Books...HARAAAAAAAAAM??

Sumaiya

Look what ive just come across on a website:

13) Is it haram to write a book, or read one for that matter, if is a scary book, or a fiction? If you want to write fiction does it have to be clean of any non islamic ideas or values or beliefs? It seems that when I try to write fiction I am afraid of leading someone astray even though they know its a fiction.

Your concerns are well founded. One should avoid writing, distributing, or reading materials which contain non-Islamic concepts such as draculas, ghosts, etc. Such writings are lies, lead to deviant beliefs, and cause deviant behavior -- especially writings (even worse, movies) of violent nature that are used by the non-Muslims to produce thrill in their sick souls.

This is freaking me out coz i love scary books, what do you think?

Forum

ashah786 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 - 15:18

Hi,

Islam strongly encourages creativity, in the form of Art, literture and many more. As long as what you read doesnt influence you in a bad way then its fine as long as the book preaches about good.

So writing fiction books seems alright look at the autor Khalid Hossenni of 'The kite Runner' and many more books, I agree with what soemone said earlier there are far more importnt factors these days to be concerned with what is haram and what is not, As long as your a good muslim with a clean heart and then thats what matters and thats for Allah to judge

You — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 - 15:40

[quote=ashah786]Hi,

Islam strongly encourages creativity, in the form of Art, literture and many more.[/quote]

Proof?

Hajjar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 - 20:25

The kite runner was a good book, but i felt very uncomfy when i came upon the rape seen because it involved boys not opposite genders. Rape is bad enough when its male on female but the same gender it was too horrific for me to handle. Had i known this was in the book i would have avoided reading it. This element of the book would definately be disapproved by scholars, but the rest of the book covered some excellent themes. If however it was a factual book detailing someones life that you could find inspiration from then i would have read it, without feeling out of place. Read it as you do news articles. But fiction like that stinks.

As for Sumaiya being 14 so what? Why shouldn't she not only question things but express her own views without the fear of being branded an extremist. It's better that she is truthful and if it does turn out she is following beliefs that contradict Islam then insha'Allah through talking and debating she will learn this and move forward. Age has nothing to do with it, it's highly insulting and patronising to bring it into the equation. Its remarkable that Sumaiya at such a young age is interested in her deen, and has knowledge enough to ask deep questions. Many 14 yr olds are interested in the usual, going out, spending time with friends, cinema, games consoles, music etc. She is interested in her deen Alhamdulilah to that! May Allah open the doors of knowledge for her!

Sumaiya — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 - 23:32

ansel, shut up. im hear basking in everyones praise and sympathy and you ad to come along with a comment like that. Il see you at school!

Courage — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 - 15:00

Sumaiya, just don't take these debates personally. We're all entitled to our own opinions and we're entitled to agree or disagree.

Funzo — Sat, 2 Aug 2008 - 23:39

[quote=Sumaiya]actually all pop songs are haram (this is my opinion so dont take this as an invitation to have a go at me) let alone cheesy ones[/quote]
good on you, you dont have to sin to have fun.

Funzo — Sat, 2 Aug 2008 - 23:39

[quote=Sumaiya]I think that youd find, judging by my forum topics, that i wouldnt skip my prayers. But wouldnt this be like music though, it can makes you react in a certain way... [/quote]
What how the hell can we tell that you dont skip your prayers from a few forum topics you posted maybe your just a really bored kid who's got nothing better to do with her summer? your 14 not 40 and i know your trying to impress all these people with your islamic knowledge but your not in any position to debate such issues so please just calm down take prozac if you have to and relax.

You — Sun, 3 Aug 2008 - 00:58

[quote=Sumaiya]actually all pop songs are haram (this is my opinion so dont take this as an invitation to have a go at me) let alone cheesy ones[/quote]

"Haraam" is not a matter of opinion. You cannot "merely have an opinion" that something is haraam.

It does not work that way.

You CAN have an opinion if something is good or bad, wether it is disliked or not, but for Fardh and haraam, that is not the case. It has very strict criteria.

For something to be haraam, it must have explicit qur'anic evidence, and the denial of that being haraam would be kufr.

Young Anonymou… — Wed, 3 Sep 2008 - 16:38

The main reason that scholars say novels are not good (iv nevr heard they're haram) is because they don't benefit you in the hereafter. therefore it could be counted as wastin ur time.
if u like horror, i don't think thats very bad as long as it doesnt stop u from doin wot ur meant to, e.g. prayin Esha alone at night coz ur scared of dracula or zombies or woteva. 😉
But, i do think Romance is the worst Genre for muslims, coz we are told that modesty is REALLY important, and we shud lower our gaze, but its alright to read books, and imagine it all?! :doubt: Nah, i think thats definitely wrong.

(books can't be haram, the Qur'an is a book, you get hadith books... :? )

Seraphim — Wed, 3 Sep 2008 - 18:18

[quote=Courage]I don't know about you but most books I know of, don't have naked pictures in them.[/quote]

ASTAGFARULLA!

Who said anything about naked pictures???
What have you been reading?
Shame on you.

Courage — Thu, 4 Sep 2008 - 12:08

[quote=Seraphim][quote=Courage]I don't know about you but most books I know of, don't have naked pictures in them.[/quote]

ASTAGFARULLA!

Who said anything about naked pictures???
What have you been reading?
Shame on you.

[/quote]

Does that answer your question? I was talking to Young Anon who was talking about modesty.

Young Anonymou… — Thu, 4 Sep 2008 - 15:50

[quote=Young Anonymous Muslimah]But, i do think Romance is the worst Genre for muslims, coz we are told that modesty is REALLY important, and we shud lower our gaze, but its alright to read books, and imagine it all?! :doubt: Nah, i think thats definitely wrong. [/quote]

@ Courage: i never said anything about pictures! i was talkin about novels, which are usually just writing.

wot i meant basically, was y wud u b allowed to giv in to ur desires by reading romantic novels, if ur not allowed to even look at the opposite gender? :?

Seraphim — Thu, 4 Sep 2008 - 15:50

[quote=Naz]When she was referring to modesty she was talking about the explicit text i think.[/quote]

Thats what i thought.

Courage that makes no sense what you said.

Courage — Thu, 4 Sep 2008 - 16:03

Right well we can stay from those books, if they make us want to do haram stuff. I'm pretty ssure it's not haram to read an unIslamic verse of the Bible, so long as you don't start believing it.