Chess

[Mystic]

I used to play chess, too. It's still my favorite board game even though I get beaten most of the time. =(

I thought it was forbidden in Islam. I followed Khamanei/Khomeini, and they said it was forbidden because it use to used primarily for gambling. In a society where it isn't used primarily for that, it would not be forbidden. I agreed, and thought it was illogical for God to forbid for the sake of the game itself. But everyone else said it was forbidden no matter what. At least I thought it was that way.

[Darkstar]

I used to play chess, too. It's still my favorite board game even though I get beaten most of the time. =(

I thought it was forbidden in Islam. I followed Khamanei/Khomeini, and they said it was forbidden because it use to used primarily for gambling. In a society where it isn't used primarily for that, it would not be forbidden. I agreed, and thought it was illogical for God to forbid for the sake of the game itself. But everyone else said it was forbidden no matter what. At least I thought it was that way.

@Rayaan
I consider myself to be generally intelligent, and I am very good at most strategy games, but for some reason I too lose at chess. I lose about 80% of the time against a computer program on the easiest difficulty setting, yet am still better than my siblings.

@MysticKnight
I have never heard of chess being used for gambling before. The idea seems strange to me.

[Rayaan]

I thought it was forbidden in Islam. I followed Khamanei/Khomeini, and they said it was forbidden because it use to used primarily for gambling. In a society where it isn't used primarily for that, it would not be forbidden. I agreed, and thought it was illogical for God to forbid for the sake of the game itself. But everyone else said it was forbidden no matter what. At least I thought it was that way.

Some Muslims do believe that chess is forbidden, and maybe it is, but that's not an opinion that is strongly supported according to my knowledge.

Muslims scholars also have a range of different opinions on this issue.

If you were playing a game that involves gambling, then it would be forbidden. There are indeed some hadiths regarding chess, but I'm not sure of their authenticity. And the Quran doesn't forbid chess either except when it's played for money or gambling purposes. Chess, by itself, is basically a game that involves brains and strategy. I haven't really come across a good reason why Islam would be prohibit it.

[Mystic]

I know Shiite Hadiths have authentic hadiths reaching the level of tawatur, that it's forbidden.

I think Sunni hadiths have a few authentic ones, but I don't think it's at the level of tawatur.

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Here is authentic one from "Sahih" Muslim:

Book 028, Number 5612:
Buraida reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: He who played chess is like one who dyed his hand with the flesh and blood of swine.

[Tea Earl Grey Hot]

Played chess a lot when I was a kid. I had this 3D computer game called Lego Chess that I'd play against. All the pieces looked like Legos.

[The Grand Nudger]

Try Hippo Defense to screw with the program Dark. Set up 2 avenues for checkmate before you press it (the program will likely only defend itself from one of them, if you sacrifice it, ignoring the other).

(or, more specifically you could see which engine your program uses and what oddities it has - this is, essentially, no different than checking the match history of a human player)

[Rayaan]

Here is authentic one from "Sahih" Muslim:

Book 028, Number 5612:
Buraida reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: He who played chess is like one who dyed his hand with the flesh and blood of swine.

Yeah, I've heard that hadith before. But that can be interpreted to mean that chess is something which is bad or disliked (makrooh), but we cannot consider that to mean strictly forbidden (haram) unless the hadith clearly says so. There are also other things that are classified as "khilaf al-awla" and those are things which are deemed "better not to do," but they are not necessarily sinful in every case.

Another common argument against chess is that it is not allowed simply because it is a waste of time since it distracts us from the remembrance of God and prevents us from doing good deeds and earning His pleasure ... and stuff like that.

From a website:
"Islam absolutely discourages the believers from 'wasting' their precious and allocated time in doing useless and worthless deeds; deeds which will bring absolutely no profit to themselves or others, either in this world or the Hereafter! All such useless and worthless deeds which bring absolutely no gain or benefit to one in this world or the Hereafter, nor furthers one's cause towards salvation and success are prohibited for the believers who sincerely believe in Allah and the Last Day." - http://www.islamhelpline.com/node/4006

But, by that reasoning, all kinds of games, sports, or recreational activities would be forbidden let alone chess, if we consider them as a "waste" of time.

[Mystic]

So why is it "disliked" by God?

[Violet]

So... you want a collective, but non-interactive chess game?

Good luck. Can't wait until half the populace forgets where the pieces are and/or trolls hard by ignoring an amazing fork in favor of moving the king pointlessly up and down.

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@Rayaan
I consider myself to be generally intelligent, and I am very good at most strategy games, but for some reason I too lose at chess. I lose about 80% of the time against a computer program on the easiest difficulty setting, yet am still better than my siblings.

Chess is a psychological game for me... playing against the computer isn't 'harder' per see, but it loses all of its fun for me. It's like how I adore playing competitive games, but absolutely cannot stand playing them against bots more than a few times in a month.

[Rayaan]

So why is it "disliked" by God?

I'm not sure if it is disliked in the first place because the hadiths may have been narrated to group of people who used to play excessively, or perhaps Muhammad said those hadiths at a time when people used to play with money. That Quran prohibits playing games only in the context of gambling.

There isn't a clear agreement on the ruling on chess. When that happens, one is allowed to follow his or her conscience.