What is the Ruling of Video Games Showing Violence in Self-Defense and Justice?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I have examined all of your answers on video games, whether it is impermissible or permissible, and that it depends on violence, nudity, and other indecent elements.
My question is whether it is only limited to games that “glorify” violence. What about the games that show violence but in self-defense or justice, for example, the game Ghost of Tsushima, when someone is old enough to withstand it? Also, imagine if a game has very little to almost no nudity and has deep moral and great storytelling but contains violence in self-defense or similar, would it still be impermissible since the material is primarily lawful?
Also, could you bring out the evidence for this prohibition so I can examine it and make my own judgment?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
Video games consist of violence, even if one plays it for self-defense and justice is the same. A growing body of evidence, however, shows that video gaming can affect the brain and, furthermore, cause changes in many regions of the brain. This leads us to the Islamic principle when the lawful and unlawful are mixed, the unlawful dominates. [Ali al-Nadwi, al-Qawa‘id al-Fiqhiyya]
A Believer Has a Mission
A believer has a mission. He knows where he is and knows where he wants to go. This colors everything he does and all the decisions he makes. This world means everything in this life that does not help fulfill our mission. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “The wise is he who takes himself to task and works for that which is after death.” [Tirmidhi; Ibn Majah]
One of the ways one trains himself to be cautious of Allah Most High all the time is by taking the most cautious moves and actions at times of doubt.
Please go through the links provided below:
- This Is Your Child’s Brain on Video Games | Psychology Today
- The Playing Brain. The Impact of Video Games on Cognition and Behavior in Pediatric Age at the Time of Lockdown: A Systematic Review – PMC
- How Do Video Games Affect Brain Development in Children and Teens?
- Violent video games can increase aggression
- Violent Video Games Lead to Harmful Brain Changes
- Devil’s Tricks – The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained. [Video]
- A Reader on OCD and Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings)
- The Application of Islamic Psychotherapy for the Treatment of OCD. [Video]
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?
I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught 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 the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
