”PUBG” game
Question:-
What is your view in regards to the ”PUBG” game?
Answer:-
”Pubg” game is a war game wherein up to a hundred players engage in battle at once, and obviously, just like any other war or fighting game every player tries his level best to survive until the very end, which declares him as the winner.
The game in question has been banned in a number of countries such India, China, Nepal and Iraq. India states that it is on the basis of security reasons that the game was banned. A 25 year old man in India, whilst playing the game, died of intracerebral haemorrhaging, which is ruptured blood vessels causing bleeding in the brain. The cause behind the haemorrhaging is attributed to the over-excitement created within a person whilst playing the game. There is also a recent report of a 16 year old boy dying after playing the game.
According to the internet, video games can cause continuous strain injuries, skin disorders and other health issues, including a condition that could be termed as “video game provoked seizures” in patients with pre-existing epilepsy.
This brings us to the conclusion that video games in general, and particularly action or fighting games, are harmful to the human body. The human being does not own himself; rather his body belongs to Almighty Allah. It is therefore not permissible for him to utilize this body against the pleasure of Allah Taála, hence suicide is Haraam, to cause harm or destroy any limb of the body is not permitted, nor is one permitted to sell any portion of his body. [Re:- Ilaaj Wa Mu’aalaja ke Shari’ee Ahkaam Pg.104]
Secondly, we are not fully aware of the nature of the game and its contents. However, majority of the video games played contain animate objects and music which are prohibited in the light of Quraan and Hadith. In some instances the enemies in the game are Muslims, and we are fighting against the Muslims to attain victory. A huge number of youngsters and adults are now addicted to these games and hours are spent in futility resulting in missing our Salaah for days on end. Huge amounts of money are spent in purchasing and downloading these games whilst millions of Muslims in the world are starving, many without sufficient clothing and proper homes to live in. Allah Ta’ala refers to such squanderers of wealth as brothers of Shaytaan in the Quraan Sharif.
How many of our youth have become inactive and lazy simply due to being addicted to these games. The attention span of our kids and youth has drastically diminished, as a result of which they are unable to perform well in school and Madrasah. When downloading these games from the internet they are invited to Haraam video sites and sometimes even porn sites. These are just some of the harms that we have listed above.
Based on the impermissible acts listed above, it will not be permissible to play such games. Rather engage in such sports that are encouraged in the Ahadith of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam which is constructive and for which we will be rewarded.
ALLAH TAÁLA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 11 Jumad-al-Ula 1443 / 16 December 2021