Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamualikm,

I want to become a writer but I am confused if it is allowed in Islam. Basically writting fiction is writting lies. But everyone knows that it is a lie so we are not decieving anyone. Due to this fact i am not sure if it is allowed. I wanted to ask that if we write stories with good morals and not anything indecent, is writting stories allowed in such a case or not. Would you please give ahadith and ayyat regarding it. Thank you.

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Answer:

Can one write fiction?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If one writes or relates wholesome fiction stories which encourage good morals, or promote one to fear and obey the Merciful Lord, etc.; there is absolutely no harm. In fact, such writing is absolutely encouraged in Islam; and the writer of such stories would earn a huge reward from the Merciful Lord in the Hereafter.

Islam is a complete ‘way of life’ approved by the Creator; and to create a pious and God-fearing society, Islam needs all kinds of workers…scholars, teachers, scientists, doctors, businessmen, professionals, engineers, writers, journalists, etc.

There are several hypothetical examples and parables related by the Master Writer Himself in His Glorious Quran!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verses 112-113:

112 Allah sets forth a parable: a city enjoying security and quiet, abundantly supplied with sustenance from every place: yet was it ungrateful for the favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste of hunger and terror (in extremes) (closing in on it) like a garment (from every side) because of the (evil) which (its people) wrought.

113 And there came to them a Messenger from among themselves, but they falsely rejected him; so the wrath seized them even in the midst of their iniquities.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verses 32-43:

32 Set forth to them the parable of two men: for one of them We provided two gardens of grapevines and surrounded them with date-palms: in between the two We placed corn-fields.

33 Each of those gardens brought forth its produce and failed not in the least therein: in the midst of them We caused a river to flow.

34 (Abundant) was the produce this man had: he said to his companion in the course of a mutual argument: "More wealth have I than you and more honor and power in (my following of) men."

35 He went into his garden in a state (of mind) unjust to his soul: He said "I deem not that this will ever perish.

36 "Nor do I deem that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) come: even if I am brought back to my Lord I shall surely find (there) something better in exchange."

37 His companion said to him in the course of the argument with him: "Dost thou deny Him Who created thee out of dust then out of a sperm-drop then fashioned thee into a man?

38 "But (I think) for my part that He is Allah my Lord and none shall I associate with my Lord.

39 "Why didst thou not as thou wentest into thy garden say: `Allah's Will (be done)! There is no power but with Allah!' If thou dost see me less than thee in wealth and sons

40 "It may be that my Lord will give me something better than thy garden and that He will send on thy garden thunderbolts (by way of reckoning) from heaven making it (but) slippery sand!

41 "Or the water of the garden will run off underground so that thou wilt never be able to find it."

42 So his fruits (and enjoyment) were encompassed (with ruin) and he remained twisting and turning his hands over what he had spent on his property which had (now) tumbled to pieces to its very foundations and he could only say "Woe is me! Would I had never ascribed partners to my Lord and Cherisher!"

43 Nor had he numbers to help him against Allah nor was he able to deliver himself.

The above are among the several parables, or if you may say, fictitious stories related by the Merciful in His Glorious Quran, which instill one with good morals or the fear of Allah Subhanah; and such good wholesome stories are not only allowed, but encouraged in the deen of Islam.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan