Why Acting is Not Haram in Islam With 3 Best Proofs
aC.J Ahmed-10.06.2023
Acting is not haram in Islam for men or women because the arguments put forward to forbid acting for Muslims are based on the arguments such as mixing of sexes or movies is haram. These arguments are false arguments because Islam does not forbid mixing of sexes or movies.
1. Movies Are Halal in Islam
The argument that watching movies, TV, soap operas will corrupt the belief of a Muslim and make him deviant. To answer this, we have to understand the argument in the right perspective. Giving blanket fatwas and saying that it is haram does not prove anything. First of all. The person who is guided by Allah cannot be misguided by anyone else. Allah (Swt) says in the Quran:
"And whom Allah guides, there is none that can lead him astray"
(Al-Quran-39:37)
They wrongly argue that if you switch on the television channel you will anyway come across watching programs which contain things which are haram. If that argument is put forward in browsing the internet, then according to their argument browsing the internet is more dangerous than watching T.V because you can watch anything that is haram the way you like and can be done privately. On the other hand you cannot watch any television program the way you like because you have to watch the programs which are broadcasted by the television station.
Aisha (rali)reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to my house when two girls were beside me singing songs of Bu’ath. The Prophet laid down and turned his face to the other side. Then, Abu Bakr came in and spoke to me harshly, saying, “Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet?” The Prophet turned his face toward him and he said, “Leave them alone.” When Abu Bakr became inattentive, I signaled to the girls and they left. It was the day of Eid and the Abyssinians were playing with shields and spears. Either I asked the Prophet or he asked me whether I would like to watch and I said yes. Then the Prophet made me stand behind him while my cheek was touching his cheek and the Prophet was saying, “Carry on, O tribe of Arfida.” I became tired and the Prophet asked me, “Are you satisfied?” I said yes, so I left.(Bukhari and Muslim).
The above hadith is clear evidence that the prophet (sal) allowed Aisha (rali) to watch the Abyssinians play with spears in the mosque as a form of entertainment. Similarly using T.V to watch programs which does not contain things that are haram is allowed in Islam and Muslims should not go in to extremes. Many scholars who have forbidden watching T.V have said that listening to the radio is allowed.
2. Proof Why Men and omen Mixing is Halal in Islam
The below hadith proves that during the time of the prophet (sal) men and women used to take ablution together.
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar:
"During the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (sal) men and women used to perform ablution together."
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
If men and women were segregated during the prophet (sal)'s time as we see now, they wouldn't have taken ablution like this. The above hadith is proof that mixing is not haram.
A Woman Served Food to the Prophet (sal) and Women Helped The Wounded
The below hadith is an eye opener for Muslims who want to know the truth that men and women mixing is not haram.
Sahl Ibn Sa'd al-Sa'di (Rali) said,
"Abu Asid al-Sa'di invited the Prophet and his Companions to his wedding and it was Abu Asid's wife who prepared the food and served it to them herself"
(Recorded in the Sahih of Imam Bukhari and the Sahih of Imam Muslim. Bukhari included the hadith in a chapter entitled "A woman Serving Food to Men at Weddings").
The above hadith clearly proves that men and women mixing is not haram. If it was haram then the companion Abu Asid's wife would have been prevented from serving the male guests by the prophet (sal). The above hadith is clear proof for those who who use their intellect and seek the truth through evidence and not from the wrong fatwas of scholars who are themselves human that men and women mixing is not at all haram in Islam. Imam ibn Al Batal wrote in his commentary of sahih al bukhari stating
"It indicates that it is not obligatory to separate between men and women when they are in the same place or during direct interaction. This separation was only applied to the Prophet(sal)’s wives as mentioned in the Quran,
When you ask his wives for something, do so from behind a screen. (Ahzab, 53) "
There is also ample evidence to prove that women used to helped injured men during war. If men and women mixing was haram then the prophet (sal) would have forbidden it. Narrated Rubai bint Mu'adh bin Afra (rali):
"We used to go for Military expeditions along with Allah's Apostle and
provide the people with water, serve them and bring the dead and the
wounded back to Medina"
(Bukhari)
3. Touching or kissing a non-Mahram is not haram
Kissing is a form of touching another person using the lips and this is not haram before marriage because Even the prophet (sal) touched the hand of a slave woman. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“A slave girl of Madīnah would take hold of the hand of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and would take him wherever she wished” (Bukhari)
Some scholars forbid kissing a woman before marriage stating the below hadiths,
Ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man kissed a woman so he came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and told him of what he did. Thereupon Allah, the Almighty revealed the verse: {And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds.} (Sūrat Hūd: 114). The man said: "O Messenger of Allah, is this (verse) for me?" He replied: "For everybody of my Ummah, all of them."(Bukhari and Muslim)
Narrated Musa bin Talhah:
that Abu Al-Yasar said: "A woman came to me selling dates. I said to her: 'There are better dates than these in the house.' So she entered the house with me. I had an urge for her so I began kissing her. I went to Abu Bakr and mentioned that to him, so he said: 'Cover what you have done, repent, do not inform any one, and never do it again.' So I went to 'Umar and mentioned that to him. He said: 'Cover what you have done, repent, do not inform any one, and never do it again.' Then I went to the Prophet (sal) and mentioned it to him." He said: 'Is this how you take care of the wife of someone who is away fighting in Allah's cause?" Such that he had wished he had not accepted Islam until that very time, and he thought that he must be one of the people of the Fire." He said: "The Messenger of Allah (sal) bowed his head for a long time, until Allah revealed to him: And perform the Salat, at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night. Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful (11:114). Abu Al-Yasar said: "So I went to him and the Messenger of Allah (sal) recited it for me. A companion of his said: "O Messenger of Allah! Is this specific, or is it for the people in general?" He said: "Rather it is for the people in general." What needs to be understood is” (Tirmidhi-graded authentic by Sheikh Albani)
The above hadiths when understood from the text is clear that the companion kissed the woman with lust and it is not a major sin to kiss a woman outside marriage because in another hadith, the prophet said,
Ibn 'Abbas (rali) narrated, 'When Ma'iz came to the Prophet (sal) (admitting that he had committed adultery), he said to him, "Perhaps you have just kissed, or touched or looked (at the woman)." Ma'iz said,'No, O Messenger of Allah.' (Bukhari)
What needs to be understood is the intention. You can kiss before marriage with good .intentions. Umar(Rali) narrated, The prophet(Sal) said,
"Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended"
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Acting is not haram in Islam.
Acting is not haram in Islam for men or women because the arguments put forward to forbid acting for Muslims are based on the arguments such as mixing of sexes or movies is haram. These arguments are false arguments because Islam does not forbid mixing of sexes or movies.
1. Movies Are Halal in Islam
The argument that watching movies, TV, soap operas will corrupt the belief of a Muslim and make him deviant. To answer this, we have to understand the argument in the right perspective. Giving blanket fatwas and saying that it is haram does not prove anything. First of all. The person who is guided by Allah cannot be misguided by anyone else. Allah (Swt) says in the Quran:
"And whom Allah guides, there is none that can lead him astray"
(Al-Quran-39:37)
They wrongly argue that if you switch on the television channel you will anyway come across watching programs which contain things which are haram. If that argument is put forward in browsing the internet, then according to their argument browsing the internet is more dangerous than watching T.V because you can watch anything that is haram the way you like and can be done privately. On the other hand you cannot watch any television program the way you like because you have to watch the programs which are broadcasted by the television station.
Aisha (rali)reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to my house when two girls were beside me singing songs of Bu’ath. The Prophet laid down and turned his face to the other side. Then, Abu Bakr came in and spoke to me harshly, saying, “Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet?” The Prophet turned his face toward him and he said, “Leave them alone.” When Abu Bakr became inattentive, I signaled to the girls and they left. It was the day of Eid and the Abyssinians were playing with shields and spears. Either I asked the Prophet or he asked me whether I would like to watch and I said yes. Then the Prophet made me stand behind him while my cheek was touching his cheek and the Prophet was saying, “Carry on, O tribe of Arfida.” I became tired and the Prophet asked me, “Are you satisfied?” I said yes, so I left.(Bukhari and Muslim).
The above hadith is clear evidence that the prophet (sal) allowed Aisha (rali) to watch the Abyssinians play with spears in the mosque as a form of entertainment. Similarly using T.V to watch programs which does not contain things that are haram is allowed in Islam and Muslims should not go in to extremes. Many scholars who have forbidden watching T.V have said that listening to the radio is allowed.
