Video Game

A video game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a two- or three-dimensional video display device such as a TV screen, virtual reality headset or computer monitor. Since the 1980s, video games have become an increasingly important part of the entertainment industry, and whether they are also a form of art is a matter of dispute.

101073

Video Game

Is it allowed to make animated videos such as by taking a picture of a video game character and then adding your voice on them to make it look like they are speaking?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 4 years ago

Bismihi ta'ala

Yes, it would be allowed to do such a thing, as long as it does not entail anything that is haram, or illegal.

Haram as in the type of images, or background music, or language used, etc.

And Allah knows best.

96227

Masturbation . Sin . Husband . Wife . Video Game

Why is masturbation considered a major sin and what are the references for it? Are there any exceptions? Is it allowed between a husband and wife, who are prevented from being together by circumstances outside their control, privately over live video?

Seyed Ali Shobayri, Seyed Ali Shobayri is of mixed Iranian and Scottish descent who found the path of the Ahlul Bayt (a) by his own research. He holds a BA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University through the... Answered 5 years ago

Bismillah,

Asalamu Alaykom,

According to the narrations, masturbation is a sin and is compared to doing zina with oneself.

We have an example of when Imam Ali (as) had to discipline someone for doing so:

“Once a person was caught masturbating and was brought to Imam 'Ali. The Imam punished him by beating his hands until they turned red; then he made an arrangement for his marriage on government's expenses.

(Wasa'il, vol. 14, p. 267; vol. 18, pp. 574-5)”

Some non Muslim doctors and teachers may try to encourage such acts and say they are ‘healthy’ but such advice which contradicts the divine teachings is worthless.

Masturbation is usually associated with haram acts such as pornography and can turn into an unhealthy addiction which affects one both physically and psychologically.

A Muslim should try their upmost to have self control and dignity. Therefore, seeking marriage whether permanent or temporary is necessary to protect one’s private parts.

A husband or wife may mutually stimulate each other’s private parts; for example, the wife masturbating the husband and vice-versa. If they are away from each other then they cannot use their own hands for such an action until being together.

May Allah swt grant you success

98520

Music . Video Game . Sports

Is it permissible to play games with background music?

Bismihi ta'ala

It would all depend on what type of music it is, playing in the background of the game.

I'm sure you know that there is halal music, and there is haram music. Should the music be music that is commonly used for haram gatherings, or have explicit language, the you can play the game, but mute the sound.

Ultimately, you are the one who decides whether it is appropriate to listen to, or not, and your judgment should be based on your correct understanding of halal/haram music.

And Allah knows best.

79097

Sports . Video Game

Is it allowed to play certain online sports based video games that pay you the more time you spend on them and how well you play them?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 5 years ago

Playing online games can take long time and can waste your most important capital which is the moments of your life. Money given to you for playing should not be less that the value of your time which you put.

Time during which you do good things and achieve your life aims is more important than playing online for long periods.

Wassalam.

69121

Face . Video Game

If I play a game where the character's face is shown with detail will that make playing the game Haram?

Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb, Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb has a BA in Law from Guilan University, Iran and has also undertaken Hawzah studies in Qom. He used to be a Cultural Affairs director of Ethics Group of Al-Mustafa... Answer updated 5 years ago

Of course not!
Perhaps you are referring to a ruling about painting the picture of a living animal or human being, or making their statues which was forbidden before.
The criterion for this forbidding is that the Arabs, because of their closeness to the time of ignorance, although converted to Islam, had a heartfelt interest in idolatry and preserved their ancestors' works. The Prophet, therefore, strongly prohibited the making of faces and icons to eradicate disbelief and defended monotheism.

So we can conclude that playing those games is not Haram unless another thing comes up, say for example the characters are naked or...

61108

Video Game

I have given up on playing video games. Is it permissible to sell these games in my possession to get some of my money back? What if some of these games have some Haram content?

You can sell the games which have no sinful content, but games with sinful contents are not allowed to sell or even gift to others. Games with sinful contents must be destroyed to avoid harming others who might use it.

Wassalam.

59985

Movies . Shirk . Sports . God (Allah) . Video Game

Is watching movies or playing games allowed in which some characters call themselves god or are referred to as god? Is it considered Shirk when you don't actually believe it and watch or play just for entertainment?

No, it is not allowed to play or encourage such movies and games.
It can mislead lay people, and goes against the main fact of the existence which is Tawheed.

Wassalam.

54970

Video Game

I am a new Muslim and want to know that about playing fantasy genre video games. They have monsters and ghosts that players can fight. Is it allowed to play such games?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 6 years ago

In general, it is not forbidden to play video games, unless there is clear harm (for instance, destructive addiction) or clearly forbidden content (such as real pornography).

There may be some grey areas of fantasy video games which involve things that are against the ethos of Islam (such as violence, insufficient clothing, relationships outside of marriage, or polytheism), and these are areas where you have to use your own judgment and also consider how the game affects you.

However, in Islam, we are encouraged to make best use of our time, since we will all be accountable to Allah on the Day of Judgment with respect to how we used our time. So you have to weigh how beneficial playing games is to you and the people around you - is it helping you in other aspects of life, or would it be more useful for you to spend time on other things? This is especially relevant with respect to fantasy games since they require a large investment of time. If a person is neglecting their children because they are busy gaming, for instance, that's bad. Anyway, this is something that you have to answer for yourself.

As a side note (self-spam alert!), I wrote a short piece a few years ago about fantasy games and Islam that you might find interesting. It is called "A Muslim Reflection on [Joseph Laycock's] Dangerous Games: What the Moral Panic over Role-Playing Games Says about Play, Religion, and Imagined Worlds" and hangs out on my academia.edu profile page, if you are interested!