Is Playing Chess Haram in Islam? If yes, then why?
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All the scholars agree on one thing playing chess, which involves gambling, betting, or any type of haram activity, for example, missing Salah or Ibadah, disobeying parents, etc., is prohibited in Islam. As for as Playing Chess for entertainment which does not involve any haram activity is Haram in Islam or not there are difference of opinions amongst the scholars that playing chess is haram or not, there are two groups of Scholars one who says Playing chess is Haram and other one says we can play chess but with certain conditions.
Scholars who say playing Chess is Haram in Islam are based upon the Hadith, which is mentioned in Sunan al Qubra, in which
Hazrat Ali R.A. says when he sees People Playing Chess, What are you doing? Are you worshipping Idols?
(Sunan al Qubra (Al Bayhaqi) - 20929)Based upon the above hadith, one group of Scholars says that chess consists of miniature idols (pawns, bishops, queens, etc.) Chess requires a lot of thinking and pondering. When players sit and ponder their next move, it is as if they are meditating over these idols. It thus resembles idol-worship. The idolaters of the past used to sit in deep meditation in front of their idols, and since Hazrat Ali R.A. was against it, even if chess is played for Entertainment purpose (without gambling, betting or any Haram activity), it is prohibited in Islam.
Chess takes up a lot of time and makes the player oblivious of his surroundings. This causes him to miss Salah and to neglect important religious and social duties. Experience has shown that this always happens.
“O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, Al-Ansab , and Al-Azlam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaytan’s (Satan’s) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful.
Shaytan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from As-Salah (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain?”
Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) said
“This verse indicates that it is haram to play dice or chess , whether that involves gambling or not, because when Allah forbade alcohol, He explained the reason for that, which is ‘Shaytan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from the prayer.’
So every kind of game in which a little leads to a lot and stirs up enmity and hatred between those who are devoted to it and prevents them from remembering Allah and praying, is like drinking alcohol, which implies that it must be haram like alcohol.” (Al-Jami’ li Ahkam al-Quran 67/291)
The Second group of Scholars says that if we play Chess for Entertainment purposes, which does not include gambling or betting, missing Salah or Ibadah, or any Haram activity, then you can play the Chess as Entertainment game but
When we play chess, there are various elements like King, Queen, bishops, etc. but there is an elementthat has a problem as far as image is concerned the knight (also known as a horse) because the knight,that has a problem as far as image is concerned the knight (also known as a horse) because the knight,that has a problem as far as image is concerned the knight (also known as a horse) because the knight, that has a problem as far as image is concerned the knight (also known as a horse) because the knight, whichis also known as a horse, is also known as a horse, has a head, and all other elements do not contain any images, so as far as the horse element, if the details of the horse head are visible, then it is not allowed, and if the details of the horse head, like eyes, ears, etc. are not visible, then it is permissible to play Chess.
So, make sure you remove the Horse element, put helmet on horse element, or just replace the horse element with another elements.
So, if you do not include gambling, betting or any Haram activity and you also replace the Horse elements, then you can Play chess.
Fatawa on Playing Chess
Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said“When chess distracts us from what we are obliged to do both inwardly and outwardly, it is haram according to the consensus of the scholars—such as when it distracts from an obligatory duty such as prayer or anything that is necessary in the interests of oneself or one’s family, or enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, or upholding ties of kinship or honouring one’s parents, or any obligations connected to positions of authority or leadership, etc.
In this case, it is haram according to the consensus of the scholars. Similarly, if it involves anything that is haram, such as telling lies, swearing false oaths, cheating, wrongdoing or helping in wrongdoing, or other forbidden things, then it is haram according to the consensus of the Muslims.” (Adapted from Majmu’ al-Fatawa, 32/218, 240)
Companions’ views on playing Chess
Hazrat Ali R.A. says when he sees People Playing Chess, What are you doing? Are you worshipping Idols? (Sunan al Qubra (Al Bayhaqi) – 20929).
Abu Dawud (493 narrated from Abu Musa al-Ash’ari that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said “Whoever plays dice has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger.” (Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud, 4129).
Muslim (2260) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said “Whoever plays dice is like one who has dipped his hand in the flesh and blood of a pig.” Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said “This hadith is quoted as evidence by al-Shafi`i and the majority of scholars to prove that playing dice is haram. The phrase ‘dipped his hand in the flesh and blood of a pig’ refers to eating it, and this simile is used to show that this is haram because it is haram to eat that.” -
No, all games are halal, including chess.
