Is becoming an actress haram?

Wa alaykum salam,

Sister, if (i) acting did not involve doing anything impermissible (e.g. hugging people of the opposite gender, dancing to music etc.) and (ii) the content of the film or drama as a whole did not include anything impermissible then it wouldn't be wrong.

In the case you described, it would be haram. Your parents are doing a good thing by guiding you away from this profession.

Shirk is one of the biggest of sins. If you play a Hindu on-screen you would need to worship idols as part of your role or things of such nature which would be undoubtedly wrong even if you don't believe in it. You may say your intention is not to worship but you should feel repulsed yourself for even uttering such stuff. Imaan/faith is an extremely important thing. This life is a test and the test should not be taken lightly. If someone dies without imaan, they will never be admitted into paradise and they will be punished in hell for eternity. For someone to worship idols in real life is shirk and that person has no iman. As a Muslim, knowing the importance of imaan, you should never even desire to come close to uttering words of shirk, even as a joke/acting. Imagine when you are in the moment of acting and saying something that has shirk (e.g. 'hey Ram') and Allah were to ordain that your soul be taken at that precise moment?

Another matter altogether is the issue of modesty. As Muslims we need to abstain from immoral behaviour such as touching, hugging, kissing, flirting with, being alone with members of the opposite gender. Obviously, there will be some kind of romantic elements involved in acting that would be unavoidable.

Hijab is also something that you would need to take into account. You can't remove it just for the sake of acting and nobody is going to give you roles purely that involve hijab wearing person. We know that wearing make-up outside is haraam too but obviously you'd need to dress up and look glamorous on TV so that's another problem. Remember, you as an actress don't get to choose what you do, you get told what to do otherwise you're fired. So, even if you don't want to do such things you may be pressured into it and if you do it a few times, it will become normal for you and you'd lose the sense of guilt and shame of the sin.

Also, realise that even in joking some matters are considered seriously in Islam. E.g. if a man says 'I divorce you' as a joke or as part of acting to his wife, it is considered a valid divorce and people can even unintentionally get married if there is a proposal and acceptance in front of two male witnesses. So, don't take this lightly in any way shape or form please sister.

Simply put, there is too much wrong involved for it to be a profession for a Muslim sister to get into. Remember also that if you make one video, it's always going to be there on the internet and even if you later on realise your mistakes, you can never remove it and undo.

I think, sister, you need to be more careful and not let your current passion for acting get into the way of your relationship with Allah and your love of Islam and desire to be a good Muslim. There is a hadith which says to the effect: Whoever gives up something for the sake of Allah, Allah will compensate him with something better than it. Keep that in mind.

I know that I won't do anything against islam inshallah

Sister, just want to touch on this point. Allah has made us all inclined toward sinning, nobody is perfect and nobody can say with certainty that they won't do anything against Islam. So, don't take your current pure thinking for granted. Shaytan is flowing through our veins and he is devious, cunning and knows how to play people into committing sin.

I agree. When you go into acting as a profession, you'll keep getting pushed into doing haram things. No play or drama will involve only women and when you act on stage with men, you've already crossed into haram, because such mixing is not allowed.

Another thing is that you'll have to wear costumes or particular dress (for the part you're playing) and most likely you won't be able to wear your hijab, Islamic cover, so that is also unislamic. It's more than likely that your costume will not be according to Islamic hijab.

If you do hindu plays, you're actually advertising the hindu faith and that's worse. Children and adults who see the drama may be led astray and you'll be responsible.

Another thing is taking the video of the drama. That is haram for various reasons. For one thing, picture-taking is not allowed. Another thing is that you can't control who sees the video. It will be seen by nonmahram men and that is unislamic.

So, a profession in acting is not proper.

You could take up acting as a hobby and do plays at your muslim women centers, such as plays for children that are just watched in the center by women and children and not recorded. These plays would only have women and children and will only be watched by women and children (in the center) and they won't be on unislamic subjects. Ask your muslim center / women's center if they hold such plays and if you can take a part in them.

it's better to stay away from acting as u will have to mix with opposite gender . U should avoid the deed that may provoke us to get involved in sins.

And Allah knows Best.

Pls sis try and avoid acting for the reasons mentioned above but also think about all the negative actress receive. Imagine while you are acting and ppl are watching you on TV, they could curse you, think of you in a sexual way. You would be pressured to make public appearance, get in the photos with fans (even male fans) etc. Its a bad path to go into. You are still young and you can get into other hobbies you can even develop into a future job. There are many things you can do instead of acting which will interest you. Go and explore and find something you like that will not impact your faith and go against your religion. Remember Islam is a way of live, whatever we do shouldn't be something that doesn't go with Islam. Even if you do not believe in the actions you do because you believe in something else. It is like saying I will wear a wig, I am not showing my real hair so that shouldn't be haram.

Judges never took the testimony of actors back under Islamic empires by the way, just saying, every role they played unless playing themselves is a lie, they marry on screen and take oaths and touch each other, it is a shameful profession truly and they were looked down upon by everyone but it is such a way of the devil to make diamonds out of cheap glass, they pay them millions and paint them as the cream of society when they're the scum of it.

Acting is majorly used as negative influence especially dramas which are filled with anti Islamic sentiments such as lack of shame and faith etc. please avoid it.