Is literature and art haram ( forbidden ) in Islam ?

assalamualamualaikum hallo.... I am an english-literature student and I love literature and art soooo much, but I 've heard that it is forbidden in islam to write a story (novel,short story-fiction), singing/listen a song or music, and drawing. but I am good at this subject (well not really good) but this is what I love to do, writing and drawing. so can you tell me whether is it forbidden or not? thankyouuu....

Wa alaikum salam ♥

Writing fiction stories is not haram, as long as it is made clear that it is not an historical event (etc.) so people know it is just a story. Obviously like anything else, one has to maintain being Muslim and therefore not promote un-Islamic activities in the story. Suggesting that a fictional story is real would be lying, and this is haram.

‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:

“The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘You must be truthful, for truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man will keep speaking the truth and striving to speak the truth until he will be recorded with Allaah as a siddeeq (speaker of the truth). Beware of telling lies, for lying leads to immorality and immorality leads to Hellfire. A man will keep telling lies and striving to tell lies until he is recorded with Allaah as a liar.”

(Reported by Muslim, 4721)

Art is not haram if you are drawing inanimate objects. Examples of these are plants, cars, mountains, oceans etc. Animate objects are haram to draw because it is a human interpretation of Allah’s Creation which has a soul. Also people like to ‘create’ monsters and people using art as a medium, this is haram because Allah SWT is the only Creator. There is an exception to this when it comes to educational drawings (such as labelled diagrams in Biology), as these are for the purpose of education.

Please have a look at the following site for information about educational diagrams: ♥

Narated By Said bin Abu Al-Hasan :

While I was with Ibn ‘Abbas a man came and said, “O father of ‘Abbas! My sustenance is from my manual profession and I make these pictures.” Ibn ‘Abbas said, “I will tell you only what I heard from Allah’s Apostle. I heard him saying, ‘Whoever makes a picture will be punished by Allah till he puts life in it, and he will never be able to put life in it.’ ” Hearing this, that man heaved a sigh and his face turned pale. Ibn ‘Abbas said to him, “What a pity! If you insist on making pictures I advise you to make pictures of trees and any other unanimated objects.”

(Sahih Bukhari Volumn 004, Book 054, Hadith Number 448)

                      

As for music, the daff is allowed on days of Eid and celebration. For more information about this, please go to the following site: ♥

 http://islamqa.info/en/85430

In conclusion, there is nothing wrong with anything that you are doing, but moderation is involved. You may write, draw, and listen to the daff, but in the boundaries of Islam ♥

Write, but do not lie and promote un-Islamic behaviour ♥ Draw, but do not draw things as if you are recreating (i.e. don’t draw things with souls) ♥ Sing, but sing infront of the people who are permitted to listen to you ♥ Listen to and play daff, but in the way prescribed ♥

Islam is easy my sister ♥ don’t make it hard for yourself, Insha’Allah ♥ Everything in moderation ♥
 

Insha’Allah I have answered your question ♥ If you do not understand something or would like additional details, please let me know and I will be happy to provide, Insha’Allah ♥

Thank you for your amazing question ♥