On Games, Hobbies and Entertainment
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ
The widespread popularity of video games, cartoons and sports have reached to such a point that it is a general problem concerning every household. In fact, despite the enormity of such a problem, there is little attention given to it especially in today’s age.
Ustādh AbdulAziz al-Haqqān حفظه الله has addressed many issues related to the topic of games, hobbies and entertainment whilst referring back to his scholars in Kuwait to ensure we understand the boundaries between permissible leisure and prohibited activities. This post is a compilation of such questions and answers asked to him. Finally, I have condensed some parts of the ustādh’s discussion whilst keeping the overall meaning intact for brevity. Likewise, I have added small snippets of text whilst staying close the discussion to maintain readability. You can find the full discussions here and here. May Allāh ﷻ grant us understanding of His religion.
Q: What is the ruling on shooting games where one can ‘revive’ others, see others highlighted through walls and ‘respawn’ after dying?
“I do not think any of this means resurrection. What is meant is ‘respawn’ or ‘resuscitate’, so I do not see this to be meaning giving life to someone who has died. And Allāh knows best”
Q: Is it permissible to watch the NBA?
“Whatever it is, it is permissible to watch as long as there is not something that is haram in it. For example, music, awrah and uncovered women. Some [people] also may ask about music which is in the background without paying any attention to it. Alhamdulillāh we can use the remote to lower the volume to the point where the music is almost not there. The ʽulama have stated the difference between istimāʽ (استماع) and samaʽ (سمع) (i.e active listening and general hearing). Istimāʽ is intending to listen to the music, whereas samaʽ is essentially hearing music (for example, going to the doctor where there is background music being played) and there is no focus to it. Some people listen to music whilst singing along to it - this is haram. Do not sing, listen to it, nor pay attention to it.
So In Sha Allāh, if there is some music then you can lower it at the times where music is being played, and when there is no music then you can watch.
But what about if the awrah is showing? The people of ʽilm have stated that if awrah is shown, then do not watch it.”
Q: What is the ruling on watching clips of boxing and the UFC?
“The same thing as the previous question, [in this case] they are showing their awrah. I don’t know if there are boxing matches or UFC matches where awrah is not shown and there are no women. But I do believe there is no music, right? Because nowadays SubhanAllāh, when they want to advertise something they bring a woman in a bikini so that people watch. This is haram. In terms of watching a match - if the awrah is not showing, then you can watch. This is on the saying (based on what the people of ‘ilm have said) that the rukbah (knees) are part of the awrah”
Q: Could you provide details about magic in games? You mentioned that it is not real magic, but more like a weapon. Does this mean that the hukm (ruling) is permissible or just not as grave as [real] magic?
“So many games nowadays, especially RPGs and other genres are regarding this. You choose between warrior, hunter, magician, priest and sometimes even a warrior with a cross on him and so on. The game does not have anything else that is haram. [Regarding] the music - I advise everyone to go to options and mute it. As for the priest, do not play as a priest. Anything religious - stay away from it. If there is glorification of the cross, then this is haram.
There is a game (and Allah knows best) where you have to use the cross to fight ghosts. This is forbidden as it is glorification of the cross. [However] if [the cross] is in the background then move on in the game without having to deal with it and this is not haram In Sha Allāh.
As for magic [such as playing as a mage, wizard, sorcerer], then what type of magic is this? He raises his hand and fire comes out, or he raises his hand and frost comes out, or electricity. This is not [real] magic. Similarly spiderman shoots out webs from his fingers, or you have Hulk or Wolverine, this is not magic. They call them mutations, not magic. [Examples of] magic in a game is when you are told to sacrifice to the devil, or sacrifice to the grave, or to pray to the statue or worship the devil. This is [real] sorcery. For example, when you play a game there is a soothsayer who tells the future, then this is haram and you should throw the game away.
In Islam, the asl regarding al-lahw is that it is permissible unless we have evidence that it is haram. If there is magic that is similar to sorcery in real-life, then this is what is haram.
We have some of the brothers asking the mashaikh asking ‘what is the ruling on magic in games?’. Do you think the mashaikh know what games are? I asked Shaykh Muhammad Hisham at-Tahiri about games and he answered generally, saying ‘if the games develop strategy or [strengthen] mental faculties (such as board games and card games) then it is allowed unless there is something haram’. If you tell a shaykh that there is sorcery in the game, then he would think about real magic [i.e getting closer to the Shaytan, having to defile Islam etc]. However, if you describe to the shaykh a character shoots lazer from his eyes, then this changes things.
I remember I asked Shaykh Ahmad Mansour about this who said it [the ruling] changes when asked about [these kinds of] magic, where