2. Proof Why Men and omen Mixing is Halal in Islam
The below hadith proves that during the time of the prophet (sal) men and women used to take ablution together.
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar:
"During the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (sal) men and women used to perform ablution together."
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
If men and women were segregated during the prophet (sal)'s time as we see now, they wouldn't have taken ablution like this. The above hadith is proof that mixing is not haram.
A Woman Served Food to the Prophet (sal) and Women Helped The Wounded
The below hadith is an eye opener for Muslims who want to know the truth that men and women mixing is not haram.
Sahl Ibn Sa'd al-Sa'di (Rali) said,
"Abu Asid al-Sa'di invited the Prophet and his Companions to his wedding and it was Abu Asid's wife who prepared the food and served it to them herself"
(Recorded in the Sahih of Imam Bukhari and the Sahih of Imam Muslim. Bukhari included the hadith in a chapter entitled "A woman Serving Food to Men at Weddings").
The above hadith clearly proves that men and women mixing is not haram. If it was haram then the companion Abu Asid's wife would have been prevented from serving the male guests by the prophet (sal). The above hadith is clear proof for those who who use their intellect and seek the truth through evidence and not from the wrong fatwas of scholars who are themselves human that men and women mixing is not at all haram in Islam. Imam ibn Al Batal wrote in his commentary of sahih al bukhari stating
"It indicates that it is not obligatory to separate between men and women when they are in the same place or during direct interaction. This separation was only applied to the Prophet(sal)’s wives as mentioned in the Quran,
When you ask his wives for something, do so from behind a screen. (Ahzab, 53) "
There is also ample evidence to prove that women used to helped injured men during war. If men and women mixing was haram then the prophet (sal) would have forbidden it. Narrated Rubai bint Mu'adh bin Afra (rali):
"We used to go for Military expeditions along with Allah's Apostle and
provide the people with water, serve them and bring the dead and the
wounded back to Medina"
(Bukhari)
3. Touching or kissing a non-Mahram is not haram
Kissing is a form of touching another person using the lips and this is not haram before marriage because Even the prophet (sal) touched the hand of a slave woman. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“A slave girl of Madīnah would take hold of the hand of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and would take him wherever she wished” (Bukhari)
Some scholars forbid kissing a woman before marriage stating the below hadiths,
Ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man kissed a woman so he came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and told him of what he did. Thereupon Allah, the Almighty revealed the verse: {And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds.} (Sūrat Hūd: 114). The man said: "O Messenger of Allah, is this (verse) for me?" He replied: "For everybody of my Ummah, all of them."(Bukhari and Muslim)
Narrated Musa bin Talhah:
that Abu Al-Yasar said: "A woman came to me selling dates. I said to her: 'There are better dates than these in the house.' So she entered the house with me. I had an urge for her so I began kissing her. I went to Abu Bakr and mentioned that to him, so he said: 'Cover what you have done, repent, do not inform any one, and never do it again.' So I went to 'Umar and mentioned that to him. He said: 'Cover what you have done, repent, do not inform any one, and never do it again.' Then I went to the Prophet (sal) and mentioned it to him." He said: 'Is this how you take care of the wife of someone who is away fighting in Allah's cause?" Such that he had wished he had not accepted Islam until that very time, and he thought that he must be one of the people of the Fire." He said: "The Messenger of Allah (sal) bowed his head for a long time, until Allah revealed to him: And perform the Salat, at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night. Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful (11:114). Abu Al-Yasar said: "So I went to him and the Messenger of Allah (sal) recited it for me. A companion of his said: "O Messenger of Allah! Is this specific, or is it for the people in general?" He said: "Rather it is for the people in general." What needs to be understood is” (Tirmidhi-graded authentic by Sheikh Albani)
The above hadiths when understood from the text is clear that the companion kissed the woman with lust and it is not a major sin to kiss a woman outside marriage because in another hadith, the prophet said,
Ibn 'Abbas (rali) narrated, 'When Ma'iz came to the Prophet (sal) (admitting that he had committed adultery), he said to him, "Perhaps you have just kissed, or touched or looked (at the woman)." Ma'iz said,'No, O Messenger of Allah.' (Bukhari)
What needs to be understood is the intention. You can kiss before marriage with good .intentions. Umar(Rali) narrated, The prophet(Sal) said,
"Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended"
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Acting is not haram in Islam.