Reading novels

Q: I would like to know that after doing my work, namaz, reading Quraan and other works, so that nobodys rights are violated, what books or stories can one read for one's enjoyment, as one likes reading. Can one read books or stories of detective nature, like "whodoneit" fiction.

I am talking about books and novels of Agatha Christie, Conan Doyle, Brain Cleeve etc. not romance or filthy books and novels. Detective stories can help to use one's brains. It can also be brain exercise as I think.

As we do taleem at night when everyone is together. In taleen as you know we do read Fazail e aamaal and Sadaqat, and Muntakhab Ahaadis. There is also time when we do zikr and wazaifs. But after doing all this can one read the stories in free time for entertaiment or to enjoy one self?

One cannot do taleem etc all the time, then it might make others bored or hectic, that all the time the same thing one has to do, reading and wazaif etc. One has to have a time for a little entertainment and being jolly but of halal nature. When one is travelling in a train etc so that one does not get bored or get involved in idle talk etc. What is the solution to this?

May Allah forgive me for the nature of question asked but just for clarification and not for shunning reading Quran, doing taleem or zikr etc. 

A: Most of these western written books impact negatively on an innocent good mind. Read the books on the biographies of the pious predecessors.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)