Playing video games

From the onset, it should be borne in mind that Allah Ta’ala has created us for an objective and purpose. Allah Ta’ala states in the Quraan Majeed:

And I (Allah) have created man and Jinn only to worship me.

Hence, one should constantly engage in such actions by which one gains the recognition, love, obedience, and pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. Yes, the body requires rest and there will be times when the body needs to be rejuvenated. Affording necessary rest to one’s body is not only permitted in Shariah but necessary and essential, as the Hadith states that the body has a right over us. However, this should be done within the confines of Shariah.

Playing games has no benefit at all; neither does it benefit the player in this world, nor in the Aakhirah, hence, being a futile action, it should be discarded. Allah Ta’ala states in the Quraan Majeed:

There are some people who purchase futile discourse to deviate (others) from Allah’s path without knowledge and they mock it (so that every regard for Islam may disappear from people’s hearts.) There shall be a humiliating punishment for these people.

It is recorded in a narration of Tirmidhi:

“Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu reports that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “It is from the excellence of (a believer’s) Islam that he shuns those things which are of no concern to him.”

In conclusion, playing of games, together with being a futile action, includes a host of other evils such as music, nudity, photography, wastage of time etc. hence, it will not be permissible to play games irrespective of whether there is a picture of some person being displayed on the corner of the screen or not.