The Ethical Considerations of Hotstar.com’s Content Model

Hotstar.com, much like other major streaming platforms, operates on a content model heavily reliant on movies, TV shows, and live sports.

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While these are popular forms of entertainment globally, from an Islamic ethical perspective, they often present significant challenges.

The content available on such platforms frequently includes elements that are not permissible (haram) or are discouraged (makruh). This extends to visual depictions, thematic narratives, and the very nature of consuming such material.

Music and its Permissibility in Islam

Music, particularly instrumental music, is a debated topic among Islamic scholars, with many holding the view that it is impermissible due to its potential to distract from remembrance of Allah and encourage heedlessness.

• Scholarly Views: A significant body of Islamic scholarship considers instrumental music to be generally impermissible, while vocal-only nasheeds (songs) without musical instruments are often considered permissible.
• Impact on the Heart: Many scholars argue that music can affect the heart, leading to feelings that are contrary to piety and remembrance of Allah.
• Alternative Forms of Auditory Pleasure: Instead of music, Muslims are encouraged to listen to Quranic recitations, lectures, and beneficial discussions.
• Prevalence on Hotstar: Hotstar, as an entertainment platform, undoubtedly features a vast library of films, series, and shows with extensive musical scores and songs, making it difficult to avoid.
• Avoiding Harmful Content: For a Muslim, consciously choosing to avoid content that falls into this debated category is often seen as a safer and more pious approach, prioritizing spiritual well-being over fleeting enjoyment.

Movies and TV Shows: A Source of Ethical Dilemmas

The visual content on streaming services like Hotstar often contains elements that directly contradict Islamic teachings, making it a source of concern for observant Muslims.

• Immodesty and Nudity: Many movies and TV shows feature immodest clothing, intimate scenes, or outright nudity, which are strictly forbidden in Islam.
• Promoting Immoral Behavior: Themes such as illicit relationships, dating, alcohol consumption, drug use, gambling, and violence are frequently normalized or even glamorized in popular media.
• Blasphemy and Polytheism: Some content may contain blasphemous statements, mock religious practices, or promote polytheistic beliefs, directly challenging the core Islamic tenet of Tawhid (Oneness of Allah).
• Gender Mixing and Free Intermingling: The portrayal of uncontrolled intermingling between unrelated men and women, often leading to inappropriate interactions, is a common feature that goes against Islamic guidelines on gender segregation and modesty.
• Distraction from Ibadah: Engaging in prolonged viewing can lead to neglect of religious duties, such as timely prayers, Quranic recitation, or seeking beneficial knowledge.

Sports Entertainment: Fine Lines and Ethical Pitfalls

While sports themselves are often considered permissible and even encouraged for physical health in Islam, the way they are presented and consumed on commercial platforms can introduce ethical issues.

• Gambling and Betting: Live sports broadcasts are frequently intertwined with advertisements and promotions for gambling and betting, which are strictly forbidden in Islam. Users searching for “hotstar.com cricket” or other sports might be exposed to this.
• Celebration of Immoral Figures: Some sports figures or teams may embody or promote values contrary to Islamic ethics, yet they are celebrated and glorified on these platforms.
• Waste of Time: Excessive consumption of sports entertainment, similar to movies, can lead to a waste of valuable time that could be used for more productive or spiritually beneficial activities.
• Competitive Excess: While competition is healthy, the extreme commercialization and often aggressive nature of professional sports, as presented on streaming platforms, can foster negative traits like excessive nationalism or tribalism.
• Modesty Concerns: Certain sports or their associated broadcasts might feature immodest attire, particularly for female athletes, which can be a concern for Muslim viewers.

The Problem of “Gharar” (Uncertainty) and Deception in Digital Services

• Vague Content Promises: While not explicit on Hotstar’s geo-blocked page, some platforms might entice users with vague content promises that don’t fully materialize.
• Hidden Terms: A lack of easily accessible terms of service on the initial landing page (which applies to the geo-blocked Hotstar page) can hide crucial details from the user.
• Data Usage and Privacy: The “love” mentioned on the Hotstar page, while perhaps a polite gesture, is an interesting choice of words. Many digital services, while appearing free or cheap, monetize user data in ways that are often opaque and might raise privacy concerns for users who prioritize ethical data handling.
• Subscription Traps: While not immediately evident for Hotstar for US users, many streaming services are designed to make cancellation difficult, leading to prolonged, unwanted subscriptions.
• Lack of Transparency on Content Source: For streaming services, it’s not always clear how content rights are acquired or if all content adheres to ethical production standards, raising questions about the permissibility of supporting such a chain.

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