“Dr Mohamed Bechari: “From Entertainment to Fatwa... Electronic Games Require Contemporary Maqāṣid-Based Ijtihad
- 2025-May-07
As part of the 26th session of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, held in Doha, Qatar from 4 to 8 May 2025, HE Dr Mohamed Bechari, Secretary-General of The World Muslim Communities Council (TWMCC), presented a scholarly research paper titled: “Electronic Games: Rulings and Guidelines.”
In his paper, Dr Bechari addressed the religious and social dilemmas posed by electronic games, highlighting the challenges they present to families and society. His analysis was rooted in the objectives of Islamic Sharia (Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿa)—particularly those related to the preservation of religion, intellect, life, and wealth
The research led to several significant findings and recommendations that contribute to building balanced jurisprudential and societal awareness regarding this fast-evolving digital phenomenon. The paper distilled five central messages:
1-Reassessing Electronic Games in Light of Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿa
Dr Bechari emphasised that rulings on electronic games should not be based solely on their apparent entertainment value, but must be evaluated through the lens of higher objectives of Sharia, assessing their impact on the five fundamental necessities and distinguishing between what is permissible and prohibited based on effect and context.
2-Strengthening the Role of Fatwa Institutions and Religious Oversight
He called for enhanced collaboration between Islamic juristic bodies and experts in psychology and education to establish a Sharia-based classification system for electronic games. He warned of the dangers of games that harm belief, morals, or promote gambling and violence.
3-Promoting Educational Games Rooted in Islamic Values
Dr Bechari recommended investing in the development of educational games founded on ethical and Islamic pedagogical principles, capitalising on the appeal of digital media to enhance learning and cognitive development.
4-Prohibition of Games Promoting Violence, Suicide, Atheism, or Blasphemy
He firmly asserted the religious prohibition of any game that contains doctrinal violations, incites violence or suicide, or promotes atheism, blasphemy, or the desecration of sacred beliefs—warning of their psychological, theological, and social consequences.
5-Forbidding Financial Gains from Illicit Games
Dr Bechari clearly stated that profiting from the sale of virtual points or characters within prohibited games constitutes deception and illicit gains, and thus falls under religiously forbidden financial practices.
