Q. Isnt writing, publishing, and reading fiction stories the same as telling lies?
A. Absolutely not. If you imagine a story which is known to your readers or listeners to be fictitious, this is not the same as telling lies. This is only an expression of your imagination. Sheikh Sāmī al-Mājid If it is made perfectly clear that this did not really happen, and that the story is being told just to give an example, then there is nothing wrong with that. Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
Q. Is it wrong for Muslim fiction writers to have their Muslim and non-Muslim book characters doing unIslamic things such as drinking alcoholic beverages, dating, or having sexual relations outside of legal marriage?
A. The Muslim author of Islamic Fiction is careful to point out through the story-telling that these types of conduct are wrong. When describing unIslamic conduct, the writer is careful not to use vulgar language, write sexually explicit descriptions, or show Islam in a negative way. We must remember that it is not Islam that is in error but the book characters who are in error. Real people, both Muslims and non-Muslims, are not perfect, and the Islamic Fiction writer strives to make book characters believable without being offensive. The primary goal of Islamic Fiction writers is to teach their readers something beneficial about Islam.
Q. There are fiction books written by Muslims that contain vulgar language and sexually explicit descriptions in the stories. Some of these books have included content that is negative about Islam. These books have Muslim characters and the stories include content about Islam. What kind of fiction books are these? Are they Islamic Fiction books?
A. The harmful content in this kind of book disqualifies it as an Islamic Fiction book by the definitions provided on this website.
Q. I have seen fiction books that are written by Muslims but the stories do not have any content about Muslims or Islam. What kind of fiction books are these?
A. This is also a type of Secular Fiction, but is in a sub-category of Muslim-Authored Secular Fiction. Books of this type are not listed on this website. This type of book has only secular content, is generally written for a secular market and is published by a secular publisher.
Q. I have read fiction books that are written by Muslim authors that do not have any religious content or references to Islam. The stories dont try to teach or provide information about Islam. These are nice stories that have Muslim characters and might even mention Muslim holidays. They are about Muslims doing regular everyday activities but Islamic practices and beliefs are not part of the stories. Do these books fall into the Islamic Fiction category?
A. This is Muslim-authored Secular Fiction. This type of fiction does not rise to the level of Islamic Fiction. The Muslim writer makes every effort to exclude any religious content or references. The stories are meant to appeal to a secular market. Most of this Secular Fiction does not have harmful content and Muslims enjoy reading it. The Muslim writer focuses on the nationality, culture, and family traditions of the characters and not on Islamic beliefs and practices. The writer always excludes any Muslim religious practice or Islamic belief that a non-Muslim may find objectionable. The author strives to market his book primarily to non-Muslims, and may also market to Muslim readers. This type of fiction is often published by a secular publisher.
Q. How will I know if a book written by a Muslim is Islamic Fiction?
A. For now, you can check the Islamic Fiction Book List on this website. Keep in mind that not every Islamic Fiction book is listed there. When IFB learns about other existing or new Islamic Fiction, we make every effort to obtain an author Bio and information about where the book may be purchased. This new information is then added to Book List page. You can also check the Definitions provided on this website.
IFB has developed Islamic Fiction Emblems and Secular Fiction Emblems and encourages all Muslim publishers to place the appropriate emblems on the back covers of their books. You can help by writing to Muslim publishing houses and asking them to use the emblems on their published books!
You can also help by asking Muslim retailers to buy and list Islamic Fiction books so these wonderful books are available for you and your family.
