As salamu alaykum,

 

Shokran for writing to us. You sound like a wonderful and pious Muslim as well as a scholar! How wonderful that you have such a desire for creativity and a thirst for adventure. You have so many interests it should not be hard to find things you enjoy reading which are also beneficial, While everything doesn’t have to be serious all the time, we do have to be careful what we feed our mind.

 

For example, comic books can be funny and entertaining. However we would want to stay away from ones which promote super aggression or are sexual in nature. It is not that we are going to suddenly change and imitate the comic book but after time it may put thoughts in one’s mind to possibly react differently. For example, if a comic book shows super hero’s fighting all the time or using curse words we may become used to that and it may seem natural to react that way.

 

One day, one may find that curse words or arguing -fighting seem natural. It is these things we want to avoid. Another example is romance novels. While they may be rated G and appear innocent enough, romance novels may increase our interest in being romanticized-or romancing someone. It may also increase our sexual desires and curiosity to explore. Depending on the novel-it may even lead to a curiosity about porn.

 

These are just a few examples of what to watch out for. Otherwise, I would kindly suggest that you make a list of your interests and research online good books to get to read. You can usually get a rating for these books as well. I also like to read (and relax) so I focus on my interests in nature and travel and get books on travel stories or experiences. I also love history so much of my collection contains interesting historical books. I also enjoy learning about Islam, so I have a huge collection of Islamic books too. One of my favorites is The Sealed Nectar.

 

Enjoy your books! Just choose carefully and ensure that what you are reading is beneficial in one way or another. If you are reading something and it feels like it’s haram, put it down and get a different book. Keeping your mind pure while seeking knowledge, information, relaxation or entertainment is the key towards true benefits. We wish you the best!