Islamic Guidelines for Writing Fiction, Poetry, and Creating Art
Question
Assalamualaikum. A women wants to be a writer and a poet and wants to follow islamic guidelines about writing poetry , novels , fictione etc . And wants answers to these questions . 1) it is allowed to write poetry about : trees , sisterhood , a person , commonly felt feeling (sadness , happiness) , poetry that insult abusive people , poetry that mocking opressors . 2) what guildlines should a writer follow when writing , novels or fiction A) can we write a halal love story . B) writing novels were there is lot of crimes and immoral things (just mentioned) but only to mock the society . C) writing a novel from a pov of a criminal D) writing , but not including muslims characters . Ex: having characters and not mentioning their religion. Or having muslims characters but also non muslim characters , and making them friends . Can I show their traditions, not writing it detail, but only that . He went to church or he is celebrating this this festival . )And having characters , named ,Moonbow , rain , glacier , or moon , and making their personalities as one would think moon has, like that , I don't know how to explain it . For example : if there are three characters , ocean, river and lake And the relationship between them and writer would think like , the ocean does not know which is lake and river , it doens't care . Would it be allowed. And when would this technique be not allowed . )And writing things which are not possible Like writing "rainbow and moonbow were captured" . Would it be a sin to write this as no person can capture rainbow . 6)Writing about a world which does not exist or an animal. 7)How should one describe a character , If it's a women , is it compulsory that she should be a hijabi or a writer can write "she has long blue hair" And describing her facial features while not going too much into it . And many writers , they act , when they write . Can one act like a character in a book, if it's of opposite gender . Ex: can a women , act like the two male charcters in a book , having a Convo , if not , can she change their genders and act , just to know ,if the conversation suits and write the male characters in the book . E) writing a confusing tale , which might be misunderstood . F) adding characters that are attracted to the same gender but no acting upon it for the sake of Allah . G) writing narcissist characters , or characters which make fun of others but only for comedy purpose or adding nihilist people. ) adding philosophical topics . If I wants to make a manga(comic) of a book or animate , but the artstyle does not include any facial features (eye , nose , etc ) , it is blank , would it be allowed ? . If there are female characters which don't wear hijab but also don't have clothes that are tight , can one draw that and animate it . And is it permissible to learn body anatomy for 1)drawing purpose 2) learning purposes Thank you , for your time.
Islamic Ruling & Answer
VerifiedWalekumussalam,
In Islam, writing, composing poetry, and creating stories or novels are originally permissible (mubah), as long as they do not include anything haram (forbidden). The principle is:
“The الأصل in things is permissibility.”
Everything is allowed unless there is clear proof that it is forbidden.
(1) About Poetry
Writing about nature, emotions, sisterhood, happiness, sadness, and speaking against ظلم (oppression) is allowed. In fact, supporting truth can even bring reward.
However, vulgarity, lies, slander, abusive language, or insulting someone unjustly are not allowed.
(2) Principles for Novels and Fiction
A halal love story (within marriage and in a modest way) is allowed.
Unlawful romance, sexual content, or presenting sin in an attractive way is forbidden.
Mentioning crimes or immoral acts is allowed if the purpose is reform, warning, or social criticism and if evil is clearly shown as evil.
If sin is shown as attractive or glamorous, it is not allowed.
Writing from a criminal’s point of view is allowed if ظلم (wrongdoing) is clearly condemned in the end.
Including Muslim and non-Muslim characters is allowed. Simply mentioning their traditions is also allowed, as long as false beliefs are not promoted.
(3) Symbolic and Fantasy Writing
Using names from nature (like ocean, river, moon, etc.) as symbolic characters, creating imaginary worlds, or writing about impossible things (like capturing a rainbow) is allowed. This is not considered lying because it is fiction — as long as it does not harm Islamic belief or include shirk ideas.
(4) Describing a Character
When writing about a female character, vulgar or sexually detailed descriptions must be avoided.
It is not compulsory to mention hijab, but promoting immodesty or normalizing haram is not correct.
(5) Acting as the Opposite Gender
Acting out dialogue to improve writing is allowed, as long as no un-Islamic actions are involved.
(6) Sensitive Topics
A character who feels same-gender attraction but does not act upon it for Allah’s sake may be included if the purpose is moral guidance.
Philosophical topics are allowed as long as they do not promote atheism or misguidance.
Mocking or humiliating others for comedy is not allowed.
(7) Drawing and Manga
Drawings without detailed facial features have more flexibility.
Scholars differ about drawing full detailed images of living beings; caution is better.
Drawing female characters without hijab is not automatically sinful, but they must be modest and not immodest.
(8) Learning Body Anatomy
Learning anatomy for education or drawing is allowed, as long as it does not involve lustful or inappropriate intention.
Answered by
Mufti Tosif Qasmi
March 01, 2026
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