Is My Salah Not Accepted If I Play a Game with Alcohol in It?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
If I watch or read a book/movie, or tv show with characters that predict the future, is my salah not accepted for forty days? The characters predict the future in the show/movie/book, but I don’t believe in it. I watch and read for entertainment. I asked this question, but the link sent to me wasn’t helpful.
Also, if I play a game with alcohol in the game (I am playing a house-draining game and all three designing options and a bottle of alcohol), is my salah not accepted for forty days?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
Watching a TV Show or Reading Books that Predict Future
If one watches a TV show or reads a book that shows and predicts the future, although one does not believe in them, it can lead to believing in them and accepting and relying on them. So one should avoid reading and watching TV, movies, and entertainment haram or disliked due to its contents.
Hafsa bint ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever goes to a soothsayer, asks him about something and believes him, his prayers will not be accepted for forty days.” [Muslim]
Playing Video Games with Alcohol Inside It
Playing a video game with alcohol inside will have no consequence in one’s prayer. In reality, one is not physically drinking or having anything to do with it; it is only a virtual game. The following hadith will not apply to his prayers.
Abdullah ibn Umar ((Allah be pleased with him) reported the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever drinks wine, Allah will not accept his prayer for forty mornings, but if he repents, Allah will accept his repentance. If he does it again, Allah will not accept his prayer for forty mornings, but if he repents, Allah will accept his repentance. If he does it again, Allah will not accept his prayer for forty mornings, but if he repents, Allah will accept his repentance. If he does it again a fourth time, Allah will not accept his prayer for forty mornings, and if he repents, Allah will not accept his repentance. He will drink from a river of pus in Hell.” [Tirmidhi]
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I pray this helps with your question.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.
He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.
He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.
He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.
