The Halalem Guide
Our mission, how we work, what we stand for, and the Islamic perspective we base our community criteria on.
A note of respect: The Islamic rulings on music and entertainment are genuinely debated among scholars. Halalem does not issue fatwas or claim religious authority. We are a community platform built to help people make informed choices. If you disagree with our approach, we fully respect your position.
✦ Our Mission
Halalem was born from a simple observation: when you open any mainstream entertainment platform, the first thing you see is content that may be inappropriate for Muslims or anyone seeking wholesome entertainment. There was no equivalent space that centered halal-friendliness.
We are not here to ban anything. We are here to inform. Our community collectively reviews movies, series, and music based on a set of Islamic-inspired criteria — sexual content, explicit language, glorification of haram acts, etc. — so that you can make your own informed decision.
Halalem is open source, non-profit, and ad-free. It is built by the community, for the community. No single person controls what is halal or haram here — the community votes, and the verdict reflects the collective wisdom of its members.
✦ How It Works
Submissions
Any registered user can submit a movie, series or song. It enters a pending state until reviewed by a moderator or admin.
Community Voting
Users can vote on specific halal criteria for each piece of content — for example, "no sexual scenes" or "no glorification of alcohol". Each criterion is voted on independently.
Ratings & Reviews
Users can rate content from 1 to 10 and leave a written review. Reviews are visible to everyone.
Mod Approval
Moderators and admins review submissions and set the official halal status: Halal, Haram, Disputed, or Pending.
AURA
Your AURA score reflects your contribution to the community. It grows through time, approved submissions, votes and reviews.
✦ Content Ratings Explained
We use standard industry ratings alongside our own halal status. Here is what each means:
General Audiences
Suitable for all ages. No mature content.
Parental Guidance
Some material may not be suitable for children.
Parents Strongly Cautioned
Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Restricted
Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Mature Audiences Only
This program is specifically designed to be viewed by adults. May be unsuitable for children under 17.
Parents Strongly Cautioned (TV)
Contains some material that many parents would find unsuitable for children under 14.
Parental Guidance Suggested (TV)
Contains material that parents may find unsuitable for younger children.
Our own halal status labels:
The community has determined this content meets halal criteria. Always verify for yourself.
The community is divided. Some criteria pass, some do not. Use your own judgment.
The community has determined this content contains clearly haram elements.
This content has been submitted but not yet reviewed by the community or moderators.
✦ Our Islamic Perspective
This section reflects the scholarly discussion we base our criteria on. We present multiple views honestly and do not declare one position as the final word.
On Music
The ruling on music is one of the most debated topics in Islamic jurisprudence. There is no single unanimous consensus (ijma') among scholars across all times and places. Two main positions exist:
Position 1 — Music is Haram
The majority of classical scholars including the four main madhabs (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) held that musical instruments are prohibited. They cite Quranic verses and hadith as evidence.
Position 2 — Depends on Content
Some contemporary scholars and a minority of classical scholars held that music is permissible as long as it does not lead to sin, does not contain haram content, and does not distract from worship.
Quranic Evidence Cited
"And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks to mislead men from the path of Allah…"
Surah Luqman, 31:6
Ibn Abbas and Ibn Mas'ud interpreted "idle talks" (lahw al-hadith) as referring to singing. However, other scholars say it refers broadly to any speech that distracts from Allah, not specifically music.
"And befool them gradually those whom you can among them with your voice…"
Surah Al-Isra, 17:64
Mujahid interpreted "your voice" as the voice of Iblis — meaning singing and falsehood. Ibn al-Qayyim extended this to musical instruments. Others say the verse refers broadly to anything that leads to disobedience of Allah.
Hadith Evidence Cited
"Among my ummah there will certainly be people who permit zina, silk, alcohol and musical instruments…"
Narrated by al-Bukhari (ta'liqan), Sahih
Used as evidence that musical instruments are haram by those who permit them being specifically listed alongside clearly haram things. Critics of this interpretation note the word "permit" implies they were debated.
📌 Halalem's position
We do not declare music categorically haram or halal. Our criteria focus on content: does the song glorify shirk, zina, alcohol, violence, or other clearly haram things? Does it distract believers from their faith? If not, many scholars would consider it permissible. The community votes on these specific criteria — not on music as a whole.
On Movies & Series
There is broader agreement among scholars that watching movies and series is permissible in principle, but becomes haram when the content itself is haram. The content is what is judged, not the medium.
Our criteria for movies and series check for:
- Sexual scenes or nudity
- Gratuitous graphic violence
- Blasphemous content
- Promotion of haram lifestyles
- Content that mocks Islamic values
A movie may have a high IMDB rating and an R rating and still pass many of our halal criteria — for example, a war film that is intense but contains no sexual content may be perfectly fine for many Muslim viewers. The community decides together.
✦ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Halalem a religious authority?
No. We are a community platform, not a fatwa council. Nothing on Halalem constitutes a religious ruling. Always consult a qualified scholar for definitive guidance on Islamic rulings.
Who decides if something is halal?
The community does — through votes on specific criteria. Moderators and admins set the final official status. No single person has unilateral control over verdicts.
Can I disagree with a community verdict?
Absolutely. Community verdicts reflect the majority opinion of participating users. You may always form your own conclusion. We encourage informed personal judgment.
Why is content I submitted still pending?
Submissions are reviewed by moderators before getting an official status. This may take a few days depending on moderator availability. You can help by casting your own votes in the meantime.
Can I submit content that is haram?
Yes — the platform lists all content including haram-rated content, so users know what to avoid. Knowing something is haram is useful information too.
What if I think a verdict is wrong?
Cast your vote, leave a review explaining your reasoning, and discuss it with the community. You can also flag content for moderator review.
Is Halalem only for Muslims?
No. Anyone looking for family-friendly, clean, or ethically screened entertainment is welcome. Our criteria happen to be Islam-inspired, but the platform is open to all.
How do I earn AURA?
AURA grows passively over time and actively through contributions: submitting content, writing reviews, casting halal votes, and having your submissions approved. See your profile for a full breakdown.
Halalem is built with love for a community that deserves better tools. If you have questions, suggestions, or want to contribute, visit our support page or open an issue on GitHub.
وَمَا تَوْفِيقِي إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ — And my success is only through Allah.