The Ruling on Fortune-Telling with Dice and Islamic Guidance
Source: Fatāwā Muhammadiyyah, Vol. 1, Page 228
❖ Question
What is the ruling of Shari’ah on determining fortune through dice, and what have Allah Almighty and the Noble Messenger ﷺ said regarding such people? Please clarify.
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
The questioner has asked regarding dice.
Dice were, in fact, those arrows which the Arabs of the Age of Ignorance used for fortune-telling. On one arrow it would be written: “My Lord has commanded me”, on another: “My Lord has forbidden me”, while one arrow would remain plain with nothing written on it.
When they intended to travel, marry, or undertake any major task, they would go to their idols and determine their fortune through these arrows.
◄ If the “commanding arrow” appeared, they would proceed with the task.
◄ If the “forbidding arrow” appeared, they would refrain.
◄ If the “plain arrow” appeared, they would draw lots again until either the commanding or forbidding arrow appeared.
❖ Practices Similar to This in Today’s Society
Comparable actions in our society include:
◈ Drawing lines on the ground (Raml) to determine fate
◈ Casting shells (Koṛiyān)
◈ Opening a book for divination
◈ Using playing cards
◈ Reading the coffee cup (Fanjān)
All these practices are forbidden and evil (Munkar) in Islam.
❖ Evidence from the Qur’an
﴿وَأَن تَستَقسِموا بِالأَزلـٰمِ ۚ ذٰلِكُم فِسقٌ﴾
“And that you determine your lot by divining arrows – this is sin.”
❖ Evidence from Ḥadīth
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
لا ينال الدرجات اعلى من تكهن او استقسم او رجع من سفر تطيرا (النسائى)
“He will never attain the higher ranks who practices soothsaying, or determines fortune by arrows, or returns from a journey due to evil omens.”
❖ Conclusion
Therefore, it is essential to refrain from such polytheistic beliefs and actions; otherwise, the warning of Hellfire remains firmly established.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam biṣ-ṣawāb.
