Answered by Shaykh Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf Mangera
Is flying kites allowed or haram? I read that musailma kazzab used to fly a kite, with bells tied at its tail, at night and claimed that it was an angel coming to him. Is this true?
Assalamu alaykum
Flying kites cannot be considered unlawful in themselves, unless (of course) if they are used to unjustly harm something, for instance, using kite string coated with shards of glass that can sever electricity and telephone wires, etc. However, the activity in itself may be disliked due to being a waste of time and mostly devoid of any physical or intellectual benefit.
With regards to whether Musaylama Kadhdhab flew a kite to create an angelic effect is beyond my knowledge. In any case, it will not have any bearings on the impermissibility or dislike of flying kites.
Wassalam