Is It Permissible to Pursue a Career in Writing Stories or Films in a Way That Pleases Allah?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question
Is it permissible to pursue a career in writing stories or films in a manner that pleases Allah?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
Yes, there is room for this. Writing stories or films can be permissible and beneficial when done with the right intention and within clear limits. With sincerity and care, such work can be a source of immense good — calling people to noble character, conveying the wisdom of Islam, and embodying the character of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Writing as a Means of Benefit
Just as other professions can fulfill a meaningful role, writing can serve a purpose and a duty. Through storytelling, one can offer social commentary, convey important messages, and address matters that need to be said in a way that reaches people’s hearts.
Calling people to Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) does not have to be done only through direct quotation of religious texts. A well-crafted story or narrative with depth, emotion, and sincerity can call people to good qualities, noble character, and beautiful values.
Conveying Meaning and Wisdom
Stories and narratives can help people see the wisdom of Allah and the wisdom of the religion. Many people, if they were to see the beauty of Islam presented meaningfully, would at the very least come to respect it, if not embrace it. This is because it resonates with human nature and makes sense when appropriately understood.
Often, frustration arises when people encounter only negative or distorted portrayals and fail to see the deeper meanings and mercy of the religion.
Maintaining Clear Boundaries
One should keep what is foul, violent, or clearly unlawful out of such work. However, if it is necessary to mention something unlawful within a story to draw a lesson, teach morals, or show the consequences of wrongdoing, then this can be acceptable.
If the aim is to guide people toward good character, to highlight the benefits of a living relationship with Allah, and to encourage the embodiment of the character and traits of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), then writing can be a source of immense benefit and goodness.
In such a case, go ahead and write your stories, narratives, or plays, while remaining mindful of intention and limits.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Related Answers
- Is Screenwriting for Films and Documentaries Halal for Muslims? — A ruling confirming that screenwriting is generally permissible when the content adheres to halal boundaries, with a practical list of the types of content that are permissible and those that are not.
- Is It Islamically Permissible to Write Fiction? — A ruling affirming that literature is in itself permitted and praiseworthy where it improves language, thinking, and communication, with encouragement for Muslims to adapt creative forms to produce work that is more beautiful and more beneficial.
- Is It Permitted to Read Fictional Stories? — A video answer from Shaykh Irshaad Sedick on the permissibility of reading fiction in Islam, with guidance on the conditions that keep such engagement within lawful bounds.
- Is It Unlawful to Watch Movies or Read Novels? — A nuanced discussion of the permissibility of story-based media for a Muslim, including an examination of scholarly views and practical guidance on maintaining one’s integrity as both a consumer and a creator of such content.
Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began studying Arabic Grammar and Morphology whilst studying for a degree in English and History. After graduating, He traveled to Damascus and studied Arabic, Hanafi Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Theology, and Logic with Shaykh Adnan Darwish, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahman Arjan al-Binsawi, Shaykh Husayn Darwish, Shaykh Muhammad Darwish, the late Shaykh Rashad Shams, and others. He then moved to Amman to continue his studies in those fields, as well as in Tafsir, Quranic Sciences, Hadith Methodology and Commentary, Prophetic Biography, Prophetic Perfections and Traits, Rhetoric, Arabic Literature, and Tajwid. His teachers include Shaykh Ali Hani, Dr. Hamza al-Bakri, Dr. Salah Abu al-Hajj, Dr. Mansur Abu Zina, Shaykh Ahmad Hasanat, Shaykh Ahmad Jammal, and others.
