Is Watching the Trailers and Playing the Game Final Fantasy Permissible?

Answered by Shaykh Muhammad Carr

Question 

I play the Final Fantasy VII series, which currently consists of Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

The third game is expected to be released in fall 2027, and several trailers have already been released. The reported title is Final Fantasy VII Revelations.

Is this title problematic from an Islamic perspective? I know that revelation (wahy) is something that Allah grants to His prophets, including Prophet Muhammad (May Allah bless him and grant him peace).

However, I understand the game’s title to mean that many story details will be revealed. When I searched its meaning using AI, it stated that the title “draws on the heavy religious and mythological imagery present throughout the series.”

Would it be permissible for me to watch the trailers and play the game when it is released?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Revelation, as you mentioned, is sacred and reserved for the elect. Using the term ‘revelation’ in a context that draws heavily on religious and mythological imagery is misleading and should be avoided. Watching trailers and playing video games with impermissible content is likewise impermissible.

Trailers and Video Games

Watching trailers featuring impermissible imagery and playing such video games are not permissible. This is akin to entering non-Muslim places of worship, such as churches, temples, or synagogues.

In the Shafi‘i School, it is generally unlawful for a Muslim to enter such places if these places contain revered images, symbols, or figures that are forbidden in Islamic law. [See, Ibn Hajar, Tuhfat al-Muhtaj]

Ibn al-Qasim says, “Whatever is impermissible in and of itself is impermissible to view as it amounts to approval (rida)”. [Bujayrami, Hashiya]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) refused to enter the Kaaba until the images within it were removed. [Bukhari, Sahih]

Advice

Avail yourself of the broad range of permissible forms of entertainment and steer clear of the limited range of impermissible ones. This will afford you true relaxation, peace of mind, and renewed energy.

I pray this is of benefit and Allah guides us all.

[Shaykh] Muhammad Carr
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Muhammad Carr has dedicated his life to studying and transmitting our beautiful deen. His studies have taken him around the globe, where he has benefitted from many luminaries. Under the guidance of his teachers – Shaykh Taha Karan, Shaykh Yaseen Abbas, Shaykh Muadh Ali and many others – Shaykh Muhammad has grown to appreciate the beauty and benefits of diverse scholarship. He completed his memorization of the Qur’an at Dar al-Ulum Zakariyyah in September 1997 and received an Alimiyya Degree in 2006 from DUAI (Darul Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah). He is also affiliated with Masjid Auwal in Bo Kaap, Cape Town (the oldest mosque in South Africa), where he serves as a co-imam, and Dar Al-Safa, where he has taught since 2018. As a teacher, he imparts the wisdom of our heritage and tradition by opening the door for students. As an imam, he has the unique opportunity to serve his community in daily life.

In addition to his roles as a teacher and imam, Shaykh Muhammad Carr has contributed significantly to the administrative and advisory aspects of Islamic institutions. Since 2023, he has served as the Administrative Director at The Imam Kurani Institute, contributing to the institution’s growth and development. He continues to pursue traditional Islamic Sciences, possessing a keen interest in Islamic Contract Law and Finance. Shaykh Muhammad has been a Shari’ah Board Member for Islamic Asset Management & Insurance Companies since 2001, aligning financial practices with Islamic principles.