Fatwa ID: 06823
Answered by: Muftiyah Habiba Akhtar
Question:
Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakathu, Mufti Sahab. I want to ask you about the literature (both classic and modern) written by Christians in the past, such as works of Shakespeare, Enid Blyton, Jane Austen, etc. Many of their books have un-Islamic elements in them and I feel waswasas about christianity when reading their books. They preach morality (some things like being truthful, kind, courageous) while they don’t even believe in the true religion. How can I educate my future children (I’m currently unmarried) on the literature written by them whej it gives me waswasas and has many haraam elements? I’m also including stories such as “Cinderella”, “Snow white”, “Sleeping beauty”. What should I do?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Reading books, literature and writing novels differs when it comes to the genre.
You have supernatural, romantic, comedy, comics and fantasy etc.
There is nothing wrong in reading books and writing novels as long as they don’t go outside the boundaries of Islam.
What we read has an influence upon our minds and often reflects our character.
Therefore, the content and what we achieve from the book reading/writing must be within the Islamic guidelines of what is permissible and impermissible.
It is stated in a hadith:
Abu Musa reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
The similitude of good company and that of bad company is that of the owner of musk and of the one (iron-smith) blowing bellows, and the owner of musk would either offer you free of charge or you would buy it from him or you would. smell its pleasant odour, and so far as one who blows the. bellows is concerned, he would either burn your clothes or you shall have to smell its repugnant smell.
(Sahih Muslim, 2628) (1)
Thus, elements such as romance, extreme violence and mythological beliefs should not be entertained.
The matter is due to the influence of the genre you read. Whether it be elements of fiction that push you towards that which is haram such as haram relationships.
The influence creates waswasa whispers as you’ve described in terms of another religion, in such a case shaytan begins to whisper and due to this it is better to refrain from content that may affect your Iman.
Allah SWT states in Surah Fussilat:
“And if there comes to you from Satan an evil suggestion, then seek refuge in Allah . Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.”
Thus, though reading novels or literature isn’t exactly haram, one must be cautious of the genre and fiction elements that may indulge the mind. Hence, if you feel your faith is affected by certain elements, you should refrain from such things. The whispers itself aren’t sinful as stated in the following hadith:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
“The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah has accepted my invocation to forgive what whispers in the hearts of my followers, unless they put it to action or utter it.” (3)
Therefore, in response to your query, as you mentioned the immoral elements create waswasa in you and therefore such texts should be refrained from. You should look for alternative texts that may be suitable for children and yourself and engage them in such literacy. The times changing have already seen books like Cinderella and Snow White being removed from syllabuses due to other issues such as feminism.
Only Allah knows best
Written by Muftiyah Habiba Akhtar
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
(1)
عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الْجَلِيسِ الصَّالِحِ وَالْجَلِيسِ السَّوْءِ كَحَامِلِ الْمِسْكِ وَنَافِخِ الْكِيرِ فَحَامِلُ الْمِسْكِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُحْذِيَكَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَبْتَاعَ مِنْهُ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَجِدَ مِنْهُ رِيحًا طَيِّبَةً وَنَافِخُ الْكِيرِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُحْرِقَ ثِيَابَكَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَجِدَ رِيحًا خَبِيثَةً ”
(Sahih Muslim, 2628)
(2)
(وَإِمَّا یَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنِ نَزۡغࣱ فَٱسۡتَعِذۡ بِٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِیعُ ٱلۡعَلِیمُ)
[Surah Fussilat 36]
(3)
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَجَاوَزَ لِي عَنْ أُمَّتِي مَا وَسْوَسَتْ بِهِ صُدُورُهَا، مَا لَمْ تَعْمَلْ أَوْ تَكَلَّمْ ”.
(Sahih Bukhari, 2528)
