Someone deduced that it is permissible to keep a TV because smartphones and computers are not prohibited by the Shariah.

Answer

His deduction is corrupt and baseless. The problem nowadays with these dunderhead characters is that they believe to be qualified to formulate Shar'i Ahkaam despite lacking in even the rudimentary requisites of Tahaarat, Salaat, etc. His deduction is stupid.

Even if smartphones and computers are assumed to be permissible, these devices do not constitute daleel of the Shariah. For the permissibility of smartphones and computers the need is to structure the permissibility on the basis of Shar'i daleel. Smartphones and computers are not per se Shar'i dalaa-il. It is ludicrously stupid to argue that giraffe and zebra meat are halaal because beef is halaal. 'Beef' is not a daleel of the Shariah. Beef is halaal because there exists a daleel of the Shariah for its permissibility. For the permissibility of giraffe and zebra meat an independent daleel of the Shariah is necessary. Beef does not constitute a maqees alayhi (basis for deduction) for giraffe and zebra.

In the same way, smartphones and computers do not constitute maqees alayh for deducting the ruling pertaining to television. Regardless of the permissibility of computers, the ruling for television requires a valid maqees alayh. The factors which render television haraam have been explained elaborately in several of our publications. Here it will suffice to say that television is haraam, and smartphone/ computers are permissible for some people and haraam for most people, and as far as children are concerned, the hurmat of these devices is of an aggravated nature. It is haraam compounded with haraam.

There is absolutely no leeway for watching television. To stay abreast with news is not a factor which renders a haraam act halaal.