Are Muslims Allowed to Have Fun? | Facts about the Muslims & the Religion of Islam

Laura El Alam

“Joyless, exhausted, and gloomy.” Those are the words that came to my mind about the first few Muslims I got to know after I took my shahada twenty-five years ago. In retrospect, now that I’m a fifty-year-old mother of five, I can understand why those women might have seemed so cheerless and drained. They were all middle-aged mothers, probably dealing with aging bodies, the stresses of life and parenthood, and the exhaustion of meeting the needs of everyone who depended on them. But I was only twenty-five back then, yet to have a child, and my life was much simpler than theirs. I had energy, youth, optimism, and much less responsibility on my plate. I loved my religion, but I still wanted to have fun. Based on those few women I’d met, I was beginning to doubt that was even possible.

Is there a place for fun in Islam?

Sometimes new Muslims wonder how they can relax, socialize, and enjoy themselves within the parameters of Islam. They might realize that some of the things they used to do for entertainment are impermissible, but they still crave feelings of happiness and lightheartedness. How do practicing Muslims achieve this?

Moderation, or wasat, is a fundamental principle in Islam. This means that we should strive for a balanced approach in life, avoid extremes, and search for a middle ground between too much and too little of anything. This includes our relationships, our worship, our basic needs, and the way we spend our time.

On one hand, our faith does require us to have self-discipline. Fasting, performing the five daily prayers, and abstaining from haram (impermissible) things require self-control and a serious mindset. But Islam is not meant to make us miserable. God tells us: “We did not reveal the Quran to you to cause you distress.” (20:2)

Our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) set an example of wasat in his approach to everything. He (peace be upon him) was the ideal Muslim, totally focused on his worship of Allah and his role as the leader of the Ummah, but he also had a cheerful disposition. Abdullah ibn al-Harith reported, “I have not seen anyone smile more often than the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.” (Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3641)

In addition to smiling often, he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to joke with his Companions and family members, but never in a way that was untruthful or hurtful. He (peace be upon him) often ran races with his beloved wife, Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her). It is heartwarming to imagine the breathless laughter they shared as they ran towards the finish line.

When one of his (peace and blessings be upon him) Companions, Hanzalah, expressed concern about spending leisure time with his wife and children instead of praying or making dhikr, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) reassured him: “O Hanzalah, there is a time for this and a time for that.” (Muslim 2750)

This hadith means that there is a time for worshipping Allah, a time to relax with our family, and a time to nurture ourselves. Our families have rights on us, as do our own bodies. Relaxation, joy, and rest are important to maintaining a healthy balance. In fact, if we engage in rest or playfulness for the sake of Allah, then it can be a form of worship.

The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), while staunchly dedicated to the deen, still engaged in lighthearted entertainment at times. They told jokes, made up poetry, and even threw melons at each other for fun.

What are options for today’s Muslims?

You might not be into poetry or melon throwing, but you can still have wholesome fun, even in modern times. I found this out a few months after embracing Islam, when my husband and I moved to a different state. There, I was introduced to some Muslim women who were close to my own age. I was surprised and thrilled to see that they were simultaneously sincere believers and exuberant, lively, cheerful humans. Their faith did not make them gloomy, burdened, or distressed. In fact, they clearly found happiness in Islam, their sisterhood, and the permissible things of the dunya. In other words, they knew how to have halal fun!

We were young mothers with growing responsibilities, but we always found ways to get together with – and sometimes without – our kids for companionship and fun. About three times a year, we had ladies-only parties that always started with an Islamic reminder to set the tone and remind us of our commitment to our faith. At these parties, we would offer salat together at the appointed times, but we also played board games, told funny stories, laughed uproariously, and shared delicious food. Far from being a waste of time, these gatherings were actually beneficial to our iman. We strengthened our bonds of sisterhood, reflected on our deen, and satisfied our human needs of socializing, connecting, laughing, and feeling good.

Allah allows us to enjoy His bounty

In Surah Al-A’raf (7:32), Allah declares, “Say: Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants and the good things of provision?”

This powerful statement refutes the idea that Islam discourages enjoyment, making it clear that beauty, comfort, and joyful experiences are part of what God has allowed for His creation. Doing halal activities with family and friends, playing sports, volunteering, building, crafting, reading, watching wholesome movies, cooking, gathering with friends for conversation or maybe a meal . . . all of these options are ways to have fun within Allah’s parameters. It turns out that a great deal of joy can be found in little things. And once you are a Believer, you realize that you will not find true joy in anything our Creator has prohibited.