Muhaqqaq Masala

Watching television while fasting.

In the Holy Quran, the purpose of fasting is stated to be the development of the attribute of Taqwa (piety) in a person, which shows that anything contrary to the requirements of Taqwa will primarily be considered prohibited in the state of fasting, and due to this, even if the fast is not broken according to the rules, such a person will certainly remain deprived of the reward; therefore, men who watch movies and obscene programs while fasting are severe sinners, and are deprived of the reward of fasting. Similarly, women who look at men for pleasure will also remain deprived of the reward; however, merely because of these acts, the ruling of the fast being broken jurisprudentially (according to Fiqh) will not be given (Kitab-un-Nawazil/Vol:6/Page:376).