{"id":28884,"date":"2023-11-01T21:46:20","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T21:46:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/?p=28884"},"modified":"2023-11-01T21:46:20","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T21:46:20","slug":"reading-books-written-by-shakespeare-enid-blyton-jane-austen-etc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/reading-books-written-by-shakespeare-enid-blyton-jane-austen-etc\/","title":{"rendered":"Reading Books Written by Shakespeare, Enid Blyton, Jane Austen etc"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>Fatwa ID: 06823<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>Answered by: Muftiyah Habiba Akhtar<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"><strong><u>Question:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">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&#8217;t even believe in the true religion. How can I educate my future children (I&#8217;m currently unmarried) on the literature written by them whej it gives me waswasas and has many haraam elements? I&#8217;m also including stories such as &#8220;Cinderella&#8221;, &#8220;Snow white&#8221;, &#8220;Sleeping beauty&#8221;. What should I do?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"><strong><u>In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"><strong><u>Answer:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Reading books, literature and writing novels differs when it comes to the genre.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">You have supernatural, romantic, comedy, comics and fantasy etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">There is nothing wrong in reading books and writing novels as long as they don&#8217;t go outside the boundaries of Islam.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">What we read has an influence upon our minds and often reflects our character.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Therefore, the content and what we achieve from the book reading\/writing must be within the Islamic guidelines of what is permissible and impermissible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">It is stated in a hadith:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Abu Musa reported Allah&#8217;s Messenger (\ufdfa) as saying:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">(Sahih Muslim, 2628) (1)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Thus, elements such as romance, extreme violence and mythological beliefs should not be entertained.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">The influence creates waswasa whispers as you&#8217;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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Allah SWT states in Surah Fussilat:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;And if there comes to you from Satan an evil suggestion, then seek refuge in Allah . Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Thus, though reading novels or literature isn&#8217;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&#8217;t sinful as stated in the following hadith:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Narrated Abu Huraira:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;The Prophet (\ufdfa) said, &#8220;Allah has accepted my invocation to forgive what whispers in the hearts of my followers, unless they put it to action or utter it.&#8221; (3)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Only Allah knows best<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Written by Muftiyah Habiba Akhtar<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Darul Ifta Birmingham<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">(1)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\u0639\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u0623\u064e\u0628\u0650\u064a \u0645\u064f\u0648\u0633\u064e\u0649\u060c \u0639\u064e\u0646\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0651\u064e\u0628\u0650\u064a\u0651\u0650 \u0635\u0644\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 \u0639\u0644\u064a\u0647 \u0648\u0633\u0644\u0645 \u0642\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e \u200f &#8220;\u200f \u0625\u0650\u0646\u0651\u064e\u0645\u064e\u0627 \u0645\u064e\u062b\u064e\u0644\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0652\u062c\u064e\u0644\u0650\u064a\u0633\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0635\u0651\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0650\u062d\u0650 \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0652\u062c\u064e\u0644\u0650\u064a\u0633\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0651\u064e\u0648\u0652\u0621\u0650 \u0643\u064e\u062d\u064e\u0627\u0645\u0650\u0644\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0645\u0650\u0633\u0652\u0643\u0650 \u0648\u064e\u0646\u064e\u0627\u0641\u0650\u062e\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0643\u0650\u064a\u0631\u0650 \u0641\u064e\u062d\u064e\u0627\u0645\u0650\u0644\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0645\u0650\u0633\u0652\u0643\u0650 \u0625\u0650\u0645\u0651\u064e\u0627 \u0623\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u064a\u064f\u062d\u0652\u0630\u0650\u064a\u064e\u0643\u064e \u0648\u064e\u0625\u0650\u0645\u0651\u064e\u0627 \u0623\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u062a\u064e\u0628\u0652\u062a\u064e\u0627\u0639\u064e \u0645\u0650\u0646\u0652\u0647\u064f \u0648\u064e\u0625\u0650\u0645\u0651\u064e\u0627 \u0623\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u062a\u064e\u062c\u0650\u062f\u064e \u0645\u0650\u0646\u0652\u0647\u064f \u0631\u0650\u064a\u062d\u064b\u0627 \u0637\u064e\u064a\u0651\u0650\u0628\u064e\u0629\u064b \u0648\u064e\u0646\u064e\u0627\u0641\u0650\u062e\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0643\u0650\u064a\u0631\u0650 \u0625\u0650\u0645\u0651\u064e\u0627 \u0623\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u064a\u064f\u062d\u0652\u0631\u0650\u0642\u064e \u062b\u0650\u064a\u064e\u0627\u0628\u064e\u0643\u064e \u0648\u064e\u0625\u0650\u0645\u0651\u064e\u0627 \u0623\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u062a\u064e\u062c\u0650\u062f\u064e \u0631\u0650\u064a\u062d\u064b\u0627 \u062e\u064e\u0628\u0650\u064a\u062b\u064e\u0629\u064b \u200f&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">(Sahih Muslim, 2628)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">(2)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">(\u0648\u064e\u0625\u0650\u0645\u0651\u064e\u0627 \u06cc\u064e\u0646\u0632\u064e\u063a\u064e\u0646\u0651\u064e\u0643\u064e \u0645\u0650\u0646\u064e \u0671\u0644\u0634\u0651\u064e\u06cc\u06e1\u0637\u064e\u0640\u0670\u0646\u0650 \u0646\u064e\u0632\u06e1\u063a\u08f1 \u0641\u064e\u0671\u0633\u06e1\u062a\u064e\u0639\u0650\u0630\u06e1 \u0628\u0650\u0671\u0644\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0647\u0650\u06d6 \u0625\u0650\u0646\u0651\u064e\u0647\u064f\u06e5 \u0647\u064f\u0648\u064e \u0671\u0644\u0633\u0651\u064e\u0645\u0650\u06cc\u0639\u064f \u0671\u0644\u06e1\u0639\u064e\u0644\u0650\u06cc\u0645\u064f)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">[Surah Fussilat 36]<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">(3)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\u0639\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u0623\u064e\u0628\u0650\u064a \u0647\u064f\u0631\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0631\u064e\u0629\u064e \u0640 \u0631\u0636\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 \u0639\u0646\u0647 \u0640 \u0642\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e \u0642\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0651\u064e\u0628\u0650\u064a\u0651\u064f \u0635\u0644\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 \u0639\u0644\u064a\u0647 \u0648\u0633\u0644\u0645 \u200f &#8220;\u200f \u0625\u0650\u0646\u0651\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0647\u064e \u062a\u064e\u062c\u064e\u0627\u0648\u064e\u0632\u064e \u0644\u0650\u064a \u0639\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u0623\u064f\u0645\u0651\u064e\u062a\u0650\u064a \u0645\u064e\u0627 \u0648\u064e\u0633\u0652\u0648\u064e\u0633\u064e\u062a\u0652 \u0628\u0650\u0647\u0650 \u0635\u064f\u062f\u064f\u0648\u0631\u064f\u0647\u064e\u0627\u060c \u0645\u064e\u0627 \u0644\u064e\u0645\u0652 \u062a\u064e\u0639\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0644\u0652 \u0623\u064e\u0648\u0652 \u062a\u064e\u0643\u064e\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0645\u0652 \u200f&#8221;\u200f\u200f.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">(Sahih Bukhari, 2528)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fatwa ID: 06823 &nbsp; Answered by: Muftiyah Habiba Akhtar &nbsp; Question: &nbsp; Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakathu, Mufti Sahab. I want to ask you about&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28884"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28884"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28884\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28930,"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28884\/revisions\/28930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}