Fatwa ID: 02947

Answered by:  Maulana Irfan Ali​

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

Is making money from Video games made by Ubisoft company halal or haram?

Answer:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Video games generally fall in the category of amusement and are thus detested and should be avoided. The perfection of a person’s faith and obedience is in his abstinence from that which is useless and brings forth no goodness. The playing of video games not only prevents a person from using time effectively but generally involves listening to vulgar language, viewing indecent material and is also responsible for serious social and psychological implications.

It will be impermissible to play any video game or earn money from which either:

A)   Brings forth no good in this world or the Hereafter,

B)   entails anything contrary to Islamic law,

C) Comprises more harm and evil than benefit and good,

D)  Or is simply undertaken for amusement purposes and is a hindrance from total servitude to Allah.

2) As far as video games are concerned, it is permissible to earn and play with the following conditions:

a)     The game should not have any animate pictures.

b)    It should not have music

c)    It should be free from any lewd or vulgar language.

d)   It should not promote immorality, decadence or evil.

e)    There should be some Shar῾ī benefit to the game. (Raddul Muhtar p.348 v.6)

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Irfan Ali

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham