Explore the varying perspectives on playing chess from religious viewpoints, its history & the emotions it elicits in people.
Is it a sin to play chess?
Chess isn’t a sin, but chess might provoke emotions (or blindness of emotions like rage) which might serve as a catalyst to sin. Just about everything in life could serve as a catalyst to sin though.
How haram is chess?
The playing of chess is Haraam. If the playing of chess is accompanied by gambling than its prohibition is unanimous. If it is played without gambling then there is a difference of opinion in its prohibition. Where Allah Ta’aala declared alcohol and gambling as forbidden, he explained the reason for this prohibition.
Is it halal to play chess in Islam?
Chess is Partially Haram. Some Islamic scholars accept that chess is haram since it includes betting, forbidden in Islam. They argue that playing chess for cash or other material gains is comparable to gambling and must be avoided.
What did Muslims do to chess?
Muslim authorities flatly denounced any games of chance, and chess had to pass through societal scrutiny before reaching acceptance. The result is that the chess we know today is almost devoid of profit motive.
Was chess invented by Muslims?
Historical accounts about chess vary as many claim that Arabs taught it to westerners through Andalusia and during the Crusades. However, it remains unclear where the game originated from as many trace its roots to India while others trace them to China.
Which religion invented chess?
Chess has been called the “game of kings” and pious Christian legend attributed its invention to King Solomon himself. Hindu legend says that it came from a wise man who invented the game to instruct a tyrannical king named Shimram what his subjects were actually like, hence the variety of characters on the board.