Ruling on describing a professional player as “God” or “Godlike”

Nowadays it is very common to see Western electronic games that are based on a contest between two players, and when one player beats the other, a phrase appears on the screen stating that So-and-so has defeated So-and-so. But the problem here is that when he defeats other players, there often appears a strange word, and it says that So-and-so is “Godlike”. I would like an explanation of what this word means, and whether it is permissible to say it, or for players to use it, because I see some players describing professional players as being “God” or “Godlike”.

Praise be to Allah.

It is not permissible to describe a professional player or anyone else by calling him “God” because this word refers to the divine or to Allah, and he cannot be described as “Godlike” because this word also refers to that which is divine.

What appears in these games – as you mentioned – confirms that this is what they mean, which is that the player is like God, powerful and mighty.

It is well-known that there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner or associate, with none like unto Him, and no peer or equal. All beings other than Him are slaves who are subject to Him, created beings with no element of divinity, and no resemblance to the divine whatsoever.

This attitude is the attitude of the polytheists since ancient times, who attribute divinity to whatever they love and venerate.

Ar-Raaghib al-Asfahaani (may Allah have mercy on him) said: They use the word “god” to refer to anything that is worshipped by them, as in the case of al-Laat, and they regarded the sun as a goddess, because they took it as an object of worship.

The Arabic word ilaah (god) refers to any object of worship.

End quote from al-Mufradaat, p. 83.

So be very careful and be wary of using such words, for a word may cause the one who utters it to be sent down into Hell further than the distance between the east and the west.

Al-Bukhaari (6478) and Muslim (2988) narrated from Abu Hurayrah that he heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “A person may utter a word that pleases Allah, not paying it much heed, because of which Allah may raise him several degrees in status, and a person may utter a word that angers Allah, not paying it much heed, because of which he may be sent down into Hell.”

Al-Bukhaari (6477) and Muslim (2988) narrated from Abu Hurayrah that he heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “A person may utter a word, not realizing its repercussions, because of which he may be sent down into Hell further than the distance between the east and the west.”

It was narrated by at-Tirmidhi (2319) and Ibn Maajah (3969) from Bilaal ibn al-Haarith al-Muzani, the companion of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), that he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say:

“One of you may speak a word that pleases Allah, and not know how far it reaches, but Allah will decree that He is pleased with it until the Day of Resurrection.

And one of you may speak a word that angers Allah, and not know how far it reaches, but Allah will decree that He is angry with it, until the Day he meets Him.”

Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Tirmidhi.

And Allah knows best.

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Ruling on describing a professional player as “God” or “Godlike”

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