Is chess really haram?

I think chess should not be thought as a game only. I had read some books about its being halal if there is an ongoing Jihad. We went to school and learned a lot of unnecessary things, chess was more beneficial than most of them. Especially one of the most important lesson can be learned from chess is to become patient. I was short tempered and impatient to an extent. Playing chess was very beneficial in those days. I think after comprehending essence of that game or sport, spending too much time on it is useless. After some age, capabilities can not be advance either.

format_quote Originally Posted by Tyrion

It's like most things in Islam... Just do it in moderation. It's only when something like this keeps you from your duties as a Muslim (like from Salah) that it becomes haram for you.

I think the bigger issue here is why you would want to know Islamic information in order to rebuke your friends:



This stuff should be learned first and foremost to better yourself, not to use it as a weapon to belittle others... (ESPECIALLY not with issues where there are differences of opinion) Actually, this isn't the first time you've done this Nbeel... I remember a while ago you were asking questions about music because you wanted to know if you could rebuke people you knew then as well... You shouldn't be learning in order to call out others on what you perceive to be faults. It's really not a good quality...

, actually I send you a message to seek for your advice and to debate about it so truth would be discovered, which I think would be pointless in the internet cause it's better to debate in real life. This thread is like one year old and I had stopped rebuking people for some time now. This includes birthdays, mother's day, music, and some part of Tasawwuf. This incident made me realize that I have to gain more knowledge in order to explain to other people about a haram/halal matter rather than forcing them to accept it against their will and Allah S.W.T. knows best.

It seems like everything that doesn't have to do with God or Islam is either potentially haraam or questionable. I mean, seriously, there's fear of God and then there's paranoia. God is not a tyrant. Fear of God means that you have to be aware of your actions because God knows all your deeds, thoughts, and feelings and you will be held accountable if you do something wrong. It's doesn't mean to live in fear like at any moment you might die and be punished in the Hereafter. I think He wants you to enjoy life but within reason. Without sinning. I can understand alcohol and drugs being forbidden. I can even understand music (certain vulgar types). But chess? A game that makes you think? How is that a sin? God gave us brains so that we may use them. Nothing wrong with a game that teaches you to think logically. It's like saying math or science is haraam.

format_quote Originally Posted by al yunan

I would just like to add the only Fatwa on the matter I've ever heard of and that is from Imam Malik rahimullah who talks about Backgammon (Tauvli) which according to him is Makruh Tahrimi which if continued leads to shirk.

How can it lead to shirk?

format_quote Originally Posted by Boaz

...But chess? A game that makes you think? How is that a sin? God gave us brains so that we may use them. Nothing wrong with a game that teaches you to think logically. It's like saying math or science is haraam.

Mucho confusio in this thread.

Chess is fine.

The hadiths that speak of Chess being haram, are referring to a type of chess that involved the use of dice. The one we play (with the knights, bishops and Queens etc) is fine.

Just don't be a skiver and blame a missed prayer on a game of chess.

p.s; don't steal your opponent's chess pieces either!

As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم):

May Allah punish those who attempt to change the laws of Allah!


Always the lukewarm who make excuses for implementing the laws of Allah!!

The puesdo intellectuals pick and choose that which they fervertly support. When it directly
confronts that which they engage they will defend. This hadith refers to chess and not backgammon. The
main point is not to waste time with anything that doesn't promote Allah's word being superior. They will
never provide evidence showing that chess can be played.

Attempting to attack any of the Sahih Sittah puts you on the otherside of practicing Muslims who adhere to the
Quran and Sunnah.

