Is chess really haram?

[Ramadhan]

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.

Brother, you need to lay off your frequent shu'udzon of your own brothers and sisters in Islam.

From the sources on the history of chess including the source you cited, it seems chess was taken up by the muslim world after the conquest of Persia (633-644) and introduced to europe after that, and it is highly unlikely that the Makkah-Madina people already played it during prophet Muhammad SAW.

The hadith that you cited from muslim seems to be an error in translation, and the one cited by Dagless is more accurate:
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)

For your information, backgammon is the oldest board game (around 5,000 years) and already existed during ancient egypt and mesopotamia civilizations.
Important to notice: backgammon requires play of DICE and LUCK is very important factor in the outcomes, and gambling has been associated with backgammon as old as the game itself.

 

[YusufNoor]

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



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

just adding my 2 cents:

having been a fair to middling chess player for most of my life, i found a xiangqi computer in the early '90s, iirc. xiangqi is basically "chinese chess." i was extremely interested and learned how not only to play, but could beat the game on the lower levels and on the mid levels i worked out a few sacrifices [pc's sometimes play point count, leave a few higher ranking pieces exposed which the pc will take, while you maneuver for check mate.]

i brought the game to work the next. a Vietnamese pantry worker saw me playing and said, "you wanna play?" sure, why not? did he say ok? nope, "25 bucks" is what he said. i was kinda irked saying that i just learned to play yesterday. he said that if i didn't want to bet, then he wouldn't play. a Vietnamese dishwasher later agreed to play. i beat him, the pantry worker then refused to play me. later on, a friend of mine from Thailand returned. i asked him if he cared to play? "NO WAY, i don't have any money," was his reply.

in some cultures, xiangqi is learned like westerners learn checkers. BUT you play to gamble! to them, the game is chess. it is NOT the same as western chess. western chess is played as a game of intellect and skill.

western chess is a difficult game to master taking years of study. xiangqi, however is an awesome game of beauty and involving skill as well, but because there are fewer pawns, only 5, and a river in the middle of the board and the king and his ministers being restricted to the "castle", it is WAY different than [western] chess.

the games aren't the same. "chess" is "boring" unless you take the time to master "the 64 variations of the 64 openings" [an expression more than a truism]; xiangqi focuses on 5 or 6 openings. it's simpler, sweeter and much more fun.

i don't believe that they are they same, as well they AREN'T! one is, though much more fun, a game meant for gambling. the other is strictly a game.

i don't know if xiangqi existed at the time of Rasulullah, but "western" chess didn't. it might even be said to be the version of the game that was developed in Persia because there the game was modified by removing haram elements.

even the link says:

The variation familiar to Europeans and Americans traveled through Iran (Persia) to the main commercial centers of Italy and Spain by about 1000 AD.

Shogi, Japanese chess, is even different that "chess' and xiangqi. what game was the hadeeth talking about?

so maybe that's 3 cents...

 

[Ramadhan]

what game was the hadeeth talking about?

It very likely refers to backgammon:

http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/magazine/article_display.cfm?resourceid=38

Backgammon is said to be the oldest game in recorded history. Its origin stems from a version of this board game that was first played about 5,000 years ago in Ur of the Chaldees in Mesopotamia. In Greek, Mesopotamia means "between rivers". The Tigris and Euphrates rivers bordered this area situated just north of the Persian Gulf in present day Iraq and Kuwait. Between 2900-1800 BC, early civilizations of a very diverse people lived in these fertile valleys. Ur, also known as the home of the Biblical Abraham, was an important city of the Sumerian culture.

http://www.play65.com/BackgammonHistory.html

Backgammon history continued to evolve throughout the 20th century as the backgammon game underwent two stirring changes at the beginning of the 20th century and toward its end. First, the doubling cube was invented, apparently by socialite Grand Duke Dmitri of Russia, adding new elements of strategy and strengthening backgammon tie with gambling. And finally, for now, the expanding accessibility of fast internet introduced online backgammon servers, enabling real-time, multi-player backgammon games between opponents of opposite sides of the globe.

http://www.1on1backgammon.com/backgammon-history.html

The backgammon game actually became so popular that it had more than its share of problems with the English church. The inherent element of gambling probably was the main reason to this prosecution.

