Is It Permissible to Imagine Fictional Married Characters?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Is it wrong to imagine married fictional characters, including non-explicit romance or family scenes?

As an autistic, I self-soothe during meltdowns by contemplating Austen or Disney characters, imagining them comforting each other and solving problems, not myself. I know romance is discouraged, but it calms my crying.

I’m a practicing unwed Muslima, hijab-wearing, praying, reading the Quran, working remotely, without male friends, supporting my family.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are well. Allah reward you for your sincerity in pleasing Him and avoiding His displeasure. Your daily actions—praying, reading the Quran, supporting family, and trying hard show you don’t want to displease Allah.

It will not be sinful to imagine a fictional storyline in your mind as long as it does not include any explicit romantic nature. Scenes like family life, resolving disagreements, kindness, and emotional ups and downs.

If these fictional stories enter your thoughts in an uncontrolled manner, this is a mechanism your mind is using to cope with your emotions. So as long as you don’t dwell on these imaginative stories sinfully, you will not be held accountable.

An alternative is to read prophetic stories, especially the life of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), companions, followers, righteous, etc, and the lives of other historical figures, then reflect on how they lived, sacrificed, and led fulfilled lives.

Stories of Prophets Provide Comfort

The stories of the Prophets in the Quran provide deep comfort and quiet strength for troubled hearts, featuring timeless accounts.

Allah Most High says, And all We recount to you of the tidings of the messengers is that with which We strengthen your ardent heart. [Quran,11:120]

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Verily, Allah has pardoned my nation for stray thoughts that occur within them, as long as they do not speak of them or act upon them.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

If you are overwhelmed and your imagination leads you to these fictional stories, do not think Allah is displeased with you, as it is a way you are coping mentally and is allowing you to live your life. He is fully aware.

I pray that Allah Most High grants you ease in your meltdowns, that you no longer have them, and that you come to cope with stories that are wholesome, especially from the lives of the Prophet, the companions, and the righteous of the ummah.

And Allah knows best.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

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Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.