Chatting with opposite gender in online games Fatwa No: 337630
- Fatwa Date:22-12-2016
Assalaamu alaykum. My name is Rama, and I am 13 years old. I have a question, and I would like to receive a personal answer and not be sent to article numbers to read because they do not suit the situation that I want answered. Now, I play this game, and, obviously, it has different genders. My question is, is it haram to chat and play with the opposite gender, keep in mind that I do not know anything about them and that they do not know anything about me. We have no connection in the real world. Would that be okay? Again, please, I want an upfront answer and not links to articles. Thank you.
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
The fact that the opposite gender does not know anything about you and you do not know anything about them in the real world does not justify talking and communicating with them in an un-Islamic manner through the Internet.
It is known that the Internet and similar means of indirect communication were and still are a means of corruption between the two sexes, and Islam prevents the means that lead to prohibitions and ensures protecting the Muslim from temptation and its causes. Allah says (what means): {O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing...} [Quran 24:21]
Finally, it should be noted that the time of a Muslim is very precious, so he should spend it in what benefits him in his religion and worldly matters. Ibn Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet said, “There are two blessings in which many people incur loss: health and free time.” [Al-Bukhari]
Allah knows best.