What Is Haram in the Islamic Faith?

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Learn which activities and foods Muslims should generally avoid

Co-authored by Belal Elkadri and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: June 5, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Haram Definition in Islam
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• Haram Food & Beverages
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• Haram Lifestyle Choices
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• Haram Relationships
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• Video
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• Tips

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“Haram” (حَرَام) means “forbidden” in Arabic, and is a very important concept within the Muslim faith as well as in countries that follow Islamic law (like Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, etc.). In Islam, “haram” refers to forbidden acts that have the potential to cause harm, while “halal” refers to acts that are allowed and unharmful. We’ll take a closer look at this element of Islam, so you can better understand this sacred aspect of the Muslim faith.

Disclaimer: This article is meant to be an overview of what is and isn’t haram, but it shouldn’t be treated as a comprehensive list. Some believers may have different interpretations of what is and isn’t haram.

Haram in Islam: Understanding the Basics

Islamic educator Belal Elkadri says that "haram" refers to anything that is taboo or forbidden in the Muslim faith. That includes things like eating pork, slandering another person, or being disrespectful to your parents. If you do something haram as a Muslim, it's important to repent and ask for God's forgiveness.

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Section 1 of 4:

Haram Definition in Islam

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   “Haram” is anything considered forbidden within the Muslim faith. The concept of haram applies to any number of things in a Muslim’s daily life, from what they can eat and drink to what they can watch and what they can say. Ultimately, the sole authority on what is and isn’t haram is Allah, the singular God and divine authority of the Muslim faith.
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   “Halal” is anything that’s safe and allowed within the Muslim faith. This term is often associated with different foods and beverages. While halal can most certainly apply to what a Muslim eats or drinks, it covers a much wider scope of practices when it comes to a Muslim’s daily life.
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Section 2 of 4:

Haram Food & Beverages

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   Alcohol Drinking beer, wine, or alcohol of any type is considered haram. The Quran directly condemns alcohol since it impacts a person’s frame of mind.

   • Alcohol is only halal in food if it’s completely cooked out of the dish.
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   Specific meats Meats that don’t qualify as haram need to be blessed properly in order to be halal. According to the Quran, Muslims aren’t allowed to eat:

   • Pigs and boars (or any swine)
   • Animals that eat other animals
   • Poisonous fish
   • Cuts of meat that still contain blood
   • Amphibians
   • Hawks (or any birds of prey)
   • Bugs
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   Intentionally skipping Ramadan fasts Practicing Ramadan is a sacred and essential part of practicing the Muslim faith. If you skip a fast without having a proper excuse (e.g., being elderly, being pregnant, etc.), your actions are considered haram.
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Section 3 of 4:

Haram Lifestyle Choices

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   Doing drugs Like alcohol, doing any type of drug impacts your ability to think clearly. An exception to this is a product like CBD, which doesn’t have any psychoactive (mind-altering) effects.
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   Gambling Gambling is denounced in the Quran and is considered haram due to the many negative effects it can have on a person’s life, like:

   • Tearing apart families
   • Hindering a follower’s reliance on Allah
   • Encouraging deviant behavior
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   Getting tattoos Getting any kind of tattoo is seen as haram, since it involves adjusting and changing the human body, which is a creation of Allah.
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   Gossiping Although gossip can seem like a casual, daily occurrence, it qualifies as a serious faith within Islam. The Muslim faith acknowledges how gossip can be very hurtful to other people, and how some people downplay the severity of it.
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   Idolizing others It’s considered haram to put anyone or anything on a pedestal above Allah.
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   Lying Lying is viewed as haram within Islam in most cases. The Quran speaks out against lying and explains how lying can contribute to an immoral and unholy life.
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   Masturbating and watching porn Purity and chastity are important virtues in the Muslim faith, so masturbation is considered haram for both men and women. Similarly, watching pornography for any reason is viewed as haram, and is an act that requires repentance.
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   Smoking Smoking is well-established to be bad for the human body and is associated with risks like cancer, COPD, heart disease, and more. Islam condemns any action that inflicts harm on others, including yourself. When one buys cigarettes or tobacco products, they’re ultimately purchasing something that has the potential to hurt themselves (while squandering money that could’ve gone to a better cause).
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   Stealing Theft is viewed as haram in Islam, and is discussed in-depth within the Quran. The holy text even outlines the proper punishment for someone found guilty of theft, and what processes should be taken depending on the circumstances.
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    Wearing certain clothes In the Islamic faith, men cannot wear clothing made from translucent materials, or clothing that’s similar to what non-practicing Muslims wear. Women are expected to wear non-translucent garments that conceal all of their body and aren’t especially decorative.

    • Men and women are not allowed to cross-dress in the Muslim faith, either.
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Section 4 of 4:

Haram Relationships

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   Adultery Cheating on one’s spouse is extremely taboo in Islam, and is explicitly forbidden within the Quran. In the Muslim faith the act of adultery is viewed as haram, as well as any actions or steps that a person takes prior to physically cheating on their spouse.

   • Adultery is considered “zina” within Islam. Zina literally translates to “immorality,” and is associated with inappropriate sexual acts.
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   Premarital sex Getting intimate with a partner before legal marriage is considered to be haram, and is highly frowned upon within the Muslim faith. Marriage is a very important aspect of Islamic faith, so any intimacy before marriage isn’t allowed.
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   Women marrying non-Muslim men In the Islamic faith, it’s considered haram for a Muslim woman to marry a man who practices a religion that isn’t Islam. Men, however, can marry women who don’t identify as Muslim (though they’re encouraged to convert their wife to Islam) so long as they’re a member of another Abrahamic religion (Judaism, Christinaity).
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• While some members of the Muslim faith find queer relationships to be haram, it’s impossible to make a blanket statement for all practitioners. Some scholars are taking a closer look at Islamic doctrines and seeing if Islamic rhetoric is truly at odds with the queer community.
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