Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — Sheikh Abdullah Al-Manea, member of the Saudi Council of Senior Scholars, stated that challenges on social networking sites, especially the famous TikTok application, are a kind of gambling and eating people’s money, which is falsehood that is forbidden in Islam.

“This kind of activity is not permissible under any circumstances, whether it is involved playing between two people of the same sex or different sexes.”

Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Sheikh Al-Manea, who is also member of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, said that gambling is some sort of a fine and a possible booty, and the fine is the challenged amount and one of them probably obtains the amount.

The scholar’s ruling came at a time when challenges on TikTok application became a trending on social media. This app has become a favorite destination for short mobile videos.

TikTok hosts a variety of short-form user videos, from genres like pranks, stunts, tricks, jokes, dance, and entertainment with durations from 15 seconds to ten minutes.

Challenges on TikTok are campaigns or trends that invite people to create their own videos based on performing a specific task like displaying a talent or adventure.