Q:

Is it shirk to watch showsand read stories showing bowing and prostration?

Aslamulakium. I wanted to ask if it is shirk to read stories or watch shows that show people bowing or postrating to each other in a form of greeting or apology. I sometimes read stories which take place in cultures that have people bowing and portraying towards each other as an greeting or apology. I an knowledgable enough to know that this is shirk for a Muslim to do so I am not influenced by it at all. I even say it is wrong out loud. I was reading a story that has a boy forced to apologise to another boy by going in the ground infromt of him by a bully. Like a prostrsting pose. But it was just him being forced to apologise not worship. I would always skip that chapter of the story. But now I am worried I may have committed shirk. I do not apporve of the actions at all. I wanted to ask if it is permissible for me to read stories like this as I am knowledgable and mature enough to know it is not right. I always skip that chapter of the story. And again I did not approve of it. But is it permissible for me to read such stories as long as I skip these parts and not let it influence me? Thank you.

A:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Mercy-Giving.

All praise is due to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon His Prophet Muhammad.

In principle, it is permissible to read stories, if they are free from haram (prohibited) content, such as sexuality, immorality, or idolatry. So, it is the content that decides whether such reading is permissible or not.

Regarding your question about this specific kind of stories, if such bowing or prostrating is only practiced as an expression of greeting or apology, then you may skip such parts and continue reading as long as you are knowledgeable enough and on guard of your belief.

Still, a Muslim should not waste time. Time is life. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) tells us that many people devaluate and depreciate the blessing of time. He said that there are two blessings which many people waste carelessly: Good health and free time [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. He also exhorted us to “Take advantage of five conditions before other five conditions: your youth before your  old aged, your health before your sickness; your richness before your poverty, your free time before you become busy, and your lifetime before your death.” [Al-Bayhaqi]

So, you are better advised to spend your time in reading useful books and watching useful contents that increase your knowledge and strengthen your faith.

Allah knows best.