Question
Assalamualikum warahmatullahi wabarakatu
Is reading novels in which the author included text about intimacy between people, sinful?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
In principle, it is permissible to read novels and other literature provided the contents are in conformity with the Shari’ah and Islamic etiquettes. Literature which contains vulgarity, promotes immorality, or glorifies that which Almighty Allah has forbidden should not be read.[1] For example, some famous current day novels promote promiscuity and adultery amongst adults. Such novels can be detrimental to ones Imaan and should not be read.
Alternatively, there are many fictional works which do not contain messages contrary to Islamic ethics. One may resort to such material.
Islamic literature, especially works on Islamic history, are beautifully written and can be an enjoyable read. Reading Islamic literature will be a means of increasing one’s knowledge as well as earning reward.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Bilal Yusuf Pandor
Checked and Approved by
Mufti Nabeel Valli
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَا إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاءَ سَبِيلًا (الإسراء: 32) [1]
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ (الأنعام: 151)
قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَالْإِثْمَ وَالْبَغْيَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ (الأعراف: 33)
مسند البزار = البحر الزخار (15/ 364)
8949- وحَدَّثنا مُحَمد بن رزق الكلواذي، قَال: حَدَّثنا سَعِيد بن منصور، قَال: حَدَّثنا عَبد العزيز، عَن ابن عَجْلان عن القعقاع، عَن أبي صالح، عَن أَبِي هُرَيرة، عَن النَّبِيّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيه وَسَلَّم قال: إنما بعثت لأتمم مكارم الأخلاق