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When we play chess, there are various elements like King, Queen, bishops, etc. but there is an elementthat has a problem as far as image is concerned the knight (also known as a horse) ...https//sunnah.com/abudawud4932
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) arrived after the expedition to Tabuk or Khaybar (the narrator is doubtful), the draught raised an end of a curtain which was hung in front of her store-room, revealing some dolls which belonged to her.He asked What is this? She replied My dolls. Among them he saw a horse with wings made of rags, and asked What is this I see among them? She replied A horse. He asked What is this that it has on it? She replied Two wings. He asked A horse with two wings? She replied Have you not heard that Solomon had horses with wings? She said Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) laughed so heartily that I could see his molar teeth. laugh
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَوْفٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُمَارَةُ بْنُ غَزِيَّةَ، أَنَّ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، رضى الله عنها قَالَتْ قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ أَوْ خَيْبَرَ وَفِي سَهْوَتِهَا سِتْرٌ فَهَبَّتْ رِيحٌ فَكَشَفَتْ نَاحِيَةَ السِّتْرِ عَنْ بَنَاتٍ لِعَائِشَةَ لُعَبٍ فَقَالَ " مَا هَذَا يَا عَائِشَةُ " . قَالَتْ بَنَاتِي . وَرَأَى بَيْنَهُنَّ فَرَسًا لَهُ جَنَاحَانِ مِنْ رِقَاعٍ فَقَالَ " مَا هَذَا الَّذِي أَرَى وَسْطَهُنَّ " . قَالَتْ فَرَسٌ . قَالَ " وَمَا هَذَا الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ " . قَالَتْ جَنَاحَانِ . قَالَ " فَرَسٌ لَهُ جَنَاحَانِ " . قَالَتْ أَمَا سَمِعْتَ أَنَّ لِسُلَيْمَانَ خَيْلاً لَهَا أَجْنِحَةٌ قَالَتْ فَضَحِكَ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ نَوَاجِذَهُ .
Grade Sahih (Al-Albani) صحيح (الألباني) حكم
Reference Sunan Abi Dawud 4932
In-book reference Book 43, Hadith 160
English translation Book 42, Hadith 4914The Arabic word "لُعَبٍ" (lu‘ab) is the plural form of "لُعْبَة" (lu‘bah), which means "playthings" and is typically used to refer to objects meant for play or entertainment.
Chess, known in Arabic as "shatranj" (شطرنج), was introduced to the Islamic world after the Muslim conquest of Persia around 651 CE, roughly around the time of the earliest Qur'an manuscripts, during the early period of the Rashidun Caliphate. After its introduction, chess became a highly regarded intellectual pursuit, and its influence can be seen in various areas of Islamic culture, including literature, art, and more. Chess was particularly esteemed among the elite, especially in the Abbasid court in Baghdad. The Abbasid caliphs, such as Harun al-Rashid (786–809 CE), were known to be avid patrons of the game. Chess became associated with wisdom, strategy, and skill, and it was considered a tool for sharpening the mind.
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No, all games are halal, including chess.
And gambling, like alcohol, is conditionally halal
https//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9610016.0
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And gambling, like alcohol, is conditionally halal
https//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9610016.0
In short, all games played without money or betting are permissible/halal. However, if games are played for gambling purposes, then they are conditionally permissible/halal.
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No, all games are halal, including chess.
I agree.
Peace mhammadc,
Playing chess is not haram, but one must be careful not to over-indulge in such a way
that leads to neglect of the deen. Entertainments have their positives of relaxation but
negatives of over-indulgence. Therefore, enjoy your chess games, and of course no money
should be involved.God bless you
peace
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I agree.
Peace mhammadc,
Playing chess is not haram, but one must be careful not to over-indulge in such a way
that leads to neglect of the deen. Entertainments have their positives of relaxation but
negatives of over-indulgence. Therefore, enjoy your chess games, and of course no money
should be involved.God bless you
peace
Chess, in addition to being entertainment, is also education and wisdom; it teaches life lessons. It is a means of developing intelligence. And this feature is found in almost all strategy games. That's why chess is taught as a subject in schools in some countries.
As for playing for money, like alcohol, gambling is conditionally permissible. As mentioned in the article I linked, 'their taste can be sampled.
Peace
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Peace Emre_1974tr, under what conditions is gambling permissible?
God bless you
peace
Just like in the case of alcohol, it is permissible in situations where only a taste is taken. For example, buying a lottery ticket on New Year's, etc.
Peace
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Just like in the case of alcohol, it is permissible in situations where only a taste is taken. For example, buying a lottery ticket on New Year's, etc.
Peace
Peace Emre_1974tr,
If you don't mind, could you give us the source of your conclusion that it's okay
to "buy a lottery ticket on New Year's, etc."God bless you
peace
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Peace Emre_1974tr,
If you don't mind, could you give us the source of your conclusion that it's okay
to "buy a lottery ticket on New Year's, etc."God bless you
peace
The necessary explanation regarding alcohol and gambling has already been made in the article I provided the link for,
Peace
