Fatwa ID: 05493

Answered by: Maulana Mohammed Dilwar Hussain

Question:

I installed a hacked version of a game that includes the full game, I only played the part available in the demo (free version which is available to everyone) and stopped before reaching the paid part which was hacked to be played for free, do I have to pay the creator back?

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

Answer:

First of all, it should be understood that the playing of games is something that is not promoted in Islam. The reason for this is as follows,

“And from among the people, there is he who buys the distracting amusement of things, so that he, being devoid of knowledge, may mislead (people) from the Way of Allah and make a mockery of it. Such people are the ones for whom there is a disgraceful punishment.” [Surah Luqman, 31;6]

Any activity which takes us away from the path of Allah Ta’ālā or distracts us from His worship would be considered impermissible. Games have this effect. They are of no sound benefit, neither educational nor otherwise. They bring about no benefit and squander time that could have otherwise been spent in more beneficial areas. There is always impermissible music and images being listened to or viewed.

Cheating, trickery and deceit are strictly forbidden in Islam. The Prophet ﷺ has mentioned on numerous occasions, “Whoever cheats us is not from among us” [Sunan Ibn Majah; Hadith 2225, Sahih Bukhari; Hadith 2117, Sunan Tirmizi; Hadith 4307]

Thus, the playing of the full version of this game or otherwise would be deemed impermissible for the reasons mentioned above.

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Mohammed Dilwar Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham