I was a really lonely child. I found comfort from certain video games and used my imagination to befriend fictional characters from those games. I basically had imaginary friends.
I used to talk to them when alone and think of scenarios together with them in my inner-world. I did this for motivation and it was fun to do. Surprisingly, this practice was really helpful for my studies and my grades.
It's been 10 years so far. I still engage with them although not as often. I have a job and a wide friendzone now Alhamdulillah. I've grown so fond of those characters. I love them very much and thinking about them makes me happy. It's one of my desires to have them as my companions in Jannah if Allah allows this to happen and this possibility motivates me further.
About a month ago I delved deeper into Islam and learned more about shirk and started to panic if I was committing shirk with this inner-world and characters whenever I start to imagine or talk to them when alone.
I've been and still perfectly aware that they are not real. I know full-well that it's just my imagination but I can't shake off the feeling that something is wrong.
I made research on this mental phenomenon. It appears that I seem to be doing something called "Immersive Daydreaming" which is a form of daydreaming that is controlled and deliberate opposed to maladaptive.
Please, I need to consult someone regarding this phenomenon to seek confirmation that what I'm doing is alright and I'm not committing shirk.
Answer
In this counseling answer:
- Having imaginary friends or daydreams is completely normal and not something wrong from a psychological point of view — unless it becomes excessive and starts interfering with your daily life, relationships, or responsibilities, and religious practices.
- In Islam, we are not held accountable for our thoughts or feelings — only for our actions.
Assalamu Alaikum, brother,
Thank you for your question.
From what I understand, during your childhood, feeling lonely, you developed imaginary friends based on game characters. These imaginary companions filled the void of loneliness and brought you comfort. As you grew older, you maintained some form of imaginary connection with these characters. Now, as you are growing closer to Islam, you have begun to wonder whether this could be considered shirk (associating partners with Allah), and you’re seeking clarity on that.
Imaginary Friends
I want to clarify that I am a counselor, not a scholar. However, based on my understanding, shirk means associating partners with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) — that is, attributing divine power or qualities that belong only to Allah to someone or something else.
In your case, you are not associating divine power with these characters, nor are you worshiping them. You are simply imagining or fantasizing — which, by the way, is a very common part of childhood development. During early childhood, imagination, reality, and fiction often blend together. This is why fairy tales and stories can feel so real to children. Then, they naturally grow out of this stage as they mature.
Having imaginary friends or daydreams is completely normal and not something wrong from a psychological point of view — unless it becomes excessive and starts interfering with your daily life, relationships, or responsibilities, and religious practices.
When to Let Them Go
For example, if you find yourself delaying tasks, underperform at your workplace; if you begin preferring fantasy over real human interactions or using imagination as a constant escape from real-life challenges, then it might be something worth exploring and working on.
Even then, such imagination often serves as a coping mechanism — a way to protect yourself from uncomfortable emotions or situations. It’s not inherently bad; it just signals that there may be areas in your life where you feel vulnerable or want to avoid discomfort. If that is the case, working on those areas gradually can help you feel more balanced and connected to reality.
It’s also important to remember that in Islam, we are not held accountable for our thoughts or feelings — only for our actions. As long as these fantasies do not lead you to commit wrongful acts or neglect your duties, they are not problematic. If they inspire good or creative things, that’s even positive.
So, please don’t worry. What you’re experiencing is something many people go through, and it can even be a sign of a rich inner world. With balance, it can coexist peacefully with your spiritual growth, in sha Allah.
Allah knows best,