Is it haram to make prank videos?

It depends on the prank. Light, harmless fun where everyone laughs together, nobody is lied to in a hurtful way and nobody is scared or humiliated, is generally fine. Pranks that frighten people, humiliate them, involve lying for laughs or are filmed without consent are haram.

Islam allows fun

The Prophet ﷺ smiled, joked and played with his family and Companions, but his jokes were always true and kind. Humour is part of a healthy life. See Is it haram to tell jokes? So a funny video isn't a problem by itself. The question is what the prank does to the person on the other end.

Scaring people is forbidden

Some Companions once took a sleeping man's rope as a joke, and he woke up frightened. The Prophet ﷺ said, "It is not permissible for a Muslim to frighten another Muslim" (Sunan Abi Dawud 5004). Fake robberies, jump scares on strangers, fake car crashes or "your house is on fire" calls all fall under this. Scholars apply the same principle to non-Muslims too: causing someone panic is harm, whatever their faith.

Lying and mocking for views

The Prophet ﷺ warned, "Woe to the one who speaks and lies to make people laugh" (Sunan Abi Dawud 4990). Many prank videos rely on lying: fake breakups, fake pregnancy announcements, fake bad news to a parent. And many rely on making someone look stupid. Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونُوا۟ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ "O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule another people; perhaps they may be better than them." Quran 49:11

Consent and privacy

Filming strangers in shops or on the street and posting their reaction without asking can expose them to millions of people. It can also break privacy laws in the UK, EU and many US states. At the very least, ask permission before posting, and delete the clip if the person says no.

Halal ideas that still work

"Reverse pranks": surprising someone with a gift, flowers or a paid bill.
Silly, obvious tricks with friends who are in on the joke.
Comedy skits where everyone is acting.

If you're building a channel, these keep your content clean and easier to monetise. See Can I make TikTok videos as a Muslim? and Can I make money from YouTube ads as a Muslim?

Key points

Harmless, mutual fun is fine in Islam.
Frightening people is not allowed (Sunan Abi Dawud 5004).
Lying to make people laugh and mocking others are sins (Sunan Abi Dawud 4990, Quran 49:11).
Get consent before posting anyone's reaction.

Tip: Before you post, ask yourself: "Would I laugh if this were done to my mum?" If the answer is no, skip it.