What is the ruling on playing games that contain images of pigs? And does breaking the fast with water invalidate the fast if there are no dates?

The fatwa we follow permits playing electronic games that are free from Sharia prohibitions. For example, they should not distract from the remembrance of Allah and prayer, nor should they involve gambling, music, images of naked women, or lead to enmity and hatred.

Watching games that contain drawings of animate beings is permissible, because watching images is not the same as creating images. This is supported by what is stated in the Kuwaiti Fiqh Encyclopedia: "The Hanbalis do not prohibit looking at a forbidden image simply because it is an image."

Playing games that contain images of pigs is permissible in principle. However, if the presence of a pig in the game leads to something contrary to Sharia, such as buying and selling pigs through in-game points, then playing it is not permissible.

The Sunnah for a fasting person is to break their fast with fresh dates (rutab), and if not available, then with dry dates (tamr), and if not available, then with water, based on the hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him). Breaking the fast with water while dates are available is permissible but is contrary to what is preferred.