Fatwa #4642529 October 2020Pakistan
Clarification on Fatwa regarding PUBG
Question
As Salaamualaikum
Dear Mufti Saab.
Trust Mufti Saab is keeping well. I have recently read your Fatwa on the game PUBG.
I'm not a gamer and have no interest in games. I am married.
This year after Ramadaan I had downloaded the PUBG mobile lite game as well as the normal PUBG.
The normal PUBG game has a version were in one of the modes you can worship an idol and after doing so you get certain unique items which assist you when playing the game.
To my knowledge the pubg mobile lite version has nothing like mentioned above. It's basically you team up with other gamers and kill other teams the last surving team is the winner.
I had played the normal pubg game maybe about twice at most 5 times. However I am 100% sure I had never ever worshipped any idol in the game (as I have seen how this is done on you tube videos). I wasn't even aware of this feature till I read up on it after seeing the Fatwa.
I had played the mobile lite version alot but I had stopped even before seeing your Fatwa.
I have deleted the games and inshAllah will never play them again.
Can Mufti Saab please advise if the fatwa on becoming murtad breaking of nikaah refers to me as well as I have never ever worshipped any idol in any game.
I have also checked I had played the normal pubg version on the 3rd July.
The feature to worship idols in the game was removed in June.
JazakAllah
Answer
Wa Alaykumus Salaam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Brother in Islam,
The Darul Iftaa has issued a Fatwa on PUBG and answered a similar query on the Cii Q&A programme on Wednesday, 21 October 2020. The Fatwa has also been widely circulated on many media platforms. Alhamdulillah, the response from the public to this Fatwa was overwhelming. It is encouraging to note the high level of consciousness and sensitivity of the public regarding their Imaan.
The Fatwa in reference (PUBG taking one out of the fold of Islam) is specifically regarding the act of idol worship in the game. If one does not execute this invocation, then the laws of Kufr do not apply to him. In any event, it is still prohibited to play PUBG.
We are aware that the developers have removed the totem invocation in updated versions of the game. We have researched the game and we are also fully aware of the contents of the game and have applied our minds thoroughly before issuing the Fatwa. We advise the public to guard themselves and their children against playing PUBG and such games that risk and jeopardise their Imaan.
Allah ﷻ states in the Holy Quraan:-
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ [التحريم: 6]
Translation: Oh you who believe, save yourselves and your families from such a fire (Jahannam), the fuel of which is people and stones. [Al-Tahrim]
Our Imaan is our asset. We should guard our Imaan to the best of our ability and ensure we live with Imaan and die with Imaan.
Take note of the following verse of the Quraan:-
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لَا شَرِيكَ له [الأنعام: 162، 163]
Translation: Say Oh Nabi ﷺ, “Verily my Salaah, my rituals, my living and my dying are solely for Allah ﷻ, The Rabb of the worlds - There is no partner for Him” [Al-In’am]
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.