Playing video games that have mythical creatures

1-8-2011 | IslamWeb

Question:

assalamu alaykum i heard in a certain fatwa that we Muslims are not allowed to draw Mythical creatures. but i heard also in a fatwa that we are allowed to draw Animate things if it teaches islam etc 1.so my question is can we use mythical creatures to educate children? 2.can children play with games that have mythical creatures? 3. can we play Games for entertainment? Saalamu alaykum

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

We have previously clarified in Fatwa 92456 the ruling on drawing the living beings in general, and the mythical creatures which do not exist in reality in particular.

We have also previously clarified in Fatwa 90027 that there is a concession regarding drawing children’s cartoons for educational purposes, if there is a dire need for that, provided that this need should not go beyond them to those who are older than them.

Also, there is no harm on adults to play electronic games which include no violations, provided that the Sharee‘ah conditions should be met when playing them. Those conditions were mentioned in Fataawa 86146 and 91906.

However, it is more appropriate for the adults to refrain from wasting their time; rather they should invest it in what benefits them in this world and in the Hereafter. It is narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “There are two favors, which many people waste: health and spare time.” [Al-Bukhari]

Allaah Knows best.