When we talk about Islam, a religion deeply rooted in purpose, purity, and submission to the will of God, one of the most important concepts to understand is “haram.”
It’s a word that often sparks curiosity, confusion, or even fear, especially for those new to the faith or trying to learn about Islamic principles.
At its core, “haram” (حرام) refers to anything that is strictly forbidden in Islam by Allah (God) through the Quran, or by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through his teachings and traditions (Hadith).
It’s not just a suggestion or a “bad idea”—haram is considered a serious violation of Islamic law (Sharia), with spiritual consequences both in this life and the Hereafter.
To give you a taste of what haram covers:
But that’s just scratching the surface.
What Does Haram Actually Mean?
“Haram” means “something sinful and forbidden” in Islam. I’m surprised YGE kept this as her stage name, since they are interested in the international market, and there is a huge number of Kpop fans in Muslim countries 🤔
A stage name could be changed easily 🤔 https://t.co/0Rs1u8U0ZH— quintessentialism (@5essentialism) January 12, 2023
The word haram literally means “forbidden” or “prohibited.” It’s the opposite of “halal”, which means “permissible” or “lawful.”
In Islamic law, every action or item falls into one of five categories:
- Halal (permissible)
- Mustahabb (recommended)
- Mubah (neutral/allowed)
- Makruh (discouraged)
- Haram (forbidden)
So, if halal is a green light, haram is the red one—and it’s not to be crossed.
Haram things are clearly outlined, and while some gray areas exist (known as shubuhat or doubtful matters), devout Muslims are encouraged to avoid them entirely to protect their faith.
Absolutely Haram in Islam
Sexual Sins
- Zina (fornication/adultery)
- Homosexual acts
- Incest
- Bestiality
- Sex during menstruation
- Sex during fasting (daytime in Ramadan)
- Sexual acts during Hajj or Umrah (before rituals are complete)
- Pornography (watching, producing, selling)
- Masturbation (disputed; some scholars allow in extreme cases, but generally discouraged or haram)
- Prostitution
- Sex outside marriage (even if consensual)
- Flirting with non-mahrams
- Chatting with sexual intent with non-mahrams
- Sending nudes or receiving them
- Sex toys, if used in haram ways (e.g., as a replacement for a spouse)
- Oral sex (some scholars permit within marriage; others find it disliked if it involves impurity)
- Anal sex (even in marriage)
- Public displays of affection
- Watching people have sex (voyeurism)
- Sex while intoxicated
- Marrying someone already married (polyandry)
- Marrying a mahram (e.g., sister, mother, daughter)
People & Interactions
- Being alone with a non-mahram (khalwa)
- Touching non-mahrams
- Shaking hands with the opposite gender (non-mahram)
- Looking lustfully at non-mahrams
- Disrespecting parents
- Breaking family ties
- Backbiting (ghibah)
- Slander (buhtan)
- Lying
- Cheating in relationships
- Breaking promises
- Mocking or humiliating others
- Bullying
- Being arrogant or prideful
- Boasting/showing off (especially in worship)
- Supporting oppression
- Being racist or tribalist (asabiyyah)
- Name-calling or insulting nicknames
- Disobeying the husband (if he commands what’s permissible)
- Abandoning the wife financially or emotionally
- Oppressing children or denying them rights
- Refusing to reconcile after a minor dispute
Spiritual Sins
- Shirk (associating partners with God)
- Hypocrisy (nifaq)
- Atheism (disbelief in God)
- Apostasy (leaving Islam)
- Mocking the religion
- Denying known obligations (e.g., prayer, zakah)
- Believing in horoscopes/zodiac signs
- Practicing or believing in black magic (sihr)
- Calling upon the dead
- Visiting fortune tellers
- Innovating (bid’ah) in worship
- Changing Islamic rulings for desire
- Using Islam for profit (e.g., selling fake ruqyah)
- Abandoning the prayer (salat)
- Neglecting fasting without excuse
- Not paying zakat
- Refusing Hajj while able
- Mocking hijab, beard, or Islamic laws
Money & Business
- Riba (interest, giving or receiving)
- Gambling (lottery, poker, etc.)
- Fraud/deception in sales
- Selling haram items (alcohol, pork, drugs, porn)
- Bribery
- Stealing
- Embezzling
- Price manipulation
- Hoarding essential goods
- Not paying employees properly
- Dishonest contracts
- Cheating in measurements or weight
- Forgery (documents, currency, degrees)
- Tax evasion (in just systems)
- Money laundering
- Investing in haram businesses (e.g., casinos, alcohol companies)
- Running pyramid schemes
- Insurance based on interest/gambling (conventional)
Intoxicants & Harmful Things
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- Alcohol (drinking, buying, selling, serving)
- Drugs (cocaine, weed, ecstasy, etc.)
