Is it permissible to have a television at home to watch educational programmes?

Answer

Television is haraam. It is not permissible to have a television at home nor to sell or even repair televisions. Regardless of educational programs, pictures of animate objects are haraam. The argument that television is better than going to the cinema for entertainment is absolutely corrupt, deceptive and baseless. It is like saying that haraam mutton is better than pork, hence haraam mutton may be consumed, or fornicating with a strange woman is better than fornicating with one's own daughter, therefore fornicating with the strange woman is the lesser evil, hence permissible. These are satanically-inspired baseless arguments. One evil is not better than another evil. An evil is worse than another evil. But both acts are evil and haraam, hence may not be committed.