Islaamic Fiction
Archived under Personal Ramblings .
Assalaamu 'alaikum.
In relation to my previous post, it seems that there are some who do not believe that fictious books should be written by Muslims. Well, then, for those who believe this, I ask you:
--> Would you prefer your children to read fiction books which conflict their deen?
--> How do we provide children with stimulating reads without compromising the principles of Islaam?
--> How do you reach out to teens who are only interested in non-Islaamic fiction because Islaamic fiction is non-existent?
--> Do you not know that our youth are suffering and some are on the borderlines of kufr? Couldn't Islaamic fiction help them?
I've read a few fiction books written by Muslims and I can say that I have taken more from it, in terms of helping my deen, than I thought I would prior to reading them. Fiction is a way to interweave our beliefs as Muslims and actually demonstrate how to apply it in our lives. It's all fine and dandy to read scholarly work - infact this, in my opinion, is obligatory - but so many of us do not know how to apply rules of fiqh etc. in our lives or even how to use Islaam to help us get through daily trials.
I'm all for Islaamic fiction and so I should be as I hope to one who contributes to the market inshaa`Allaah. Aren't you? If so, please take time to sign this petition. It's not about who one affiliates with, it's about the future of Islaamic Literature.
Wallaahu ta'aala a'lam.
Was-salaamu 'alaikum
~ Umm Junayd.
Your Thoughts
Wa 'alaikumus-salaam.
I think most children understand that what they read in books are not true stories - or for the most part they're not.
I totally echoe what you say about given our children the correct tarbiyyah. I may read a book to Junayd whereby a character does something naughty and mashaa`Allaah Junayd will exclaim ""uh-oh!" because he knows (mashaa`Allaah) that what the character did was not so good. This is an example of how we can easily illustrate to them that which is correct and that which is not correct ESPECIALLY when the book is authored by a fellow Muslim. This way, you can ensure that, inshaa`Allaah, the story has an Islaamic moral too.
Was-salaamu 'alaikum
~ Umm Junayd.
Acting in plays and writing fictional stories
Question: What is the ruling on acting in plays? And what is the ruling on writing fictional stories?
Response: Acting in plays is from the avenues of false talk that have been introduced to the Muslim lands. It is not permissible to take part in them nor to occupy oneself with them. In them are lies and contradictions to reality. The actors degrade respected personalities that they pretend to be. There is also in them an imitation of the disbelieving celebrities as well. There are a number of other dangers.
Some of the mashaayikh have written about this, may Allaah reward them well. They have written valuable books personifying their harms and warning from them, like what the virtuous Shaykh, Dr. Bakr Aboo Zayd wrote, and like what the virtuous Shaykh 'Abdus-Salaam ibn Burjis Aali 'Abdil-Kareem wrote, and like what the Shaykh Hamood at-Tuwayjiree wrote. So reveiw them and what is found in them regarding the benefits (of plays and fictional stories), since the real harms that result from them are many times more. And preventing harm takes a precedence over gaining benefit.
Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan
al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa Fadheelatush-Shaykh Saalih Ibn Fowzaan - Volume 2, Page 222, Fatwa No. 193
..........
Translated by: Abul-'Abbaas Moosaa Richardson
Yaa Ukhtil-Karem - Umm Yasmeen,
Jazaakillaahu khairan for posting this fatwa. However, i think there is a problem with the actual question asked. Had the questioner mentioned fictious books which highlighted the Islaamic way of life: ones that reflect the teachings of Islaam and also the fact that Islaam is perfect but we [the Muslims] are not, I think the answer may have been a different one.
Wallaahu ta'aala a'lam.
~ Umm Junayd.
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As-salaamu 'alaikum
I think that it should be made clear though (especially to young children who might not understand) that what is stated is the stories did not really happen and what is being mentioned by was of fiction is in order to give examples only. Also, such stories should not take priority over or be used as an alternative to learning and studying the Qurfaan (in the manner gIslamich nasheeds have), Hadeeth and explaining the fundamentals of eAqeedah. I cant emphasise the importance of learning and knowing eAqeedah enough, I have just realised after being a Muslim for over 5 years how little I actually know about Tawheed, and this realisation has come about through studying Al-Aqeedat-il-Wasitiyyah in detail. It is important to give our children correct tarbiyyah and tasfiyyah!
Was-salaamu ealaikum
Aboo Uthmaan