Am I Allowed to Write an Islamic Fantasy/Sci-Fi Novel?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I was wondering if I am allowed to write an Islamic fantasy/sci-fi novel. That means adding Islamic morals and values to whatever I’m writing.

Answer

I pray you are well. Yes, writing such a novel is permissible as long as the content is within the realm of the acceptable. If you wrote it intending to include Islamic morals and values to benefit and positively influence others, it would be a continuous act of charity for you.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said. “When the son of Adam dies, his deeds end, except for continuous charity, knowledge which is benefitted from, and righteous children who pray for him.” [Muslim]

Before starting the project, pray a couple of units and ask Allah Most High for sincerity, success, and widespread benefit to Muslims and non-Muslims. It could make all the difference. Imam Bukhari used to have a bath and pray two units before adding a hadith into his famous collection. Look where his sincerity got his work.

May Allah grant you every success in both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.