Chess forbidden in Islam, rules Saudi mufti, but issue not black and white

UK Guardian ^ | January 21, 2016 | Kareem Shaheen

[C19fan]

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”.

[C19fan]

One night in Bangkok....

[baltimorepoet]

He probably doesn’t like chess because it originated in Persia, LOL.

[C19fan]

Initially the Iranian Revolution banned chess too but the ban was reversed.

[Charles Henrickson]

Chess fans should move to the Czech Republic.

[The Iceman Cometh]

a cause for hatred and enmity between

Free Republic to be banned next. Lolz

[Scrambler Bob]

How about if both sides’ Chess pieces are the same color, black.

Then playing Chess would be like Sunni vs Shiites.

[BenLurkin]

Or black and orange and they could be playing Jetan.

[notaliberal]

The only thing they seem to like is humping goats and raping women

[Responsibility2nd]

No doubt that the grand muff thought he could play chess, but got beat 5 games in a row. By an amateur.

So the solution? BAN IT!

[Scrambler Bob]

Queens wear burkas.

Some Pawns are suicide bombers.

[MrEdd]

Mecca, Asia Minor setting
The Mufti play a game of kafir blood letting...

[Maine Mariner]

Even worse he lost those five games to a 15 year old girl!

[fwdude]

Is it because the game has a “queen?”

[thackney]

Chess = gambling?

100% skill, nothing to chance, everything revealed to both players

[Psalm 73]

"Chess fans should move to the Czech Republic."

Charles, did you actually post that with a straight face?

[ek_hornbeck]

He probably doesn’t like chess because it originated in Persia

It's equally likely that he dislikes chess because it's an activity that requires reasoning and rational thought.

[FatherofFive]

Chess encourages logical thinking - dangerous to Islam.

[Politicalkiddo]

The Queen is too powerful a piece, I guess.

[Sasparilla]

Issue not black and white...Good chess joke

[beethovenfan]

Yes, chess is a waste of time for a Muslim, who could be doing Islamic things like raping a woman or beheading someone.