The Ruling on Video Games and the Affirmation of Allah’s Preservation of His Religion

The questioner:
Please, Dr. Ali. Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. And upon you be peace, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. Our father, the Shaykh, just as Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan, with these clear guidelines from which we have benefited greatly. We ask what we have benefited from the Shaykh’s knowledge, and we ask Allah, the Exalted, to prolong his life, to grant him health and well-being, and to make Islam and the Muslims benefit from him. My question relates to jurisprudence. This game that was mentioned, especially in Ramadan, we see it with many people asking about it, and it is the video game. So I wanted to know what the ruling of the Shari'ah is regarding this game. May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh:
The religion of Islam.

The presenter:
Yes. It is very, very good and a work. And knowledge. There is no play or game, as it is said. Yes. There is a field. For bringing joy to the Muslims. And there is an opportunity. For broadening the mind between a Muslim and his Muslim brother. And there is an opportunity.

The Shaykh:
For getting to know one another. For bonding. And for healing. And for harmony. Praise be to Allah. For the one who wants good. And wants salvation. And we want to reach Allah, the Exalted and Majestic. So there is no reaching Allah, the Exalted and Majestic.

The presenter:
And to Paradise. And to His pleasure.

The Shaykh:
Except through this great religion.

The presenter:
Which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) left us upon. And he instructed us

The Shaykh:
Until our coming day. Whoever meets Allah in this religion. Excellent and successful.

The presenter:
Success. Success.

The Shaykh:
And whoever Allah negates. In other than it. No religion remains. Did no religion remain. On the face of the earth. Except this religion. A valid religion. A pure religion. It is beloved. As Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, said. Indeed, We have sent down the Reminder. And We are its guardian. O Hajj, O Abu Baw. This religion, Allah has made its disbelievers disbelievers. And it is not possible. That it be lost. For Allah has guaranteed its preservation. Unlike the other religions. Which other religions? The other religions. For Allah entrusted their preservation. To. The rabbis and the monks. And they were lost. They lost them. Innovations and bid'ah (religious innovations) entered into them. Until they changed. And Allah has wisdom in that. In this religion came. A substitute for them. And sufficient. For the one who holds fast to it.

The presenter:
So no religion remains after this religion except the religion of Islam. Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. Those who were given the Scripture did not differ among themselves after knowledge had come to them. Allah, the Exalted, entrusted.

The Shaykh:
The preservation of the religion to the rabbis and the monks. They lost it. And this Islamic religion, Allah has guaranteed its preservation. And that is for the preservation of the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Which the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) brought. (Peace and blessings be upon him). Therefore. This Islam remained.

The presenter:
As it was revealed to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). No alteration reached it. Or addition or subtraction. And Allah has guaranteed its preservation. So its preservation was not delegated. To scholars or news or leaders. Rather, He, the Exalted and Majestic, guaranteed it. Therefore, this religion remained as it was revealed to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). We ask Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, to grant us holding fast to it and walking in its path, and that we meet Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, with it. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his Companions. May Allah reward you with good, Your Excellency, for this comprehensive answer. Your Excellency, these researchers, as His Highness mentioned, are participating in writing an encyclopedia on the history of Africa from the entry of Islam into it until the present time. And they address several topics and many axes covering aspects of history, specifically regarding Islamic history in these countries. And many of those who introduced Islam in some countries may have been on a methodology other than that of the people of the Sunnah and the community, from some of the bid'ah (religious innovations) such as the Sufis and others. So what do you guide the researchers, who are writing in this encyclopedia and dealing with such people? Do they mention their virtues? Do they mention, I mean, their role in the entry of Islam in these countries? What is the correct way to deal with innovators when writing history? Nana. Islamic history. Is only taken from its correct path. Which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) left us upon. And which Allah has preserved from alteration and change. And there is no path that leads to Allah. Except this religion. And the paths that contradict the Book and the Sunnah. Are all rejected. And it is not permissible to act upon them. And it is not permissible to spread them. Rather, it is obligatory to prevent them and warn against them and their people. There is no doubt that there are those who want to mess with biographies and want to introduce bid'ah (religious innovations), but how can they do so? Allah has guaranteed the preservation of this religion. The myths and bid'ah (religious innovations) and writings. Among my companions. And as for this religion, it is innocent. From everything that contradicts it. From what they innovated.

The Shaykh:
And what the people of misguidance innovate. Of bid'ah (religious innovations). And strange things. And it does not err among the Muslims. Who act by the Book of Allah. And the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). In the hadith or in the athar (report from a Companion or successor). . Except that it is spread. Like what a group innovated. Of bid'ah (religious innovations). Except that in the Qur'an. And the Sunnah. There is what clarifies its invalidity. And clarifies its misguidance. And the scholars of the Muslims. Are those who carry this religion. With a correct carrying as it was revealed, and they convey it. Therefore, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said. We follow you. Yes, you will be . The Book of Allah and its Sunnah. And praise be to Allah. The Book of Allah exists and is preserved by the preservation of Allah.

The presenter:
This?

The Shaykh:
And the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Is preserved by the efforts of the scholars of the Muslims. Who stood up. For its narration. And its spread.

The presenter:
Teaching the people.

The Shaykh:
Teaching the people it. All of this. Is what brings glad tidings. To the Muslims. Because they are on a straight. Path. And a long methodology. In which there is no doubt, and no other. It is obligatory for the Muslim to adhere to this path. And to walk upon it. And not to accept what contradicts it. From whoever brought it, whoever he is? For this religion. Is guaranteed by the preservation of Allah. And if one who wants to change it. Removes it. Allah removes it to those who preserve it. From the scholars of the Muslims. And from the rulers of the Muslims. Allah appoints for this religion those who preserve it and establish it.