What is the ruling on adopting acting as a means of calling people to Allah?
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The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : May Allah preserve you, O honorable Shaykh. Some of the young people today use what is known as acting as one of the methods of da'wah (calling to Islam). What is your opinion on this matter? Did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) use this method in his da'wah? I ask for detail on this, and may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Acting is one of the plagues of the present age that has crept into some Muslims who are largely ignorant of the rulings of the Shari'ah. Acting is only needed by the disbelievers, for they have no alternative to the verses of the Lord of the Worlds and the hadiths of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that soften hearts and improve morals. The disbelievers do not possess any of these admonitions and reminders. Therefore, they resorted to adopting acting as a compensation for the guidance and light they missed due to their disbelief in Islam. So, some young people who do not appreciate their Islamic religion as it deserves took these acting practices from the customs of the disbelievers, without noticing the difference between the disbelievers and the Muslims in this respect I mentioned earlier: that the disbelievers may benefit from acting, whereas the Muslims do not need it, for Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has sent to us our Prophet, in whose Shari'ah is everything that rectifies them, rectifying their matters of religion and worldly life. Especially when we remember a bitter truth about these acting productions: they are never free from matters that are wrong. For example, they contain much or some falsification and lying, for an acting production is not suitable for presentation unless it is adorned with some words that do not represent reality. It may also contain free mixing between women and men. If some young people still adhere to this legal ruling, which is that it is not permissible for men and women to mix freely, then the acting production may include men and women, or young men and young women. Acting requires gathering the two sexes, and in that case, free mixing will inevitably occur, especially since acting requires what they call rehearsals, meaning multiple practice sessions. How much free mixing will there be between the sexes there? If we assume that some Muslims are still conservative regarding some of the legal rulings, including the prohibition of free mixing between the sexes, then those in charge of the acting performance will be forced to substitute the other sex (women) by having some men act their roles. Here they fall into another violation of the Shari'ah, which is imitating women. It was narrated in *Sahih al-Bukhari* from the hadith of Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said:Riyad as-Salihin 1631 So, no matter how much those in charge of acting strive to avoid violating the Shari'ah, it is never free from the following: imitating the disbelievers, for these acting productions originated from them.
Then it is never free from free mixing between men and women; if it is free from that, it is not free from men imitating women, for this is the nature of acting. Therefore, acting is not permissible as an activity, for it is contrary to the Shari'ah. How can it be permissible to adopt acting as a means to call people to Islam? That is dealing with matters in a manner contrary to the methodology of the Messenger (peace be upon him). Rather, it is dealing with matters in the way of some open sinners and drunkards whose stories are mentioned in some books of literature, such as Abu Nuwas, who used to say: "And I treated [my ailment] with that which was the disease" The disease is not suitable as a cure, and the forbidden is not suitable as a treatment. So, fear Allah and be upright as you have been commanded. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah preserve you, O honorable Shaykh. Some of the young people today use what is known as acting as one of the methods of da'wah (calling to Islam). What is your opinion on this matter? Did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) use this method in his da'wah? I ask for detail on this, and may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Acting is one of the plagues of the present age that has crept into some Muslims who are largely ignorant of the rulings of the Shari'ah. Acting is only needed by the disbelievers, for they have no alternative to the verses of the Lord of the Worlds and the hadiths of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that soften hearts and improve morals. The disbelievers do not possess any of these admonitions and reminders. Therefore, they resorted to adopting acting as a compensation for the guidance and light they missed due to their disbelief in Islam. So, some young people who do not appreciate their Islamic religion as it deserves took these acting practices from the customs of the disbelievers, without noticing the difference between the disbelievers and the Muslims in this respect I mentioned earlier: that the disbelievers may benefit from acting, whereas the Muslims do not need it, for Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has sent to us our Prophet, in whose Shari'ah is everything that rectifies them, rectifying their matters of religion and worldly life. Especially when we remember a bitter truth about these acting productions: they are never free from matters that are wrong. For example, they contain much or some falsification and lying, for an acting production is not suitable for presentation unless it is adorned with some words that do not represent reality. It may also contain free mixing between women and men. If some young people still adhere to this legal ruling, which is that it is not permissible for men and women to mix freely, then the acting production may include men and women, or young men and young women. Acting requires gathering the two sexes, and in that case, free mixing will inevitably occur, especially since acting requires what they call rehearsals, meaning multiple practice sessions. How much free mixing will there be between the sexes there? If we assume that some Muslims are still conservative regarding some of the legal rulings, including the prohibition of free mixing between the sexes, then those in charge of the acting performance will be forced to substitute the other sex (women) by having some men act their roles. Here they fall into another violation of the Shari'ah, which is imitating women. It was narrated in *Sahih al-Bukhari* from the hadith of Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed men who copy women and cursed women who copy men.
لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم المتشبهين من الرجال بالنساء والمتشبهات من النساء بالرجالThen it is never free from free mixing between men and women; if it is free from that, it is not free from men imitating women, for this is the nature of acting. Therefore, acting is not permissible as an activity, for it is contrary to the Shari'ah. How can it be permissible to adopt acting as a means to call people to Islam? That is dealing with matters in a manner contrary to the methodology of the Messenger (peace be upon him). Rather, it is dealing with matters in the way of some open sinners and drunkards whose stories are mentioned in some books of literature, such as Abu Nuwas, who used to say: "And I treated [my ailment] with that which was the disease" The disease is not suitable as a cure, and the forbidden is not suitable as a treatment. So, fear Allah and be upright as you have been commanded. Yes.