http://www.msoworld.com/mindzine/news/classic/bg/history1.html

There is evidence that several thousand years later the Egyptian Pharaohs were enjoying another board game that may be an ancestor of backgammon. Boards dating from 1500 BC. were found in King Tutankhamen's tomb in the valley of the Nile, and even at Enkomi on Cyprus, then an Egyptian colony. One board contains Queen Hatshepsut's name, and with the board were found lion-headed pieces, the ancient symbols of royal power. Wall paintings in many Egyptian tombs portray people playing the game, suggesting that it was played by common people as well as by the aristocracy.

 

[sabr*]

Brother, you need to lay off your frequent shu'udzon of your own brothers and sisters in Islam.

From the sources on the history of chess including the source you cited, it seems chess was taken up by the muslim world after the conquest of Persia (633-644) and introduced to europe after that, and it is highly unlikely that the Makkah-Madina people already played it during prophet Muhammad SAW.

The hadith that you cited from muslim seems to be an error in translation, and the one cited by Dagless is more accurate:
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)

For your information, backgammon is the oldest board game (around 5,000 years) and already existed during ancient egypt and mesopotamia civilizations.
Important to notice: backgammon requires play of DICE and LUCK is very important factor in the outcomes, and gambling has been associated with backgammon as old as the game itself.

As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم):

The insult of the indo word shu'udzon ( cynical, negative, doubtful) is misapplied. You use that label because we are
presenting Dalil (Evidence) that is opposing the normal tribal, cultural and clicks in the forum. We only desire to promote
Allah's word as superior. A blacklash is expected when we oppose the buddy system in the forum. A forum member who
we support in most views supports playing chess based upon personal feelings and not dalil but we don't allow that to
hinder our position of supporting what it correct. When time permits read the following ayat.


Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread) 5:8

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّامِينَ لِلّهِ شُهَدَاء بِالْقِسْطِ وَلاَ يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلاَّ تَعْدِلُواْ اعْدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ إِنَّ اللّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ (5:8)
​

Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo koonoo qawwameena lillahi shuhadaa bialqisti wala yajrimannakum shanaanu qawmin AAala alla taAAdiloo iAAdiloo huwa aqrabu lilttaqwa waittaqoo Allaha inna Allaha khabeerun bima taAAmaloona

[FONT=Verdana,Arial]5:8 (Y. Ali) O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.
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[al yunan]

How can it lead to shirk?

Assalamu Alaikum brother,

A lot of Fatwas don't make sense to us ordinary folk as we are not A'lim.
The thing about Fiqh one has to have an holistic knowledge of Islam to understand it.
This particular decision by the Imam proves how inept is Muslim's understanding of Shariah for it's strange how Makruh Tahrimi leads to shirk which is worse than the Kufr of Haram.
I too questioned this and was told that a single act of Haram would lead one to be Kafir until the sin was atoned for or wrong restored e.t.c.
Whereas Makruh Tahrimi is to a deliberate act that is done continuously and it's this factor of repetition that makes it Shirk.
A single mistake is not the same a repetitive one for it involves Thought,Decision and Act.
We would truly be lost today without those scholars of old may Allah S.W.T bless and forgive them all.
The problem with most of us today is that we accept the first favourable decision that comes our way without doing a thorough research.
Ignorance of law is no excuse in this world's law and it's also so in Divine law.

May Allah S.W.T protects us from Ghaflah.(ignorance, stupidity, unbothered)
Masalam

PS: Has anyone concidered the figure carvings of the chess pieces ?

 

[جوري]

As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم):

The insult of the indo word shu'udzon ( cynical, negative, doubtful) is misapplied. You use that label because we are
presenting Dalil (Evidence) that is opposing the normal tribal, cultural and clicks in the forum. We only desire to promote
Allah's word as superior. A blacklash is expected when we oppose the buddy system in the forum. A forum member who
we support in most views supports playing chess based upon personal feelings and not dalil but we don't allow that to
hinder our position of supporting what it correct. When time permits read the following ayat.


Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread) 5:8

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّامِينَ لِلّهِ شُهَدَاء بِالْقِسْطِ وَلاَ يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلاَّ تَعْدِلُواْ اعْدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ إِنَّ اللّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ (5:8)
​

Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo koonoo qawwameena lillahi shuhadaa bialqisti wala yajrimannakum shanaanu qawmin AAala alla taAAdiloo iAAdiloo huwa aqrabu lilttaqwa waittaqoo Allaha inna Allaha khabeerun bima taAAmaloona

[FONT=Verdana,Arial]5:8 (Y. Ali) O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

I don't know if this post is directed at me?
I have neither stated that I support or don't support the game of chess or that I am looking for others to buddy with me on a 'personal feeling' --Perhaps everyone including your person is exhibiting a personal feeling-- what do you think? The word for chess in Arabic is shatranj, Arabic is my mother tongue, I saw no hadith in Arabic with reference to such a word and the one you've used doesn't translate to chess in Arabic.. further the online fatwas that are available differ in opinion so we're all left to our own devices. Either we form an opinion that is rooted in knowledge or it is my fatwa can beat your fatwa.. I like to use my mind, since Islam goes with common sense not against it!

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[Ramadhan]

As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم): The insult of the indo word shu'udzon ( cynical, negative, doubtful) is misapplied. You use that label because we are presenting Dalil (Evidence) that is opposing the normal tribal, cultural and clicks in the forum. We only desire to promote Allah's word as superior. A blacklash is expected when we oppose the buddy system in the forum. A forum member who we support in most views supports playing chess based upon personal feelings and not dalil but we don't allow that to hinder our position of supporting what it correct. When time permits read the following ayat.

:wa:

Brother, I don't play chess at all and I don't support playing chess based upon personal feelings and against dalil.

But I'm very interested to know what exactly is referred to in the hadith.

This is extermely important one for us muslims as Rasulullah SAW said:

Narrated 'Ali: The Prophet said, "Do not tell a lie against me for whoever tells a lie against me (intentionally) then he will surely enter the Hell-fire."
References:
• Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 3, #106, Book: Kitab al-Iilm (Knowledge)

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Az-Zubair: I said to my father, 'I do not hear from you any narration (Hadith) of Allah s Apostle as I hear (his narrations) from so and so?" Az-Zubair replied. l was always with him (the Prophet) and I heard him saying "Whoever tells a lie against me (intentionally) then (surely) let him occupy, his seat in Hell-fire.
References:
• Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 3, #107, Book: Kitab al-Iilm (Knowledge)

Narrated Salama: I heard the Prophet saying, "Whoever (intentionally) ascribes to me what I have not said then (surely) let him occupy his seat in Hell-fire."
References:
• Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 3, #109, Book: Kitab al-Iilm (Knowledge)

In the hadith shahih muslims that you presented, you translated it as "chess', however, in many other translations it is mentioned as backgammon:

788. Fadala ibn 'Ubayd was at a meeting when he heard that some people were playing backgammon. He got up in anger to forbid it in the strongest possible terms. Then he said, "The one who plays in order to live on his winnings is like a person who eats pig meat and does wudu' in blood." http://www.sunnipath.com/library/Hadith/H0003P0032.aspx

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.

 

[CosmicPathos]

oh wow, I did not know that rolling dice is haram? We play a game called Ludoo feverently in Pakistan. So its haram? :S
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludo_(board_game)

 

[al yunan]

Salam to all,

If all that has been presented so far was compared and summarised:

• The evidence against backgammon is undeniable.
• The evidence against chess by comparative Ahadith and Qiyas would point to a gray matter issue. The prophet s.a.w advised us to stay clear of gray issues until we have assurances on the matter.
• The choice here becomes personal. To play or not play chess.
• Should one decide to play it's best to refrain from saying to others that it is permissible.
• Should one decide not to play then it would best also to refrain from telling others that it's Haram
• The third and final option is to take the Prophet s.a.w's advice treat it a a gray issue and refrain from judging others until proof positive is obtained.
• The solution would be to produce Ahadith in their original Arabic form with chess as the topic from any accepted to all source.

