Exploring the balance between recreational activities and Shariah principles amidst rising virtual entertainment trends
In an age where immersive virtual worlds have become an integral part of daily life, Muslims must ask: Do our online pastimes honour the principles of Shariah? As Islam is a religion that is apt for all time, it engages with all the activities that arise in every era. Now, we are in an online era—an era of the Internet, social media, online games, etc. The social era makes relationships more social; however, unfortunately, our relationships have become narrowed through social media. Games and sporting activities, which were once social and inclusive, have increasingly shifted indoors, becoming more isolating. This shift has contributed to the rise of a more introverted society, potentially hindering social development and communal engagement.
Several Indian states, including Assam, Sikkim, Nagaland, Odisha, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, have banned Dream11 and similar fantasy sports platforms. These bans are primarily due to concerns that such platforms involve elements of gambling, which are prohibited under their respective state laws.
The Rise of Online Gaming and Its Addictive Impact
The World Health Organization officially classified online gaming disorder as a behavioural addiction in the 11th revision of the ICD-11 (2019). Just as substance addiction can undermine a person’s physical and psychological health, compulsive gaming can erode one’s financial stability, social bonds, and ultimately, spiritual well-being.
In Islam, play and recreation are permissible within the boundaries of Islamic law. However, certain types of games are considered haram (forbidden) due to their potential negative effects on an individual’s spiritual, moral, and social well-being. Addiction symptoms manifest both physically and psychologically. Physical addiction is related to the development of dependence on certain substances or activities after sudden discontinuation. Despite giving pleasure initially, consuming the substances or engaging in the activities will eventually create an urge to eliminate anxiety triggered by the discontinuation, resulting in compulsive behaviour.
Gambling: An Ethical and Social Menace
Islam prohibits gambling not solely due to its addictive nature but because it fundamentally opposes the values of honest labour and ethical wealth acquisition. The religion upholds the principle that wealth should be earned through genuine effort and not through games of chance or speculative fortune. This discourages dependency on uncertainty and promotes a just and balanced society where resources are fairly earned and distributed. Beyond individual behaviour, Islam’s disapproval of gambling also stems from its damaging impact on families and communities. Financial collapse, emotional strain, broken relationships, and the erosion of mutual trust are all seen as consequences that ripple through society—consequences that Islamic teachings seek to prevent in preserving social harmony and moral integrity.
The Prohibition of Maisir in Islamic Law
The games based on gambling are haram in Islam. Gambling is the wagering of money or something of value on an event with an uncertain outcome, with the primary intent of winning money or material goods. It is also known as betting. Allah says: “O believers! Intoxicants, gambling, idols, and drawing lots for decisions are all evil of Satan’s handiwork. So, avoid them so you may be successful” (Sura Al Maeda: 90). Prophet Muhammad (SAW) instructed his companions to stay away from such games. The games that had the element of gambling at the time of the Prophet were considered forbidden. The Quran explicitly condemns gambling alongside intoxicants as a “major sin” because both foster addiction and social harm: “O you who believe! Intoxicants, gambling, (sacrificing on) stone altars, and divining arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. So avoid them that you may be successful” (Quran 5:90).
Lawful Recreation as a Form of Worship
Islam is the complete and universal version of the primordial faith that was revealed to many prophets, from Adam (A) to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Islam enlightens one’s life with the right instructions and rules. It touches on every aspect of life and society, from birth to death. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya defines ibadah broadly as “all acts of obedience to Allah, whether verbal or physical, seen or unseen.” Recreational activities can attain the status of ibadah when performed with the right intention and within Shariah boundaries. Therefore, all entertainment activities or sports that do not fulfil the requirements of Sharia and are against the principles of Sharia are considered forbidden (Ibn Taymiyya, Majmu al Fatawa (Beirut: Dar Ṭawq, 1997), 23:418).
