What is the ruling on playing chess (Shatranj)?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Testimonies
Primary text
Chess is treated similarly to backgammon in terms of prohibition, although backgammon is considered more severely prohibited due to the explicit text concerning it. Those who hold it forbidden include Ali ibn Abi Talib, Ibn Umar, Ibn Abbas, Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab, al-Qasim, Salim, Urwah, Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn, Matarr al-Warraq, and Malik. This is also the view of Abu Hanifa. The evidence for prohibition includes the Quranic verse commanding avoidance of Maysir (Quran 5:90). Ali (RA) stated that chess is a form of Maysir and rebuked players, asking, "What are these idols that you remain devoted to?" Ahmad deemed Ali's statement the soundest opinion regarding chess. Further evidence includes a Hadith narrated by Wathilah ibn al-Asqa' that Allah looks 360 times daily, and the player of Shatranj has no share in that regard. It is also prohibited because it diverts one from the remembrance of Allah and prayer, similar to backgammon.
Supporting text
Al-Shafi'i permitted chess, and his followers narrated this view from Abu Hurayrah, Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab, and Sa'id ibn Jubayr. Their evidence is that the default state is permissibility, no explicit text forbids it, nor is it analogous to explicitly prohibited matters. They also distinguished chess from backgammon by noting that chess involves military strategy, resembling playing with spears or archery, and that chess relies on skill and planning rather than dice throws like backgammon (which resembles the forbidden lot-casting, Azlam).