Some video game companies sell their games for free for a short period of time (couple of days) then they sell them for their full price again (they do this so more people play the game and recommend it to others so they can sell more of it without losing much as the game is free for a short time only). Some people make lots of accounts and add those games while being free and then sell them for a cheap price when the game is sold for its full price again to people who missed out adding the game while it was free (most of these people cannot afford buying the game) . Is this haram or halal?
Answer
Assalāmuʿalaikum Wa Raḥmatullāhī Wa Barakātuh,
Firstly the general ruling of video games will apply. If it comprises of music and other impermissible aspects, then it will not be permissible to begin with.
Assuming that there is nothing that contradicts Shari’ah, this still entails cheating and deception (because when there are multiple accounts linked to one person then it is generally the case that the account information is inaccurate), which is something frowned upon by the Shari’ah and not permissible.
We, therefore, advise that caution be exercised in this regard and that one refrains from such.
And Allaah Ta’aala knows best
Wassalaam,
Ismail Moosa (Mufti)