Chapter 2: IT IS PROHIBITED TO PLAY CHESS


Sahih Muslim Book 028, Number 5612:


Buraida reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said:
He who played chess is like one who dyed his hand with the flesh and blood of swine.
__________________________________________________ ________

Al-An'am (The Cattle) 6:116

وَإِن تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَن فِي الأَرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللّهِ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلاَّ الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلاَّ يَخْرُصُونَ (6:116)

Wain tutiAA akthara man fee alardi yudillooka AAan sabeeli Allahi in yattabiAAoona illa alththanna wain hum illa yakhrusoona

6:116 (Y. Ali) Wert thou to follow the common run of those on earth, they will lead thee away from the way of Allah. They follow nothing but conjecture: they do nothing but lie.

chess came about in Baghdad around 772 H so how can Allah's apostle have spoken about a game that was not yet invented? pls. look at the actual wording in Arabic you'll see that it is about backgammon and especially if involving gambling!

and Allah swt knows best

format_quote Originally Posted by τhε ṿαlε'ṡ lïlÿ

chess came about in Baghdad around 772 H so how can Allah's apostle have spoken about a game that was not yet invented? pls. look at the actual wording in Arabic you'll see that it is about backgammon and especially if involving gambling!

and Allah swt knows best

As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم):

Subhanallah! It is acknowledged that Chess was invented in India during the 6th century during the Gupta empire. The
rules of chess rules evolved during the 1200 before Nabi Muhammad (SAWS ) was born. The way the game is played today that
was changed around 1475. So the claim that chess wasn't created until after Nabi Muhammad is without any doubt an
error. Be careful of changing history to suit a passion especially when it involves the practice of Islam.

format_quote Originally Posted by sabr*

As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم): Subhanallah! It is acknowledged that Chess was invented in India during the 6th century during the Gupta empire. The rules of chess rules evolved during the 1200 before Nabi Muhammad (SAWS ) was born. The way the game is played today that was changed around 1475. So the claim that chess wasn't created until after Nabi Muhammad is without any doubt an error. Be careful of changing history to suit a passion especially when it involves the practice of Islam.

Wa A'alaykum Asalaam,

The chess played in India differs from that of Persia differs from that in Baghdad .. Check proper history books and not the internet on the matter. Furthermore, different imams have passed different opinions on the matter, some making it out right Haram, some decreeing it makrooh and some Halal so long as it doesn't waste time, involve gambling or interferes with ibadat so with such difference of opinion how can anyone here speak with absolution on a matter that had scholar divided?

Does anyone know the actual reason chess is prohibited? (for those who believe it is prohibited even when no money is involved).

format_quote Originally Posted by sabr*

[FONT=Arial][COLOR=black][SIZE=2][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Attempting to attack any of the Sahih Sittah puts you on the otherside of practicing Muslims who adhere to the
Quran and Sunnah.

Chapter 2: IT IS PROHIBITED TO PLAY CHESS


Sahih Bukhari Book 028, Number 5612:


Buraida reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said:
He who played chess is like one who dyed his hand with the flesh and blood of swine.
__________________________________________________ ________

Whichever site you got this from has referenced it incorrectly. It might be Sahih Muslim, but it's not Sahih Bukhari.

, hmm yeah Dagless is right, it's actually from Abu Dawood who narrated it and it says 'backgammon' not 'chess'

Prophet (sallallah alihi wa sallam) said:
"Whoever plays backgammon it is as if he had coloured his hands with the flesh and blood of a pig. (Abu Dawud Vol. 2 Pg. 319)

However, Ali R.A. have stated “Chess is gambling of the Ajam people (non Arabs)” (no source )

format_quote Originally Posted by τhε ṿαlε'ṡ lïlÿ

Wa A'alaykum Asalaam,

The chess played in India differs from that of Persia differs from that in Baghdad .. Check proper history books and not the internet on the matter. Furthermore, different imams have passed different opinions on the matter, some making it out right Haram, some decreeing it makrooh and some Halal so long as it doesn't waste time, involve gambling or interferes with ibadat so with such difference of opinion how can anyone here speak with absolution on a matter that had scholar divided?

