The Ruling on Playing Bridge and Chess
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Question:
What is the evidence for the permissibility, or the prohibition, of playing bridge, or chess?
Answer:
Chess is prohibited according to the correct view; it is forbidden, even if there is no obstacle in it; because a person plays it for amusement, wastes what is necessary, and puts himself in a state of dominance, and it is one of the instruments of amusement that keep its owner away from what is due, occupy him, and distract him greatly; therefore, it is forbidden. And if there is a stake involved, it becomes forbidden by consensus. If there is a stake in chess, or dice, it becomes forbidden by consensus. And if there is no money involved, it is still forbidden; due to the generality of the evidence, for these instruments distract their owners, occupy them, and prevent them from the remembrance of Allah, and prevent them from prayer, and occupy them with what is more important than the obligatory duties. As for the second one mentioned, I do not know it!
Question: The Kouchine?
Answer: I do not know it, but if it distracts, then it is like it.
Question: Playing cards?
Answer: It is like it; because it contains images that distract and occupy, and among the evidence for this is the saying of His Lord: [Luqman:6] So the scholars said: "Amusing talk" is singing, instruments of amusement, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 5590 And musical instruments are instruments of amusement, and singing, and they prevent from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer. So many other hadiths have come in this meaning indicating the prohibition of songs, entertainments, and everything that prevents from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer.
What is the evidence for the permissibility, or the prohibition, of playing bridge, or chess?
Answer:
Chess is prohibited according to the correct view; it is forbidden, even if there is no obstacle in it; because a person plays it for amusement, wastes what is necessary, and puts himself in a state of dominance, and it is one of the instruments of amusement that keep its owner away from what is due, occupy him, and distract him greatly; therefore, it is forbidden. And if there is a stake involved, it becomes forbidden by consensus. If there is a stake in chess, or dice, it becomes forbidden by consensus. And if there is no money involved, it is still forbidden; due to the generality of the evidence, for these instruments distract their owners, occupy them, and prevent them from the remembrance of Allah, and prevent them from prayer, and occupy them with what is more important than the obligatory duties. As for the second one mentioned, I do not know it!
Question: The Kouchine?
Answer: I do not know it, but if it distracts, then it is like it.
Question: Playing cards?
Answer: It is like it; because it contains images that distract and occupy, and among the evidence for this is the saying of His Lord:
And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech to mislead [others] from the way of Allah
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِFrom among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful.
ليكونن من أمتي أقوام يستحلون الحر، والحرير، والخمر، والمعازف
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.