- Vaping nicotine (scholars differ, often discouraged or haram)
- Smoking (generally haram due to harm)
- Sniffing glue/inhalants
- Getting high or drunk intentionally
- Driving intoxicated
- Encouraging others to get intoxicated
- Operating places that serve alcohol/drugs
Food & Drink
- Pork and pork products
- Meat not slaughtered in a halal way
- Dead animals (carrion)
- Blood (as food)
- Food stolen or acquired unlawfully
- Food contaminated with najasah (impurity)
- Eating while someone else is hungry (without sharing, if known)
- Wasting food
- Overeating
Violence & Justice
- Murder
- Suicide
- Abortion (without a valid reason)
- Domestic violence
- Rape
- Torture
- Assault
- Harming animals
- Killing without just cause
- Terrorism or vigilantism
- Taking justice into one’s own hands
- False accusations (especially of zina)
Appearance & Modesty
- Not wearing a hijab (for women)
- Wearing tight or revealing clothes
- Men wearing silk or gold
- Imitating the opposite gender
- Tattooing (permanent)
- Plucking eyebrows (disputed; often considered haram)
- Wigs/hair extensions using human hair
- Wearing clothes with satanic or sinful symbols
- Excessive beautification to attract non-mahrams
- Displaying awrah (private parts) publicly
Worship-Related
Such a person is in great danger for skipping prayers like this as it is a major sin to skip one single prayer.
Some scholars say that he has exited the fold of Islam but it is an issue of dispute.
Allah will judge him for such behavior https://t.co/AlnGl51I4Q
— Assim Alhakeem (@Assimalhakeem) March 10, 2023
- Missing prayers on purpose
- Delaying prayer without excuse
- Performing prayer incorrectly on purpose
- Abandoning Friday prayer
- Praying while intoxicated
- Breaking wudu and continuing prayer knowingly
- Not learning fard knowledge
- Fasting without intention
- Invalid fasting (e.g., sexual acts during fast)
- Skipping fasts without a valid excuse
- Neglecting the Quran
- Mocking Islamic scholars or rulings
- Visiting graves for intercession
- Praying to saints
- Giving zakat for show
- Doing Hajj/Umrah just for status
Modern Lifestyle Issues
- Creating or spreading false info online
- Sexting
- Online dating (non-mahram, romantic intent)
- Making haram TikToks or Reels
- Listening to explicit music (especially with sexual or violent content)
- Sharing indecent images or memes
- Streaming haram content (porn, violence, shirk)
- Haram video games (excess violence, sexual themes, shirk)
- Ignoring prayer for gaming/social media
- Influencer culture that promotes haram lifestyles
- Using filters to alter gender or sexual appearance
- Deepfakes of haram content
- Online bullying/trolling
- Haram NFTs or crypto-based gambling projects
Haram Acts for Men
#
Act
Full Description
Reference
1
Wearing Silk and Gold
In Islam, it is forbidden for men to wear pure silk or gold as clothing or jewelry. This includes gold chains, bracelets, watches, and rings. These items are permitted for women but not for men, as stated in authentic hadiths. The prohibition is tied to modesty, humility, and the avoidance of excessive luxury for men.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4057
2
Imitating Women
Men are forbidden from imitating women in dress, mannerisms, speech, or any physical alterations. This includes cross-dressing, feminine behavior for entertainment, or altering one’s appearance to resemble the opposite gender. Such imitation disrupts the natural order and roles defined in Islam and is condemned by the Prophet (ﷺ).
Bukhari 5885
3
Neglecting Family Financial Responsibilities
A man is obligated to provide for those under his care, including his wife, children, and parents if they are in need. Neglecting this duty—whether by withholding money, ignoring needs, or refusing to work—is a sin. This includes emotional neglect and failing to be present as a provider and protector.
Muslim 996
4
Being Alone with a Non-Mahram Woman
It is strictly forbidden for a man to be in seclusion with a woman who is not his mahram (close female relative). This includes being alone in cars, rooms, or digital spaces like private video calls. The Prophet warned that whenever this happens, Shaytaan is the third among them, indicating the risk of temptation.
Tirmidhi 2165
Wearing gold and silk is not simply a fashion matter; it’s about distinguishing Islamic masculinity and avoiding extravagance.
Men are encouraged to adopt strength and humility, not luxury. Imitation of women, especially in a world where gender identity is blurred, is considered dangerous spiritually and socially.
Financial responsibility is not just about money—it includes emotional support, fair treatment, and being actively present in the family.
Finally, being alone with a woman not related to you is one of the easiest gateways to Zina (fornication), even if intentions start pure.
Haram Acts for Women
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Act
Full Description
Reference
1
Not Wearing the Hijab in Public
Muslim women who have reached puberty are required to wear the hijab, which includes covering the hair, chest, and wearing loose-fitting clothing that does not attract attention or reveal body shape. This command is directly mentioned in the Qur’an and is a key symbol of Islamic modesty and identity.
