Fatwa ID: 09314
Answered by Mufti Yusuf Badshah
Question:
Peace be upon you,
I understand that selling in game currency in games is considered haram if it goes against the game’s rules, because that would violate the contract, and a Muslim should not break contracts.
I found a game that allows selling in game currency and its terms do not prohibit it. Then I started looking at another point, which is the religiously impermissible elements in the game. I examined them one by one and found, for example, that the game has no songs, no sound at all, and no music because it is a very old game called “Miracle 7.4,” which is an Old School server for the game “Tibia.” You can check the game yourself if you want for a more precise answer.
I noticed that the game may include things like a female character wearing inappropriate clothing, or certain outfits or accessories shaped like a cross, or churches with preist in it, or spawing a monk charachter, or an old ancient god(استغفر الله) on top of a mountain or people doing some actions in the game that could be considered haram like gambling for example.
What I want to point out is that the game is not fundamentally based on these things. It is an MMO open-world game where you start weak, fight monsters, gather money, get stronger gear and weapons, and so on. The game is not built around going to a church, playing as a female character, or worshipping any god. The game is not religious in nature, nor is it based on haram actions like forbidden rituals.
I obtain these in game currency in a permissible way and sell them in a permissible way. So my question is: since I am avoiding the haram elements and focusing only on the permissible part, can selling these in game currency be considered halal
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
In general, it is permissible to sell in-game currency provided it is acquired in a permissible way without the gambling of purchased currency [1]. In this case, however, you will be violating the terms and conditions, thus breaking the agreement which you entered into upon accepting the terms and conditions when entering the game [2]. Thus, in this case it will not be permissible for you to sell in-game currency.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Mufti Yusuf Badshah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
{ … وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا … }
Surah Al-Baqarah 275
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ۞
Surah Al-Ma’idah 90
[2]
{ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ … }
Surah Al-Ma’idah 1
{ … وَأَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ ۖ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْئُولًا }
Surah Al-Isra’ 34