Are Video Games Haram?
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa
Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
Are
Video Games Haram?
What
is the authenticity of playing Video Games on latest gaming equipments?
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Answer:
Video Games
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask
for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever
He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there
is no one (no idol, no person, no grave,
no prophet, no imam, no dai,
nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Islam guides that the absolutely most expensive commodity
one has been blessed with and will be held accountable for is the ‘time’ one
has been allocated with in the short and transient life of this world as a test
and trial from their Lord.
Allah says in the Holy Quran in Chapter 67 Surah
Al Mulk verse 2:
He (Allah) created death and life that He may
test you, to see which of you is the
best in deeds.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 51 Surah
Dhariyat verse 56:
I have not created the jinn and men except for
this that they should worship Me alone.
The guidance of Islam encourages those who have professed
belief to utilize this allocated time in doing good wholesome deeds either for
oneself or for one’s fellow mankind; deeds which will profit oneself or others
spiritually, physically, materially, or even mentally so that one may further
strive towards success and salvation in the test period of this short and
transient life.
Islam absolutely discourages the believers from ‘wasting’
their precious and allocated time in doing useless and worthless deeds; deeds
which will bring absolutely no profit to themselves or others, either in this
world or the Hereafter! All such useless
and worthless deeds which bring absolutely no gain or benefit to one in this
world or the Hereafter, nor furthers one’s cause towards salvation and success
are prohibited for the believers who sincerely believe in Allah and the Last
Day.
Islam guides that just as a student in an exam utilizes
his time to make sure he scores the maximum he can in his results, the precious
time allocated by the Lord to each individual in the short and transitory life
of this world as a test must be ‘utilized’ to further one’s cause of existence
rather than ‘wasted’ on worthless deeds and acts.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 70 Surah
Mairaj verses 42-44:
Therefore,
leave them engrossed in their vain talk and play, until they encounter that Day of theirs which
they are being promised; when they shall
be rushing out of their graves as though they are racing towards the shrines of
their deities. Their eyes shall be
downcast and abasement shall be covering them.
That is the Day they are being promised.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anam verse 32:
This worldly life is but a sport and an
amusement. In fact, the abode of the
Hereafter is better for those who desire to be safe from harm. Will you not, then, use your common sense?
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 43 Surah Zukhruf verse 83:
Well, let
them remain absorbed in their falsehoods and sports, till they see that Day of theirs with which
they are being threatened.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verses 50-51:
(On the Day of Judgement) The inmates of Hell
will cry out to the people of
Beloved brother, the deen of Islam does allow some level
of amusement or entertainment which are good and wholesome like spending quality
time with family and friends, or some sport which benefits one physically,
etc.; but to ‘waste’ a commodity as precious and invaluable as time on useless
and worthless deeds which bring absolutely no benefit to oneself or others is
absolutely discouraged in Islam.
Thus even though useless and worthless games like chess,
backgammon, or games which involve dice are mentioned by name as discouraged
and prohibited; the truth is that all such acts which bring oneself or others
absolutely no benefit except ‘killing’ or ‘wasting’ time are discouraged in
Islam.
Yahya said that he heard Malik say,
"There is no good in chess, and he (the Messenger of Allah (saws))
disapproved of it." Yahya said,
"I heard the Prophet (saws) disapprove of playing it and other
worthless games. He recited this
ayat, 'What is there after the truth except going the wrong way.' " (Sura
l0 verse 32).
Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4920 Narrated by AbuMusa al-Ash'ari
The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “He who
plays backgammon disobeys Allah and His Messenger (saws).”
Yahya related from Malik from
Your
Question: What is the authenticity of playing Video Games on latest gaming
equipments?
The vast majority of the available ‘video games’ would
fall in the category of ‘worthless games’ where its indulgence would neither further
oneself spiritually, or morally, or materially, or even physically, but it
would constitute a clear wastage of the absolutely invaluable commodity of
‘time’ bestowed upon each individual by the Lord Most High. In our humble opinion it would be best for
the believers who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day, and realize the value
of ‘investing’ their allotted time rather than ‘wasting’ it, to abstain from
such worthless an indulgence as playing video games. And Allah Alone Knows Best.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to
Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
Wister