Fatwa of Ayatollah Al-Qāhir on Scrolling Short-Form Video Platforms
Fatwa on the Prohibition of Publicly Performing Religious and Husayni Rituals in Non-Muslim Countries Under Conditions of Concern
His Holiness blessings for all Americans on Thanksgiving
Fatwa of Ayatollah Al-Qāhir on Scrolling Short-Form Video Platforms
أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
﴾يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿
“O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (sacrificing to) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination—of Satan’s handiwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper.”
— Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:90.
Since the ruling on wine and all intoxicants—their impurity and their prohibition—is established by the clear text of the Holy Qur’an, the teachings of the Messenger of God, and the consensus of Muslims, and since anything that clouds the mind or removes clarity of judgment is considered an intoxicant, it follows that every substance or practice that produces an intoxicating, mind-dulling effect takes the ruling of wine.
For this reason, the widespread short-video platforms of this age—such as the well-known application “TikTok” and similar platforms—are forbidden beyond any doubt or ambiguity. They fall under the category of intoxicants because they diminish, cloud, and disrupt the mind.
There is no disagreement about this, for the mind-dulling effect they produce is well-known among the general public as well as among specialists. The terms commonly used today—such as “brain rot” and “doom scrolling”—as well as modern medical and psychological studies, are sufficient evidence to decisively judge these video clips and applications as intoxicating, in the same ruling as wine.
Therefore, it is not permissible for any believing man or woman, nor for anyone who values their reason and dignity, to approach such platforms except for a legitimate religious purpose. Nor is it permissible to immerse oneself in the environments of corruption represented by those who frequent these platforms—may God curse immorality and those who promote it.
Engaging with these platforms resembles attending gatherings of prohibited amusement, and producing content for them resembles working with intoxicants and promoting distraction.
In addition to their intoxicating effect, the overwhelming majority of their content is frivolous, indecent, and corrupt, until these platforms have become a dwelling place for devils. So avoid both the outward and inward forms of sin, O servants of God. And fear God, and remember the saying of the Messenger of God—peace and blessings be upon him and his family:
“There will be people among my Umma -Nation- who will drink wine, calling it by another name. Musical instruments and singers will be played above their heads. God will cause the earth to swallow them, and He will transform some of them into apes and swine.”
Al-Qāhir Billāh Al-Mousawī
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُۥ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ كُلِّهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُشْرِكُونَ
﴾He it is Who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religion: And enough is Allah for a Witness﴿ - (Surah Al-Fath 48:28)
Surely Allah, Exalted is He, has bestowed grace upon the Ummah of Islam by making this religion manifest across the horizons of the earth, despite the hatred of the disbelievers. There is no spot on the face of the earth except that someone from the nation of the Arab Hashimi Prophet—peace be upon him and his family—resides in it.
And Allah has bestowed another grace upon the Muslims: that He has restrained the hands of people from harming them in lands outside the abode of Islam, despite the presence of those who lie in wait for them and those who plot against them.
And since this is the reality in many countries, especially in the West, we clarify for the believers certain matters to which Allah, His Messenger, and the Family of His Messenger have guided them in such circumstances. Among these matters is the following:
It is not permissible, according to the Shari‘a, to publicly perform devotional rites, religious or Husayni rituals, or other such public gatherings, debates, demonstrations, marches, or street disputations in lands outside the Muslim world—such as Western countries—if this brings about the hostility of the people of those lands toward Islam and the Muslims, or distorts the image of the religion and its adherents.
For example, when such acts become material used by opponents to justify and inflame sentiments of hostility against Muslims and migrants, or when they become a trigger for nationalist tensions, or a tool for political exploitation. All of this falls under fitna, which Allah Almighty has commanded the Muslims to avoid.
And such public display in this manner contradicts the following matters:
1. Taqiyyah
Which, for us, is among the necessities of religion and a means of preserving the believers.
2. Avoiding Fitna
For Allah Almighty has commanded this, so that He does not place for the disbelievers any way over the believers.
3. Acting with Justice and Goodness toward the people of those lands
For the migrant owes them the right of having received and sheltered him, in accordance with the saying of the Exalted:
لَّا يَنْهَىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَـٰتِلُوكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَـٰرِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ
﴾Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for your Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loves those who are just﴿ - (Surah Al-Mumtahana 60:8)
4. Contradicting the principle that believers should be an adornment to the religion and the school
As narrated from al-Ṣādiq (peace be upon him):
“O Shia, be for us an adornment and do not be a disgrace upon us. Speak to people good words, guard your tongues, and restrain them from excess and ugly speech.”
And in the words of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him):
“Address people with that which they know and refrain from that which they reject.”
So fear Allah, servants of Allah, and speak a sound, upright word.
وَيَأْبَى ٱللَّهُ إِلَّآ أَن يُتِمَّ نُورَهُۥ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
﴾But Allah will complete His Light, even though the unbelievers may detest it﴿
Al-Qāhir Billah Al-Mousawi
Fatwa on the Prohibition of Publicly Performing Religious and Husayni Rituals in Non-Muslim Countries Under Conditions of Concern
His Holiness blessings for all Americans on Thanksgiving
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
“I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
— Psalm 34:1
To all beloved Americans:
Peace and blessings of the Lord — the One true God of Abraham — on this Thanksgiving, as on all the days of God.
As we enter the joyful season and the godly days that follow, let us rejoice and remember our Lord. Let us praise Him and give thanks for His works.
Thanksgiving has levels, In the heart: through appreciation and remembrance. On the tongue: through praise and gratitude. By the hands: by preserving and making good use of God’s gifts. And finally, by sanctifying the blessing: by giving from what we have and sharing with others.
In these harsh days of hardship that we all witness, let us not forget the weak and the needy. Give — and you shall be given. Let us reclaim the spirit of thanksgiving, the contentment of the heart, and the noble generosity taught by the fathers of this nation — virtues that materialism and the worship of wealth are attempting to bury.
May the Lord bless you and your families, today and always.
Al-Qāhir Billah Al-Mousawi