Question:
Assalamu Alaikum. Thank you very much for your detailed answer. I have one more question. My dream is to become an actress, but I do not want to act in scenes involving kissing, intimacy, sexual content, or anything immoral. I also do not want to perform roles that promote sinful behavior. If I only accept respectful roles without these things, would acting still be considered haram according to the Hanafi school? I would really appreciate your guidance. May Allah reward you.
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-Salāmu ʿAlaykum Wa-Raḥmatullāhi Wa-Barakātuh
Modesty (ḥayā) is a fundamental teaching of Islam and an integral part of īmān (faith).
Nabi ﷺ said:
“وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “الإيمان بضع وسبعون، أو بضع وستون شعبة، فأفضلها قول لا إله إلا الله، وأدناها إماطة الأذى عن الطريق، والحياء شعبة من الإيمان
Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه reported “Faith has over seventy—or over sixty—branches. The most excellent of them is the statement ‘There is no god but Allah (Lā ilāha illallāh)’, and the least of them is removing something harmful from the road. And modesty (ḥayā’) is a branch of faith.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
This ḥadīth establishes that Islam not only commands modesty but also prohibits the means that lead to shamelessness and moral corruption.
The entertainment industry commonly involves or promotes public display, immodesty, unlawful intermingling, objectification, and other practices that are inconsistent with these Islamic values. By contrast, Islam honours women by preserving their dignity, modesty, and moral integrity, valuing them for their faith and character rather than their appearance or public image.
Accordingly, the Sharīʿah does not permit professions that inherently require or promote such conduct. Since acting in the entertainment industry generally entails participation in or promotion of practices contrary to the objectives of the Sharīʿah, pursuing it as a profession is not permissible. [1]
We sincerely advise you to cultivate Islamic values and make them the foundation of your life. By doing so, you will attain true peace, contentment, and serenity. Although the entertainment industry often promises fame and fulfilment, these pursuits frequently come at the expense of one’s faith, dignity, and spiritual well-being. Do not squander your precious youth in pursuits that distance you from Allah ﷻ. Rather, dedicate your time, talents, and abilities to that which earns His pleasure and benefits you in both this world and the Hereafter.
Nabi ﷺ highlighted the immense virtue of a young person who devotes his or her youth to the obedience of Allah. He ﷺ said:
: «سبعة يظلهم الله في ظله، يوم لا ظل إلا ظله: …، وشاب نشأ في عبادة ربه،».
“There are seven whom Allah will shade under His shade on the Day when there will be no shade except His: …. a young person who grows up in the worship of his Lord; ….”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 1:133)
We ask Allah ﷻ to grant you steadfastness, bless you with a lawful and fulfilling livelihood, and make you among those who earn His shade on the Day when there will be no shade but His. Āmīn.
And Allah Taʿāla Knows Best.
Baba Abu Bakr
Student –Darul Iftaa
Accra, Ghana
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Muhammad Zakariyya Desai
