is forbidden; is watching someone smoke also forbidden, and what about reading a narrative that includes someone smoking? Are there any specific guidelines for this?
Question
I would like to ask about the rule: "Whatever is prohibited to act is also prohibited to observe," is it absolute in all situations? And is reading about something similar to observing it? For example: smoking is forbidden; is watching a person smoke forbidden, and is reading a narration that involves a person smoking also forbidden, or are there specific conditions related to this?
Answer Summary
The rule "Whatever is prohibited to act is also prohibited to observe" is stated by several scholars, including the Maliki and Shafi'i schools, who claim it aids in committing sins. It states that looking at prohibited actions is forbidden as it endorses sinning actions. Observing someone smoke is also forbidden if one intends to assist or encourage sinning acts. However, simply reading about the action doesn't carry the same prohibition.
Praise be to Allah. Firstly: The rule "Whatever is prohibited to act is also prohibited to observe" is stated by a group of scholars, including the Maliki and Shafi'i schools, and they argued that it aids in committing sin. Al-Adwi stated in "Hashiyat Kafayah al-Talib al-Rabbani": "And whatever is prohibited to act, observing it is prohibited as well, and whatever is disliked is disliked, and whatever is permissible is permissible." Al-Ramli said: "Al-Halimi stated: and observing a cat fight with a rooster is prohibited due to its unnecessary harm to animals with no benefit." Ibn Sarakha in "Adab al-Shahud" said: "And it is prohibited to anticipate betting because it is a form of harm, and in its essence, it is torturing between chickens and flocks." I know that observing these prohibited acts is not allowed because it aids in forbidden acts. Similarly for those who play with grasshoppers, and gathering people on them is also addressed in "Hashiyat Al-Ramli in Usul al-Mutalib". According to Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, regarding the prohibition of magic and its practitioners, observing an act of something like that is also condemned because it helps the sinner in their sin. As for observing when there is no assistance to the sinner and no lingering satisfaction with their actions, it is permissible under certain conditions. Furthermore, those watching someone smoke should disapprove of it by hand, tongue, or heart according to their ability. The heart's disapproval means an absence of assistance or approval of that deed. Most people are familiar with the scriptures of the disbelievers and their conditions, but it cannot be understood as an endorsement or approval of their disbelief and conditions.