The Principle of Continuity: Offline to Online
A fundamental principle of fiqh al-taḥadduth (digital jurisprudence) holds that “what is prohibited offline remains prohibited online,” and “what is permissible offline remains permissible online.” Contemporary scholars agree that the medium (digital vs. physical) does not alter the ruling’s substance (Council of Senior Scholars, Digital Fiqh Statement on Online Transactions (KSA, 2021)).
The Permissibility of Online Games in Islamic Jurisprudence
Online games are growing rapidly nowadays, and it is difficult to identify the good and bad among them. Therefore, a Muslim should be more aware of them and should fulfil all requirements and obey all the rulings of Sharia. The permissibility of online or electronic games is the same as that of hadith concerning sports activities. Therefore, all online games that fulfil the recommendations and rules of Sharia are permissible in Islam. Rules such as not having elements of gambling, nudity, or promoting violence must be considered. Many online games promote violence, such as killing others in missions, conquering other things, seducing, and promoting nudity etc. All these games are prohibited in Islam.
Case Studies: Evaluating Popular Electronic Games
In the vibrant realm of electronic gaming, Muslims must navigate with spiritual vigilance, as many popular titles harbour elements conflicting with Islamic principles. Games like PUBG glorify violence, urging players to eliminate opponents through combat and looting—acts starkly opposed to the Quranic sanctity of life and peace. Similarly, the GTA series immerses users in morally corrosive environments, promoting nudity, hedonism, and even idolatry through its missions, all of which clash with Islamic modesty and monotheism. Gambling-centric platforms such as MPL, Packino, Video Poker, and Rummy entice players into financial risk and deception, violating Islam’s strict prohibition of maysir (gambling) that exploits chance and greed. Even seemingly innocent games like Ludo spark scholarly debate: while some equate its dice-based mechanics to the forbidden Nardasheer (a game of chance denounced by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)), others permit it as harmless recreation if stripped of monetary stakes. Together, these examples underscore a sacred duty for believers to scrutinise digital entertainment, aligning leisure with divine ethics, rejecting virtual worlds that normalise harm, indecency, or greed, and embracing pursuits that honour faith over fleeting thrills.
BCGame Casino openly promotes casino-style betting, complete with digital slot machines and high-stakes wagers, directly contravening the Quran’s clear condemnation of games of chance (5:90). Dream 11 and My11Circle, widely used fantasy sports platforms, involve creating virtual teams for monetary rewards based on real match outcomes. Despite claims of skill, their reliance on chance and financial stakes aligns them with maysir (gambling), which is prohibited in Islam.
Halal Alternatives: Faith-Centred Recreation
Islam encourages wholesome pastimes that nurture the body, mind, and soul. Consider:
- a) Qur’an & Arabic Learning Apps: Gamified interfaces for memorisation and recitation, with badges and leaderboards to motivate learners.
- b) Prophetic Sports: Archery, swimming, and horse riding are sports the Prophet (SAW) personally practised and endorsed (e.g., wrestling, swimming). (Al Bukhari, Sahih, Kitab al Jihad, 4:271).
- c) Family-Friendly Board Games (Non-Gambling): Chess, Scrabble, Carrom, as long as they involve no betting, encourage social bonding, and avoid immoral themes.
- d) Creative & Educational Workshops: Calligraphy, Islamic history quizzes, or science-based coding camps that combine education with recreation.
Conclusion
Sport activities help a person maintain their health. As Islam is a religion that deals with all aspects of life, it considers all sporting activities that fulfil the rulings of Sharia. While dealing with online games, all the rulings that should be considered offline are also to be obeyed online. In contrast, all the games that do not clash with the principles of Sharia and those that fulfil the rulings of Sharia are lawful in Islam and are sometimes considered as ibadah depending on their intentions. Games involving gambling, promoting violence or immorality, causing obsession, or featuring harmful content are considered haram. Ultimately, leisure in Islam is not merely about entertainment, but a conscious choice to engage in what uplifts the self and society while remaining within the bounds of faith.
The writer is an Assistant Professor in the University Institute of Legal Studies, Chandigarh University
Ajaz Afzal Lone
lo********@***il.com