Is It Permissible to Play Chess Without Gambling or Any Forbidden Element?

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “Chess, whenever it distracts from what is obligatory inwardly or outwardly, is forbidden by consensus of the scholars, such as if it distracts from an obligation like prayer, or duties toward oneself or one’s family, or enjoining good or forbidding evil, or maintaining kinship ties, or being dutiful to parents, or fulfilling responsibilities of leadership or governance or any other obligation, then it is forbidden by the consensus of the Muslims. Likewise, if it involves anything forbidden like lying, false oaths, betrayal, injustice, or helping in any of these, then it is also forbidden by the consensus of the Muslims.”

"O believers! Intoxicants, gambling, idols, and drawing lots for decisions are all evil of Satan’s handiwork. So shun them so you may be successful." "Satan’s plan is to stir up hostility and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling and to prevent you from remembering Allah and praying. Will you not then abstain?"

Al-Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him, said regarding this verse: “This verse indicates the prohibition of playing with dice and chess, whether with or without gambling, because Allah, when He forbade alcohol, explained its reason, saying: ‘Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred...’ Every amusement that invites to more and causes enmity and hatred among those who are absorbed in it, and distracts from the remembrance of Allah and prayer, is like alcohol and must also be forbidden.”

Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, passed by people playing chess and said: “What are these images to which you are devoted?”

Imam Ahmad said: “The most authentic thing about chess is the statement of ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him.”

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, was asked about chess and said: “It is worse than dice.” And “dice” or “nardashir” is what is now known as the dice used in backgammon.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: He who plays backgammon disobeys Allah and His Apostle.

The Prophet ﷺ said: " He who played Nardashir (a game similar to backgammon) is like one who dyed his hand with the flesh and blood of swine."

Imam al-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “This hadith is evidence for ash-Shafi‘i and the majority in prohibiting playing with dice. The meaning of ‘dyed his hand with the flesh and blood of swine.’ refers to doing so while eating them, which is a comparison to highlight its prohibition like that of eating them.”

Ibn Qudamah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “As for chess, it is like dice in prohibition.”

Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “The corruption of chess is greater than that of dice, and whatever indicates the prohibition of dice indicates more strongly the prohibition of chess... This is the opinion of Malik and his companions, Abu Hanifah and his companions, Ahmad and his companions, and the majority of the Tabi‘in. No one among the Companions is known to have permitted it or played it. Allah protected them from such. Anything attributed to them, such as Abu Hurayrah playing it, is slander and falsehood against the Companions. Anyone who knows their biographies and the narrations knows this. How could the best generation after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ allow playing with something that distracts from the remembrance of Allah and prayer more than alcohol, when someone is fully immersed in it? Reality proves this. How could the Shari‘ah forbid dice and permit chess when chess is far more harmful...”

Al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “As for chess, most scholars rule its playing forbidden whether with a wager or without. If with a wager, it is gambling without dispute. If without a wager, it is also gambling and prohibited according to most scholars... Imam al-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked: Is playing chess forbidden or permissible? He answered: If it causes missing a prayer from its time or involves a wager, then it is forbidden. Otherwise, it is disliked according to ash-Shafi‘i, and forbidden according to others...”