Is chess really haram?

Yeah.. scholars disagree on some matters.. like this one.. if some say haram, some say makrooh and some say permissible then you can choose what you feel is right and you won't be judged as far as I know..

wa allah hu a3lam..

Ruling on playing chess

I wana ask if chess(the type played now a days)is allowed in islam or not?


Praise be to Allaah.
“When chess distracts us from what we are obliged to do both inwardly and outwardly, it is haraam 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 haraam according to the consensus of the scholars. Similarly, if it involves anything that is haraam such as telling lies, swearing false oaths, cheating, wrongdoing or helping in wrongdoing, or other forbidden things, then it is haraam according to the consensus of the Muslims.” (Adapted from Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 32/218, 240).

But if it does not distract us from our obligations or involve anything that is haraam, then there is a difference of scholarly opinion concerning the ruling. The majority of scholars (Abu Haneefah, Maalik, Ahmad and some of the companions of al-Shaafa’i) said that it is also haraam, basing that view on the evidence of the Book of Allaah and the opinions of the Sahaabah.

The evidence of the Qur’aan is the words (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and gambling, and Al-Ansaab [stone altars set up for sacrifices to idols etc], and Al-Azlaam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaytaan’s (Satan’s) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful.
Shaytaan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allaah and from As-Salaah (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain?”
[al-Maa’idah 5:90-91]

Al-Qurtubi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “This aayah indicates that it is haraam to play dice or chess, whether that involves gambling or not, because when Allaah forbade alcohol He explained the reason for that, which is ‘Shaytaan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allaah and from As-Salaah (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 Allaah and praying, is like drinking alcohol, which implies that it must be haraam like alcohol.” (al-Jaami’ li Ahkaam al-Qur’aan, 6/291).
With regard to the views of the Sahaabah:
It was narrated that ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (may Allaah be pleased with him) passed by some people who were playing chess. He said, “What are these images, to which you are devoted? [cf. al-Anbiya’ 21:52]” Imaam Ahmad said: “The soundest comment on chess what that which was said by ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him).”
‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) was asked about chess and he said, “It is worse than dice.”
“Dice” refers to what is used nowadays for playing backgammon, which is played on a special table. It was narrated in the ahaadeeth that it is haraam.
Abu Dawood (4938) narrated from Abu Moosa al-Ash’ari that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever plays dice has disobeyed Allaah and His Messenger.” (Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 4129)
Muslim (2260) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah 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 Allaah have mercy on him) said: “This hadeeth is quoted as evidence by al-Shaafa’i and the majority of scholars to prove that playing dice is haraam. 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 haraam because it is haraam to eat that.”
What some of the scholars have said about the prohibition of chess:
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Chess is like dice in that it is forbidden.” (al-Mughni, 14/155),
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The evil consequences of chess are greater than the evil consequences of dice. Everything that points to the prohibition of dice points to the prohibition of chess even more so… This is the view of Maalik and his companions, of Abu Haneefah and his companions, of Ahmad and his companions, and the view of the majority of the Taabi’een… It is not known that any of the Sahaabah permitted it or played it. Allaah protected them from that. Everything that is attributed to any of them and says that he played it – such as Abu Hurayrah – is a fabrication and lie against the Sahaabah and is rejected by anyone who knows how the Sahaabah really were and by anyone who has sufficient knowledge to examine the reports critically. How could the best generation and the best of mankind after the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) permit playing something that prevents people from remembering Allaah and from praying, and is worse in this regard than alcohol when the player gets immersed in it, as we see in real life? How could the Lawgiver forbid dice but permit chess, which is many times worse?…” (al-Furoosiyah, 303, 305, 311).
Al-Dhahabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “With regard to chess, most of the scholars say that it is haraam to play it, whether that is for money or not. If it is played for money then it is indisputably gambling. Even if it is not played for money it is still gambling and haraam, according to most of the scholars… al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about playing chess, is it forbidden or permissible? He (may Allaah have mercy on him) replied that if it makes a person miss praying on time or he plays for money, then it is haraam, otherwise it is makrooh according to al-Shaafa’i and haraam according to others…” (al-Kabaa’ir, 89-90).
For more information see Tahreem al-Nard wa’l-Shatranj wa’l-Malaahi by al-Aajurri, ed. By Muhammad Sa’eed Idrees.
And Allaah knows best. We ask Allaah to help us to do that which He loves and which pleases Him, and to help us to obey Him.
May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad.

Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
source: http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/14095

Al-Qurtubi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “This aayah indicates that it is haraam to play dice or chess, whether that involves gambling or not, because when Allaah forbade alcohol He explained the reason for that, which is ‘Shaytaan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allaah and from As-Salaah (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 Allaah and praying, is like drinking alcohol, which implies that it must be haraam like alcohol.” (al-Jaami’ li Ahkaam al-Qur’aan, 6/291).

Thanks for reminding me this Fatwa brother, but the problem with these type of book is that I can't rebuke others from playing chess due to the fact that I took a hadeeth from the "internet". My muslim brothers will just deny the fact that chess is indeed haram. Is there any solution to this problem?

format_quote Originally Posted by cat eyes

i love playstation but i dont play it all the time is it really haraam?

Come on! sister you dont play playstation

format_quote Originally Posted by Nabiel

Thanks for reminding me this Fatwa brother, but the problem with these type of book is that I can't rebuke others from playing chess due to the fact that I took a hadeeth from the "internet". My muslim brothers will just deny the fact that chess is indeed haram. Is there any solution to this problem?

wa

yes there is, first of all, memorise the hadith and the sanad if you can. Or memorise the hadith and the reference.
Then act like a true worshipper, people tend to take information as a reliable source when:
- inshaAllah when your only aim is to please Allah and really sincerily advise people,,,
- always speak with daleel(proof, evidence), even if it is a small question.
- the person has a good reputation(no sinning, gives the best example of behaviour, is known among people that he studies islamic sciences and is well rooted herein, etc..)
- doesn't speak when he doesn't know or doubts. (people tend to not trust you if you err(faults) to much)
- is honest and gives more opinions of the real scholars and then clearifies wich one is the strongest and best to follow
- has memorised a lot, it's much more convincing when you give the proof without a book.
- oh almost forgot.. arabic arabic arabic!!!! and memorise a lot of quran, you wont be taken serieus by some if you haven't memorised at least 7-10 juz.
- and much more....

And finally Allah is the one who raises status not we, remember the prophet pbuh for 13 years he was not taken serieus except by a few.

if I say something good it's from Allah and the faults are mine.

How can chess be haraam? It's not gambling, it's strategic. Makes you think fast and logically. Algebra and certain forms of science came from the Muslim world. If it benefits the mind, then I don't think it's haraam.

playing Chess is prohibited in Islam?If yes , what's the reason?

Jazakallah safiya
chess khelana band

format_quote Originally Posted by aadil77

Bro in the same way you could use that fatwa to deem every single game and sport haraam, It not that clear cut that it is haraam, you need to make sure that games do not waste time excessively, stop you from the rememberence of Allah or stir up emity or hatred

Read this clearly again

If this is so...
In my opinion Cricket is most time consuming game
I think This is most correct answer
JAZAKALLAH