Are Video Game Age Ratings Religiously Binding?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question

I am thirteen, and I want to know whether I may play a game rated for older players, such as a 16+ game, when the game itself contains nothing unlawful.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

An age rating is not a ruling of the Sacred Law (Sharia), and by itself it does not make a lawful game unlawful.

A ratings board is a company or an industry body that decides what content is appropriate for which age group. That judgment can be sound and useful.

No scholar issued it, though, so it does not carry the weight of a legal ruling on you.

Two other things carry weight, and both are worth your attention.

Your Parents’ Word Settles More Than the Rating Does

Allah Most High said, “And your Lord has decreed that you are to worship none but Him; And to treat parents with grace and kindness.” [Quran 17:23; Keller, The Quran Beheld]

You obey your parents in everything that is not disobedience to Allah, and a game is squarely such a matter. So if they tell you to leave a 16+ game, that binds you. It binds you because they said it, not because the box says 16.

The reverse holds too. If they know your age, know the game, and tell you it is fine, then the rating is not standing between you and it.

What You Agreed to When You Got the Game

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “And the Muslims are held to their conditions, except a condition that forbids what is lawful or makes lawful what is forbidden.” [Mishkat al-Masabih]

Stores and online services often make age one of the account’s conditions. If you signed up by giving an age that is not yours, you broke a condition you agreed to, and you told an untruth to do so.

Where your parents set up the account or bought the game knowing exactly how old you are, the agreement is theirs and you are clear.

One more thing, said a friend. A board that puts 16 on a game usually sees something in it. Before you tell yourself the content is clean, look again and be honest about what is actually in the thing.

Take This to Your Parents

Go to them, name the game, say what is in it, and ask. You have already done the harder part by asking the right question instead of hunting for a way around the answer.

That habit will serve you for the rest of your life, and I ask Allah to keep it in you.

And Allah knows best.

[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

Related Answers

• [SeekersGuidance, Violating The Terms of Service on a Website] — Establishes that terms one accepts are binding conditions, on the strength of the same hadith.

• [SeekersGuidance, Are Video Games Haram?] — Sets out when a game is permissible and what content makes it otherwise.

• [SeekersGuidance, Am I Allowed To Play Video Games With Permissible Content?] — Permits games of lawful content while cautioning about the values a game teaches.

• [SeekersGuidance, Must I Obey One Parent Who Prohibits Something If the Other Says It’s OK?] — Handles the case where parents differ over a permissible matter.

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.

Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan.

In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era.

Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs.

Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School.” This book, published by White Thread Press in 2004, is a significant contribution to Islamic literature.

His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse.

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.

النصوص  ·  Source-Texts

[الخطيب التبريزي، مشكاة المصابيح]

«الصُّلْحُ جَائِزٌ بَيْنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَّا صُلْحًا حَرَّمَ حَلَالًا أَوْ أَحَلَّ حَرَامًا وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ عَلَى شُرُوطِهِمْ إِلَّا شَرْطًا حَرَّمَ حَلَالًا أَوْ أَحَلَّ حَرَامًا»