Question:

Is it permissible to pray in front of the television while the screen is on?

Answer:

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen answered a similar question saying:

أما إذا كان القصد أن يصلي والتلفزيون أمامه على الطاولة فإن هذا لا بأس به ولا حرج إذا كان لا يشتغل، فإن كان يشتغل فإنه لا ينبغي أن يصلي وبين يديه شيء يشغله عن الصلاة.

…if the intention is to pray while the television is in front of him on the table, then there is no harm in this and there is no sin if it isn’t playing. As for if it [i.e. the television] is playing, then it isn’t appropriate to pray while there is something in front of him which is distracting him from the prayer.

[Majmoo’ul Fataawa of al-Uthaymeen, The Fifteen Volume, Chapter Salaatul Jama’ah]

Translated and Answered by

AbdulFattaah bin Uthman
Abu Fajr