The main issue is to have Yakin Mutmaina one way or the other and to avoid the sin of making what is Haram into Halal and visa versa.
In a gray matter any decision that's not outright for something becomes undesirable and remains on the individual''s Aqidah to react to it.
A reminder that on judgement day we stand alone with our deeds

May Allah S.W.T grant us the way to his favour (Ridha Allah)
Masalam

PS: On a personal basis I quit all those board Games plus cards from evidence to time wasting and Gaflah over two decades ago my source "Mishkat al Masabih"
PS 2: Susnuzon is a dangerous sifa best reserved for extreme cases like for the enemies of Allah S.W.T, our beloved Prophet s.a.w and his Wasiat

 

[Dagless]

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.
________________________________________________

I agree that maybe it is better to avoid all forms of chess since we don't know the exact variation which was being referred to (if the word 'chess' is mentioned). You haven't, however, answered why you think it is haraam. I ask because there are a few similar games.

The hadith that you cited from muslim seems to be an error in translation, and the one cited by Dagless is more accurate:

It was Nbeel, not me.

Assalamu Alaikum brother,

A lot of Fatwas don't make sense to us ordinary folk as we are not A'lim.
The thing about Fiqh one has to have an holistic knowledge of Islam to understand it.
This particular decision by the Imam proves how inept is Muslim's understanding of Shariah for it's strange how Makruh Tahrimi leads to shirk which is worse than the Kufr of Haram.
I too questioned this and was told that a single act of Haram would lead one to be Kafir until the sin was atoned for or wrong restored e.t.c.
Whereas Makruh Tahrimi is to a deliberate act that is done continuously and it's this factor of repetition that makes it Shirk.
A single mistake is not the same a repetitive one for it involves Thought,Decision and Act.
We would truly be lost today without those scholars of old may Allah S.W.T bless and forgive them all.
The problem with most of us today is that we accept the first favourable decision that comes our way without doing a thorough research.
Ignorance of law is no excuse in this world's law and it's also so in Divine law.

May Allah S.W.T protects us from Ghaflah.(ignorance, stupidity, unbothered)
Masalam

PS: Has anyone concidered the figure carvings of the chess pieces ?

I would like more evidence on this if you have it. Whenever I hear the word shirk I take it to mean major shirk (ie. associating partners). A sin, whether done once or more is still a sin. I understand that it can lead to bigger sins and those can lead to shirk, but there is a difference between sin and shirk... otherwise I think most of us would be outside the fold of Islam.

 

[al yunan]

I would like more evidence on this if you have it. Whenever I hear the word shirk I take it to mean major shirk (ie. associating partners). A sin, whether done once or more is still a sin. I understand that it can lead to bigger sins and those can lead to shirk, but there is a difference between sin and shirk... otherwise I think most of us would be outside the fold of Islam.

Assalamu Alaikum brother Dagless,

I suggest you take the matter up with some one who is versed on Imam Malik rahimullah Math'hab.
For me I lay my trust in the person who explained to me. As I mentioned it's strange and rightly so should you seek proof as I did.
The actual explanation is a lot lenghtier which also lead me to stop many other forms of time wasting.
I'm happy as a fellow Muslim that you take what might seem small matter to others seriously.
On the matter of Shirk, it's a broad subject with a lot of shocking realities and I strongly believe that all of us should strive to understant the principle well to avoid becoming it's victims and with out Was-Was.

Thanks for your reply and interest.
Masalam

 

[Rhubarb Tart]

I am still going to play chess. I don’t understand the reason Islam q and A gave. I am not fond of that site either. The same reason of wasting time can be applied to play station. And I dont waste time on chess.

:wa:

 

[Anas Hasan]

بسم الله
I'm still not convinced that playing chess is haram, I mean ya there is a Hadeeth saying it's Haram but is the chess they were playing the same chess we play now.
You may say you don't have to be convinced in order to obey, and I know that the you don't have to know the wisdom in everything in islam, but I can say that until now I've never seen or heard anything in Islam Haram or Halal that didn't convince me.

Saying chess is Haram is going to open new other doors, like playing computer games, football, or any game, so the reason for Tahreem the chess must be known and clear.

 

[Muslim Woman]

the hadith on chess are all authentic or some are weak ?