As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم):


We rely upon a hardcopy of The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2011. We did research after you cited and the following
link for the experts who play chess confirmed what was posted.

http://math.uww.edu/~mcfarlat/177hist.htm

Any opinion that would go directly against what it plain we wouldn't acknowledge anyway.

format_quote Originally Posted by Dagless

Does anyone know the actual reason chess is prohibited? (for those who believe it is prohibited even when no money is involved).

format_quote Originally Posted by Dagless

Whichever site you got this from has referenced it incorrectly. It might be Sahih Muslim, but it's not Sahih Bukhari.

As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم):

Akhi Dagless:

we thank you for the correction. We amended the citation. We understand that promoting the word of Allah as being
superior is the objective and not our own interests. We are again humbled and acknowledge all knowledge is with Allah.
________________________________________________

Surah Hashr 59:22-24

هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ هُوَ الرَّحْمَنُ الرَّحِيمُ (59:22)

Huwa Allahu allathee la ilaha illa huwa AAalimu alghaybi waalshshahadati huwa alrrahmanu alrraheemu

59:22 (Y. Ali) Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god;- Who knows (all things) both secret and open; He, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ (59:23)

Huwa Allahu allathee la ilaha illa huwa almaliku alquddoosu alssalamu almuminu almuhayminu alAAazeezu aljabbaru almutakabbiru subhana Allahi AAamma yushrikoona

59:23 (Y. Ali) Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god;- the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace (and Perfection), the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of Safety, the Exalted in Might, the Irresistible, the Supreme: Glory to Allah. (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him.

هُوَ اللَّهُ الْخَالِقُ الْبَارِئُ الْمُصَوِّرُ لَهُ الْأَسْمَاء الْحُسْنَى يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ (59:24)

Huwa Allahu alkhaliqu albario almusawwiru lahu alasmao alhusna yusabbihu lahu ma fee alssamawati waalardi wahuwa alAAazeezu alhakeemu

59:24 (Y. Ali) He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Forms (or Colours). To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, doth declare His Praises and Glory: and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

format_quote Originally Posted by sabr*

As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم):


We rely upon a hardcopy of The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2011. We did research after you cited and the following
link for the experts who play chess confirmed what was posted.

http://math.uww.edu/~mcfarlat/177hist.htm

Any opinion that would go directly against what it plain we wouldn't acknowledge anyway.

the link you provided confirms what I stated repeatedly:

Many local variations in chess rules persist even today in isolated rural areas, for example in India.

and another:

The variation familiar to Europeans and Americans traveled through Iran..

which is exactly what I stated, what was played in India, differed from Persia, Differed from Iraq..

format_quote Originally Posted by τhε ṿαlε'ṡ lïlÿ

the link you provided confirms what I stated repeatedly:

Many local variations in chess rules persist even today in isolated rural areas, for example in India.

and another:

The variation familiar to Europeans and Americans traveled through Iran..

which is exactly what I stated, what was played in India, differed from Persia, Differed from Iraq..

As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم):

Ukhti τhε ṿαlε'ṡ lïlÿ:

we must have missed something. Where is the Dalil (Evidence) that states it is permissible to play chess that abogates the Sahih Muslim hadith posted? Not someones opinion but Quran or Sahih hadith. We will wait patiently for it.

As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم):


Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread) 5:47

وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ الإِنجِيلِ بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فِيهِ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ (5:47)

Walyahkum ahlu alinjeeli bima anzala Allahu feehi waman lam yahkum bima anzala Allahu faolaika humu alfasiqoona

5:47 (Y. Ali) Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel.

format_quote Originally Posted by sabr*

As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم):

Ukhti τhε ṿαlε'ṡ lïlÿ:

we must have missed something. Where is the Dalil (Evidence) that states it is permissible to play chess that abogates the Sahih Muslim hadith posted? Not someones opinion but Quran or Sahih hadith. We will wait patiently for it.

I don't have evidence that it is haram and I don't have evidence that it is halal for reasons afore mentioned..