Q)What is the ruling on plays and skits(Dramas) for the sake of Dawah in Islam?
The Ulama differed with regards to the permissibility of such *’Islamic Dramas’*, some of them say that it is altogether Haram and some say that it is allowed if some strict Islamic guidelines are observed.
Some of whom, from the Kibaar who totally prohibited Islamic Dramas are Shaikh Saleh ibn Fawzan Al Fawzan Hafidhahullah and Shaikh Al-Albani Rahimahullah.
*The Ruling on Comedy and Plays for Dawah (Shaikh Saleh Al-Fawzan)*
*The Ruling on Plays and Skits (Shaikh Saleh Al-Fawzan)*
*حكم التمثيل- الشيخ الألباني*
(Shaikh Alalbani mentions [in summary] that: (the Dramas involve) a lot of Mukhalafaat(opposition to the Shariah) like men imitating women (and vice versa) and a pious man imitating a sinner and vice versa…)
To read the view of Shaikh Muhammad ibn Saleh Al Uthaymeen Rahimahullah, who mentioned that Islamic Dramas are permissible with certain conditions, you may refer to:
Finally, I would like to add that it is always better to be on the safer side and avoid them, as almost all of the *so called* ‘Islamic Dramas’ have some or the other Mukhalafaat (opposition to the Shariah) in addition to the ones mentioned by Shaikh ibn Al-Uthaymeen.
Some of them are:
1. Using false jokes:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Woe to the one who tells lies to make people laugh, woe to him.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood).
2. Acting and plays are like teaching Muslims to lie and pretend what they’re not. These are not praiseworthy things to learn. Such ‘Islamic drama actors’ learn to lie.
Al-Bukhaari (6094) and Muslim (2607) narrated that Ibn Mas‘ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “I enjoin you to be truthful, for truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man may continue to tell the truth and endeavour to be truthful until he is recorded with Allah as a speaker of truth. And beware of lying, for lying leads to wickedness and wickedness leads to Hell. A man may continue to tell lies and endeavour to tell lies, until he is recorded with Allah as a liar.”
3. Such Islamic Dramas are things which are not proven from The Sunnah and The Pious Salaf, they’ve entered us because of our immitation of The Kuffar and their ways. We should rather stop at where the Salaf stopped.
Imam Al-Awza’i said: “Patiently restrict yourself upon the sunnah, stop where the people (ie the companions) stopped, say what they say and refrain from that which they refrained. Traverse upon the path of your Salaf al-Salih, for indeed what was sufficient for them is sufficient for you.” (Al-Shari’ah of al Ajurri, pg58)
4. They involve wasting of time, for practicing dialogues which are useless in and of themselves.
5. Many Muslim dramas are increasingly using Anasheeds (Islamic songs) with or without music which the major scholars have warned against.
6. Using songs and couplets from the sinful and Fahish Hollywood/Bollywood movies on the pretext that we have extracted the music from them.Remember that almost all the people to prepare to sing such *musicless songs* from sinful movies do listen to the actual musical song to rehearse it.
7. Remember what Shaikh Al-Albani said, and see the plays today.
(Shaikh Alalbani mentions [in summary] that: (the Dramas involve) a lot of Mukhalafaat(opposition to the Shariah) like men imitating women (and vice versa) and a pious man imitating a sinner and vice versa…)
With all this, again do read the conditions set by Shaikh Al-Uthaymeen, it is very difficult to avoid all the *oppositions to the sharia* warned against by the scholars.
Hence like what Shaikh Saleh ibn Fawzan Al Fawzan mentioned, because of the numerous harms and evil, we will follow the view that they are impermissible and not allowed.
Wallahu Alam.
(Compiled and points added by Mohammed Manna)
14th July 2018
Saheehus-Seerah 