Assalaamu alaykum. What is the ruling on playing computer games or watching cartoons with female characters in the story? These are not scantily clad, but their hair is showing. Do the cartoon characters fall under the same ruling of lowering your gaze in real life?

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.

Some scholars favored the view that such images do not take the ruling of images of real persons, so they permitted looking at them.

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said:

“With regard to cartoon images that you mentioned are shown on television, if they are in the shape of a human, then the ruling of looking at them has to be looked at. Are they like a real image or not? The closest opinion to the truth is that they do not look like them (real images). And if they do not have a human shape, then there is nothing wrong with looking at them as long as they are not accompanied by an evil, such as music or the like, and provided that they do not distract one from performing an obligatory act of worship.”

As for playing such games, although it is permissible in principle if the Islamic conditions are met, then it is more appropriate for a Muslim to spend his time in what benefits him and his nation. Time is a blessing.

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-Bukhaari]

A person who has high aspirations is not pleased with what is debased and inferior. Sahl ibn Sa’d As-Saa’idi, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet said, “Allah loves sublime matters and dislikes debased matters.” [At-Tabaraani]

Allah knows best.