Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti has ruled that chess is forbidden in Islam, saying it encourages gambling and is a waste of time.
Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Sheikh was answering a question on a television show in which he issues fatwas in response to viewers’ queries on everyday religious matters.
He said chess was “included under gambling” and was “a waste of time and money and a cause for hatred and enmity between players”.
Sheikh justified the ruling by referring to the verse in the Qur’an banning “intoxicants, gambling, idolatry and divination”. It is not clear when the fatwa was delivered. [2365 comments]
[TOP RATED COMMENT 1003 votes] An honest question: if Saudi Muslims are so against gambling, how come they are so active in horse-racing?
[2ND 683] Yes I can understand how a game that encourages logical thought would be frowned upon by a follower of a magic sky pixie. What an idiotic pronouncement. Plus any religion that classes music as a vice can really fuck off as far as I'm concerned.
[3RD 575] An honest answer - hypocrisy. [The Guardian] Read more
