Fatwa ID: 07619
Answered by Maulana Ateiq-ur Rehman
Question:
It’s been 3½ years since I left music, movies, TV series, comics, video games, and content creation related to games because I believe they are haram in Islam. Now, my daily routine includes listening to the Quran, watching Islamic lectures, reading Islamic books like “Enjoy Your Life”, learning new duas, doing more zikr, and praying on time.
However, I’m struggling with one issue.
I’ve recently found myself interested in reading fictional books, specifically those that feature violence and zombies. I checked the content of these books and, aside from those themes, there doesn’t seem to be anything else that contradicts Islamic principles. Still, I feel guilty because violence and zombies are topics that seem to conflict with Islamic values.
Despite this, I find it difficult to stop reading these types of books. It feels like I’ve reached a point where I can’t let go, partly because I don’t have any other form of entertainment. I even tried limiting myself to reading just once a week, ensuring it doesn’t interfere with my religious obligations.
Am I sinful for continuing to read these books? I would really appreciate some guidance on this matter.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Firstly, it is commendable that you have made positive changes in your life, replacing activities that conflict with the deen with more rewarding and beneficial actions. May Allah reward you for your efforts.
This situation provides a clear example of the distinction between fatwa (a legal ruling) and taqwa (piety). At times, a fatwa may permit an action, but the stance of taqwa would be to avoid that action out of caution.
While it is unlikely to find a specific Qur’anic verse or hadith explicitly addressing which types of fictional books are permissible or impermissible, there are guiding principles we can derive from Islamic teachings.
Allah, the Exalted, says in the Qur’an:
“And among the people is he who buys distracting amusements to mislead others from the path of Allah.” (31:6)
The phrase lahw al-hadith (distracting amusements) refers to stories and activities that cause heedlessness. The word lahw itself means becoming negligent of important duties. Activities that offer no substantial benefit and serve only as a means of entertainment fall under this category.
Many of the Sahabah, Tabi’in, and scholars have interpreted lahw al-hadith as anything that distracts a person from the remembrance and worship of Allah. This includes music, storytelling, and other forms of entertainment that have no religious or moral benefit. Imam al-Bukhari, in his al-Adab al-Mufrad, and Imam al-Bayhaqi, in his Sunan, both adhered to this interpretation.
Al-Bukhari stated:
“Lahw al-hadith refers to music and similar activities that cause heedlessness from worship.”
The above verse was revealed in the context of Nadr Ibn Harith, a wealthy businessman from the Quraysh of Makkah. He brought back tales of Persian kings and encouraged the people to listen to these stories instead of the Qur’an. As a result, many Quraysh lost interest in the Divine Word because these stories contained no lessons, only entertainment.
From this verse and its tafsir, we learn that certain types of literature can take up so much of our time and attention that they distract us from more deserving activities like reciting the Qur’an and studying Islamic knowledge.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also said:
“Three things are not considered lahw (idle distraction): a man training his horse, playing with his family, and practising archery.”
This hadith clarifies that these activities are exempt from the negative category of lahw because they hold value and benefit. True lahw is that which is false and blameworthy.
In answer to your question, reading fictional books featuring themes like violence and zombies is not explicitly haram. However, it is advisable to avoid such material, as it can cause unnecessary guilt, distraction, and desensitisation to negative themes. It may be more beneficial to replace this type of reading with Islamic literature or something of positive moral value. If your heart feels uneasy about these books, it is a good indication to step away from them.
The concern is not the books themselves but rather whether they lead to neglect of religious duties, distractions, or glorification of harmful themes.
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Maulana Ateiq-ur Rehman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References
(ذکرہ فی الروح عن اسباب النزول للواحدی و مقاتل و ذکرنحوہ فی الدر المنثور بروایۃ البیھقی)
(Nasbur-Rayah, p. 273, v. 4). لَیسَ مِنَ اللَّھوِ ثَلَاثُ تادِیبُ الرَّجلِ فَرَسَہ، وَملَا عَبَتُہ، اَھلَہ، وَرَمیُہ، بِقَوسِہٖ وَنَبلِہٖ
(وَ) كُرِهَ (كُلُّ لَهْوٍ) لِقَوْلِهِ – عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ – «كُلُّ لَهْوِ الْمُسْلِمِ حَرَامٌ إلَّا ثَلَاثَةً مُلَاعَبَتَهُ أَهْلَهُ وَتَأْدِيبَهُ لِفَرَسِهِ وَمُنَاضَلَتَهُ بِقَوْسِهِ (كتاب حاشية ابن عابدين = رد المحتار ط الحلبي 6:395)
(وَ) كُرِهَ تَحْرِيمًا (اللَّعِبُ بِالنَّرْدِ وَ) كَذَا (الشِّطْرَنْجِ) بِكَسْرِ أَوَّلِهِ وَيُهْمَلُ وَلَا يُفْتَحُ إلَّا نَادِرًا وَأَبَاحَهُ الشَّافِعِيُّ وَأَبُو يُوسُفَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ وَنَظَمَهَا شَارِحُ الْوَهْبَانِيَّةِ فَقَالَ:
وَلَا بَأْسَ بِالشِّطْرَنْجِ وَهِيَ رِوَايَةٌ … عَنْ الْحَبْرِ قَاضِي الشَّرْقِ وَالْغَرْبِ تُؤْثَرُ
وَهَذَا إذْ لَمْ يُقَامِرْ وَلَمْ يُدَاوِمْ وَلَمْ يُخِلَّ بِوَاجِبٍ وَإِلَّا فَحَرَامٌ بِالْإِجْمَاعِ.
كتاب حاشية ابن عابدين = رد المحتار ط الحلبي 6:395
قِيلَ إنَّ مَعْنَى الْكَرَاهَةِ فِي الشِّعْرِ أَنْ يَشْتَغِلَ الْإِنْسَانُ بِهِ فَيَشْغَلُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ قِرَاءَةِ الْقُرْآنِ وَالذِّكْرِ أَمَّا إذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ كَذَلِكَ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ إذَا كَانَ مِنْ قَصْدِهِ أَنْ يَسْتَعِينَ بِهِ عَلَى عِلْمِ التَّفْسِيرِ وَالْحَدِيثِ كَذَا فِي الظَّهِيرِيَّةِ
كتاب الفتاوى العالمكيرية = الفتاوى الهندية (5:352)