Qur’an 24:31
2
Plucking Eyebrows
Islam forbids altering the natural facial features out of vanity, including plucking, shaving, or reshaping the eyebrows. This includes modern cosmetic enhancements like microblading. The Prophet (ﷺ) specifically cursed those who pluck or have their eyebrows plucked unless it’s for a medical or deformity-related reason.
Bukhari 5931
3
Leaving the House Unnecessarily Without a Mahram (in certain contexts)
Women are advised not to travel long distances without a mahram (male guardian). While this is more flexible today in some scholarly views, especially for short, safe trips, in religious contexts like Hajj or travel through dangerous areas, it remains necessary. This is to protect both safety and dignity.
Bukhari 3006
4
Disobeying Husband in Permissible Matters
A Muslim wife is expected to obey her husband in all things that are halal (permissible), such as sharing responsibilities, maintaining privacy, or intimacy. This is a right granted to husbands, balanced by the husband’s duty to treat her with kindness and fairness. Disobedience in fair requests is considered sinful.
Tirmidhi 1159
The hijab is not only about a headscarf—it’s an entire attitude of modesty and spiritual dignity. It’s not just culture, but a divine command.
Plucking eyebrows and altering appearance for vanity reflects dissatisfaction with Allah’s creation.
While women’s freedom is respected in Islam, travel without a mahram is restricted in some cases to prevent harm or fitnah.
Obedience to a husband isn’t about dominance, but about harmony within the halal framework—just as men are commanded to serve and care for their wives.
Haram Acts for Teens
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Act
Full Description
Reference
1
Sexting or Flirting Online
Texting, chatting, or sharing content with sexual overtones—even if not physical—falls under the category of zina of the eyes, ears, and tongue. Islam holds not only actions accountable but also digital behavior and private interactions. Anything romantic or flirtatious without halal intent is forbidden.
Muslim 2657
2
Watching Pornography
Viewing explicit videos, images, or reading sexual content is haram. It falls under zina of the eyes and corrupts the heart. It also distorts expectations of love and intimacy, weakens spiritual connection, and can lead to addiction.
Qur’an 24:30
3
Dating Without Marriage Intent
Casual relationships, even if non-sexual, are prohibited in Islam. The only valid romantic relationship is through marriage (nikah). Emotional attachments without intent or supervision are gateways to zina and often lead to heartbreak and sin.
Qur’an 17:32 (by implication)
4
Disrespecting Parents
One of the gravest sins in Islam is to speak rudely to, shout at, or ignore your parents. Even saying “uff” (a sigh of annoyance) is condemned. Teens are reminded that their success and blessings are directly tied to obedience and kindness to parents.
Qur’an 17:23
The teenage years are a time of emotional shifts and discovery, but Islam still holds young people accountable after puberty.
Sexting and flirting often feel harmless but can lead to serious spiritual damage and are steps toward greater sins.
Porn is not just haram—it is spiritually and psychologically harmful, shaping unrealistic expectations and numbing the soul.
Dating may seem normal in modern culture, but Islam teaches that love and intimacy must happen within marriage to be blessed.
Lastly, disrespecting parents—even in tone or eye rolls—is a major sin. Parents may not always be right, but their rights in Islam are huge.
What Is Halal in Islam?
@salehfamily What is HALAL? #halal#haram#todayilearned#tiktoktaughtme#learnontiktok#islam ♬ original sound – Will & Sana Saleh
Halal refers to anything that is allowed and approved by Allah (God), as outlined in the Qur’an and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
It covers all aspects of life: food, behavior, speech, money, dress, relationships, worship, and more.
In simple terms, halal = spiritually safe.
– Seafood – Fruits, vegetables, grains – Dairy, eggs from halal animals – Family ties – Friendships with boundaries – Respectful parent-child relationships – Trade, freelancing, halal investing – Contracts without interest (riba), fraud, or gambling – Kindness – Charity – Patience – Forgiveness – Lowering gaze, guarding modesty – Clean clothing – Gender-appropriate dress – No silk/gold for men (but allowed for women) – Sports & exercise – Reading, gaming, and art free from haram themes – Fasting (sawm) – Zakat – Hajj – Reading Qur’an – Remembrance of Allah (dhikr), dua
Category
What Is Halal
Notes / References
Food
– Meat from animals slaughtered in Allah’s name
Qur’an 2:172
Relationships
– Marriage between man and a woman
Qur’an 30:21, 17:23
Money
– Earning through honest work
Qur’an 2:275, 4:29
Behavior
– Truthfulness
Qur’an 16:90, 24:30-31
Clothing
– Modest dress
Qur’an 7:26, Bukhari
Entertainment
– Halal nasheeds or non-explicit music (disputed)
Varies by scholar
Worship
– Daily prayers (salat)
Qur’an 2:3, 2:183