Is It Haram to Win or Lose Digital Currency in a Game That Can Only Be Used for In-Game Items?

Answered by Ustadh Sufyan Qufi

Question

Is it haram to win or lose digital currency in a game that can only be used for in-game items, where no real money is involved, and players don’t pay to get the currency?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

I pray this finds you in the best of states.

Virtual money used in a virtual game to buy virtual items without any real money invested is merely a game, and playing games, if free of impermissible matters, is allowed in Islamic law. [Ghazali, ’Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din]

Please see: Are Video Games Haram?

And Allah knows best.
Wassalam
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Ustadh Sufyan Qufi is an advanced seeker of knowledge, originally from Algeria, who grew up in France. He began searching far and wide for answers to the fundamental questions of life and was disappointed at the answers he found. Then he connected with various traditional teachers and gradually connected with SeekersGuidance. He embarked on his journey of learning through the various teachers at SeekersGuidance, including his mentor Shaykh Faraz Rabbani. He studied numerous texts in Islamic Law, Theology, Hadith, and other areas with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani and other teachers, including Shaykh Abdurrahman al-Sha‘ar, Shaykh Ali Hani, and others. He is an active instructor at SeekersGuidance and answers questions through the SeekersGuidance Answers Service.