Crossword puzzles
Question

                What is the ruling on
      crossword puzzles and doing them?
Praise be to Allah.Among the many types of intellectual games to
    be found all over daily newspapers and magazines are the type of puzzles called
    crosswords, a kind of puzzle that focuses on how well educated and widely read a person
    is. They cover all branches of knowledge and art, and test how bright and quick-witted a
    person is.
In principle, these puzzles are a form of permissible
    entertainment, but from what we see, many of the words used have evil implications, such
    as the names of artists who are insignificant, morally corrupt or intellectually deviated.
    Or the crosswords expect answers that are of no benefit and are not worth the time and
    effort required to solve the puzzle. In addition, they distract people from reading
    serious and useful material, which is like wasting one’s life in doing something that
    is not useful.
One of the strange things we often see is that readers of
    newspapers and magazines go straight to the puzzles, without looking at other, useful
    information. This love of crossword puzzles could become an addiction, leading people to
    neglect their duties. 
On this basis, many of these puzzles would come under the
    category of makrooh entertainment, provided that the subject matter is not haraam and they
    do not lead to addiction or cause people to neglect their duties. If they do make people
    become negligent and forgetful, then it is more appropriate to say that they are haraam in
    this case.
(Adapted from the book Qadaaya al-Lahw
    wa’l-Tarfeeh by Ma’dhoon Rasheed, p. 188)
Muslims who prepare these crossword puzzles
    should try to put useful information in them, and words that will make readers learn
    things that will be of benefit to them. And Allaah is the source of strength.