Reading Romantic Novels

A Muslim is best advised to engage in what is beneficial for him and to avoid what may waste his time or arouse his sexual desires. Dr. `Abdul-Fattah `Ashoor, professor of Exegesis of the Qur’an, states that: “Reading books have many benefits. A Muslim should read that which is beneficial to him. It stands to reason that the Muslim should avoid reading romantic novels that only arouse sexual desires and ignite lust in him/her. This is due to the fact that reading such things will fill him/her with temptation and drive him/her away from remembering Almighty Allah. Reading romantic novels may be dangerous in the same way as films are, as both may contain expressions about immoral people and immoral practices that are forbidden for a Muslim.
So, I advise Muslims to read the history of Prophets and to ponder over verses of the Glorious Qur’an as well as the biography of Prophets, something extensively dealt with in the Qur’an. I advise her also to read the history of Islamic battles, etc. Getting her mind engrossed with these noble readings, she will find herself in no need for reading such novels.”