Are Fortnite & Other Shooting Games Haram? Everything You Need to Know

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Plus, learn what makes something haram vs. halal

Co-authored by Rabia M. Baig and Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: January 27, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Is Fornite haram?
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• Is wagering haram?
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• Other Games
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• Haram vs. Halal
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• Final Thoughts
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• Video

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In Islam, some things sit in a grey area when it comes to whether or not they’re haram (forbidden). Fortnite sits in that grey area—there's no specific rule about Fortnite being forbidden, but many Muslims still consider it haram because of its violent content. In this article, we explain why Fortnite is often considered haram, whether or not wagering on Fortnite games and playing other shooting games is haram, and more, all with the help of Islam education expert and motivational speaker Belal Elkadri.

Is Fornite haram in Islam?

Fortnite is typically considered haram (forbidden) in the Islamic community because of the violent nature of the game. While Fortnite itself isn’t explicitly forbidden, it features many violent and immoral acts (shooting, harming others, gambling, etc.), making it haram by association.

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Section 1 of 5:

Is Fortnite haram or halal?

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1. 
   Fortnite is generally considered haram due to the violent content. Most of the Islamic community consider Fortnite haram. The game involves a ton of violence, including shooting at and killing others, and you can even revive people from the dead, all of which is considered haram. Fortnite also violates other key Islamic principles with its foul language, revealing skins, how much time it wastes, and features like wagering.

   • Others argue that Fortnite is halal since it's just a video game and no one is actually getting hurt, but this argument typically doesn't hold up against the numerous haram elements of the game.
   • If you aren't sure where you stand on this, reach out to your Sheikh or Imam to see what they think, and to get a better idea of how Fortnite is viewed in your community.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Belal Elkadri is an Islam Education Expert and Motivational Speaker who has been challenging the stigmas and stereotypes plaguing the Muslim community for over 10 years.
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Section 2 of 5:

Is wagering in Fortnite haram?

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1. 
   Yes, wagering in Fortnite is considered haram. Wagering and gambling are expressly haram in Islam. Whether it be in real life or in Fortnite, wagering is forbidden by Allah since it’s damaging to families and drains wealth.

   • In al-Maidah 5:90-91, Allah says, “Satan’s plan is to stir up hostility and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling and to prevent you from the remembrance of Allah and praying. Will you not then abstain?” explicitly forbidding wagering.

Section 3 of 5:

Are other shooting games haram?

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1. 
   Games that involve shooting people are generally considered haram. These types of games typically involve shooting, stabbing, and inflicting harm to others, which makes them haram. Once again, there isn’t anything that explicitly refers to these games being haram in Islamic texts, but since the actions you perform in these games are haram, the games themselves are generally considered haram, as well.

   • Games that don’t involve violence, like Rocket League and Animal Crossing, typically aren’t considered haram.
   • Reach out to your Sheikh or Imam for clarification on whether or not the game you’re playing is permissible.
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Section 4 of 5:

Haram vs. Halal in Islam

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1. 
   Haram means forbidden, while halal means permissible. Elkadri says that “Haram means that things are prohibited. There are certain things that we as Muslims don’t do.” Halal, on the other hand, is lawful and permissible in Islam. Some things fall into a grey area, but Elkadri says, “The Prophet Muhammad said, “Stay far away from those shaded areas where it could be disliked but it's borderline haram.”

   • The Prophet Muhammad suggests staying away from those grey areas because you don’t want to fall into the trap of doing something haram.
   • Elkadri says “In Islam, it’s mentioned that the heart is a castle and the castle has these walls. And the way you would protect this castle is you wouldn’t want to compromise the walls through the poison that you put into the rivers.”

Section 5 of 5:

Final Thoughts

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1. Fortnite is said to be haram by most Muslims, but playing is up to you. While Fortnite is widely considered haram due to its violent and distracting elements, whether or not you play the game is entirely up to you. Different Muslim communities have different opinions on what’s permissible, so consider what your community thinks and accepts. Consider how you interpret the sacred texts, what elements of the game you interact with, and what Allah would think of you playing, too.

   • Ultimately, it’s your decision (just remember that many other Muslims consider Fortnite to be haram).
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