Listening to a transistor radio

Question

What is the ruling on listening to the news on a transistor radio? This difficulty arose because it is an instrument of idle play and amusement (lahw wa laʿib); otherwise, listening to the news in itself does not seem to be anything objectionable. A certain respected religious scholar was listening to the news, having put on the radio in his home; his respected father forbade him, saying that it was not befitting his station.

Answer

Listening merely to news, commentaries and speeches is permissible; listening to singing and music and to improper things is forbidden. This device was originally designed for spreading news very quickly, but in it there is also a great deal of idle play and amusement, singing and music, which is forbidden.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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