The Ruling on Playing Football and Other Games
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Question:
If the reason for the prohibition of playing chess and dice is their intense distraction of the Muslim from acts of worship and obligations—as mentioned by some scholars—does that mean that playing ball in all its forms is forbidden, by analogy to chess? And if there are people who play ball, and it does not distract them from obeying Allah or from their obligations, what is the ruling on that?
Answer:
Any form of amusement that leads to turning away from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer is prohibited: dice, chess, and all other types that occupy people away from obeying Allah, prevent them from obeying Allah, and distract them from what Allah has made obligatory. Indeed, Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [Al-Ma'idah: 90-91].
So gambling is betting, and betting distracts. Betting with money distracts people. So if a game like betting comes about, where amusement is obtained: chess with money, and dice with money, is betting. And if chess comes about without money, or what they call "Belot," it is of this nature; it also distracts and occupies.
Likewise, football. If the players are occupied by it to the extent that it distracts them from prayers, it is forbidden for them. But if it happens that a group of people play it for exercise, physical strength, running, taking, and giving, at a time that does not approach prayer, does not prevent prayer, and does not prevent an obligation, then the original ruling is permissibility. If it is found at a time when it does not prevent the remembrance of Allah or the performance of an obligation, then the original ruling is permissibility.
But what is observed now from its people is that they—seeking refuge in Allah—have prevented them from all good. It has occupied them away from prayers, and occupied others; they are not alone. It has also occupied the spectators, even in their homes—seeking refuge in Allah—it has occupied people in their homes and in the stadium.
So it appears from its current state that it is forbidden, and that it is an evil, and it is not permissible to engage in it ever; because it has prevented them from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. It has occupied them and others away from prayer, and perhaps they miss both the 'Asr prayer and the Maghrib prayer because of this bad action. Then what? And what is the value of this ball?! What value does it have?! If not that Satan made it attractive to its people. Yes, if it were possible that they did it at a time when it does not occupy them, we would not say it is forbidden; because it is a game, and there is nothing in it of usury or interest, nor anything of gambling. But now its matter has increased, and they have exaggerated in it, until it became—seeking refuge in Allah—a preventer for them from performing two obligatory prayers, the 'Asr prayer and the Maghrib prayer. If they do it during 'Asr, this is from the great evil. Then hundreds and thousands attend, all of them occupied with this, and they give money to attend, and they waste the prayer along with the players.
Question : And the private parts are exposed?
Answer: And this is another disease as well. If the thigh is exposed, it is a private part, so this is another evil. We ask Allah to guide the state to eliminate it and prevent it completely, if it is not feasible to have a specific time for it that has no harm and does not contain what contradicts the command of Allah.
And great effort has been made in this matter. Do not think that we have been negligent about this, nor have the scholars been negligent about it. Rather, great effort has been made by the scholars, and the scholars have written to the rulers, and the rulers agreed that it should be at safe times, where there is no prevention from prayer. But the implementation has difficulty in it, and those in charge of it do not have full care for this matter, so that they choose the appropriate time, or so that they pray in the place when prayer time arrives. They establish the prayer, and the people present pray, then Maghrib comes, and they pray. This is no harm; the matter is broad in this. But they attend, then they disperse, so there is no prayer, no 'Asr, and no Maghrib. So this is the calamity. But if Allah guides them, and they establish the prayer at its time, 'Asr and Maghrib at their times, and then they return to their game, that does not harm.
If the reason for the prohibition of playing chess and dice is their intense distraction of the Muslim from acts of worship and obligations—as mentioned by some scholars—does that mean that playing ball in all its forms is forbidden, by analogy to chess? And if there are people who play ball, and it does not distract them from obeying Allah or from their obligations, what is the ruling on that?
Answer:
Any form of amusement that leads to turning away from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer is prohibited: dice, chess, and all other types that occupy people away from obeying Allah, prevent them from obeying Allah, and distract them from what Allah has made obligatory. Indeed, Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said:
O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنْصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ So gambling is betting, and betting distracts. Betting with money distracts people. So if a game like betting comes about, where amusement is obtained: chess with money, and dice with money, is betting. And if chess comes about without money, or what they call "Belot," it is of this nature; it also distracts and occupies.
Likewise, football. If the players are occupied by it to the extent that it distracts them from prayers, it is forbidden for them. But if it happens that a group of people play it for exercise, physical strength, running, taking, and giving, at a time that does not approach prayer, does not prevent prayer, and does not prevent an obligation, then the original ruling is permissibility. If it is found at a time when it does not prevent the remembrance of Allah or the performance of an obligation, then the original ruling is permissibility.
But what is observed now from its people is that they—seeking refuge in Allah—have prevented them from all good. It has occupied them away from prayers, and occupied others; they are not alone. It has also occupied the spectators, even in their homes—seeking refuge in Allah—it has occupied people in their homes and in the stadium.
So it appears from its current state that it is forbidden, and that it is an evil, and it is not permissible to engage in it ever; because it has prevented them from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. It has occupied them and others away from prayer, and perhaps they miss both the 'Asr prayer and the Maghrib prayer because of this bad action. Then what? And what is the value of this ball?! What value does it have?! If not that Satan made it attractive to its people. Yes, if it were possible that they did it at a time when it does not occupy them, we would not say it is forbidden; because it is a game, and there is nothing in it of usury or interest, nor anything of gambling. But now its matter has increased, and they have exaggerated in it, until it became—seeking refuge in Allah—a preventer for them from performing two obligatory prayers, the 'Asr prayer and the Maghrib prayer. If they do it during 'Asr, this is from the great evil. Then hundreds and thousands attend, all of them occupied with this, and they give money to attend, and they waste the prayer along with the players.
Question : And the private parts are exposed?
Answer: And this is another disease as well. If the thigh is exposed, it is a private part, so this is another evil. We ask Allah to guide the state to eliminate it and prevent it completely, if it is not feasible to have a specific time for it that has no harm and does not contain what contradicts the command of Allah.
And great effort has been made in this matter. Do not think that we have been negligent about this, nor have the scholars been negligent about it. Rather, great effort has been made by the scholars, and the scholars have written to the rulers, and the rulers agreed that it should be at safe times, where there is no prevention from prayer. But the implementation has difficulty in it, and those in charge of it do not have full care for this matter, so that they choose the appropriate time, or so that they pray in the place when prayer time arrives. They establish the prayer, and the people present pray, then Maghrib comes, and they pray. This is no harm; the matter is broad in this. But they attend, then they disperse, so there is no prayer, no 'Asr, and no Maghrib. So this is the calamity. But if Allah guides them, and they establish the prayer at its time, 'Asr and Maghrib at their times, and then they return to their game, that does not harm.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.