Ibn Majah

Benefits and Issues:

➊ Nard or nardshir is a game in which pieces are placed in various squares and moved in a particular manner, resulting in winning or losing the game. Chess and similar games are different forms of this.

➋ In nard and chess, etc., it is common to play with a wager, and the loser pays the winner something or a sum of money; therefore, this falls under gambling, which is haram (forbidden).

➌ The pig is an impure animal; a Muslim does not even tolerate touching it, let alone making its meat or staining his hands with its blood. There should be such aversion to games associated with gambling.

➍ The reason for the prohibition of chess and gambling is that people become so engrossed in them that they waste time to the extent that they do not even care about prayer. It is also forbidden to become so absorbed in any other game that it affects the performance of worship, remembrance of Allah, and the fulfillment of people's rights.

➎ Some scholars have deemed playing chess without a wager permissible, provided that it does not affect the fulfillment of other obligations. However, it is better to avoid it, because even if this caution is observed in the beginning, once it becomes a habit, it is difficult—rather, impossible—to maintain this consideration.

Hadith Commentary:

Benefits and Issues:
➊ All such games in which there is neither mental nor physical exercise, or in which there is exercise but gambling and betting are involved, or they are a waste of time, or they cause negligence of obligatory duties, and a person becomes so absorbed in the game that he pays no attention to anything else— all these games are impermissible.
➋ Although the prohibition of all is not equal, the more the sanctity of the Shari‘ah is violated, the more reprehensible and disliked it will be.
➌ However, if a game is health-promoting or assists in developing martial skills and does not hinder the performance of obligatory duties— such as running, horse riding, spear throwing, weapons training, tug of war, wrestling, etc.— as long as there is no condition or gambling involved, then these games are permissible.
➍ But games that are played sitting down, in which nothing is achieved except wasting time, are not correct.

Benefits and Issues:
➊ Games that result in the waste of time and wealth are absolutely impermissible. The real purpose of play is mental relaxation and physical exercise. If even in permissible games time is wasted, then they too become impermissible.

➋ In light of these authentic ahadith and the aforementioned principle, there is absolutely no allowance for games like cricket. According to the Shari‘ah, this is an impermissible game, because the way in which the time of countless people is mercilessly wasted in this game is unparalleled in any other game. Furthermore, in games like cricket, there is no concern for prayer (salah), fasting (sawm), or any other religious or worldly responsibility. Alongside this, this game has become, at the international level, a major means of the worst curse and major sin like gambling. At the national and country level, its harms and negative effects are immense, and in comparison, there is no benefit at all. To play such a game or to encourage it is out of the question; rather, the quality of a servant of the Most Merciful (Rahman) is described as not even being willing to look towards such futile and useless activities, but rather passing by them with dignity. In the Noble Qur’an, Allah the Exalted says: (وَ اِذَا مَرُّوْا بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّوْا كِرَامًا) — “And when they pass by vain (religiously and worldly useless) things, they pass by with dignity.” () Such a beautiful and sensitive Shari‘ah, and such a pure religion in which even playing chess is not permitted—how can there be allowance in this natural religion for games like cricket?