Arguing for the permissibility of cinema from the story of Musa ﵇

Question

Zayd goes to watch cinema shows and, as proof of their permissibility, cites the incident of Hazrat Musa ﵇ on the Day of Adornment (yawm al-zina), saying: “A prophet such as Musa ﵇ not only goes himself to that fair of the ignorant but even summons people and takes them there, and, what is more, makes a request of the sorcerers: [ar]قَالُوا۟ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِمَّآ أَن تُلْقِىَ وَإِمَّآ أَن نَّكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَلْقَىٰ[/ar] ‘They said: “O Musa, either you throw, or we will be the first to throw”’ (Surah Ta Ha, 20:65)

Answer

Zayd’s statement is entirely wrong, contrary to the Shariʿa, and an analogy with a material difference. There, the gathering of the Day of Adornment was made a means for establishing the truth and refuting falsehood, and the original aim, by divine revelation, was the establishing of truth and the refuting of falsehood in the presence of witnesses; whereas here na‘ts, ghazals…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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