1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

16 Questions

Is playing chess Haram even if there is no gambling involved?
Zaid Alsalami

Bismihi ta'ala

In regards to chess specifically, and playing it of course with no gambling, this is a fiqhi matter, where our esteemed Maraji' have different verdicts. 

For example, A.U. Seyid Sistani (may Allah prolong his life) says that it is absolutely haram. 
As for A.U. Seyid Khamenei (may Allah prolong his life), he says if it is commonly seen in the custom of people ('urf) as a gambling instrument, then it is haram, and if not, then it is halal. 

You must refer to your Marja' taqleed for this fatwa. 

And Allah knows best. 
I understand that playing any game that involves placing a bet is Haram in Islam. But why is chess considered Haram even when played without a bet? Is there a difference of opinion on this matter among the scholars?
Amina Inloes

It is because there are hadith specifically prohibiting chess.

Ayatollah Khamene'i allows chess if it is not being used for gambling, but in general the traditional view is that it is not allowed.

God knows best.
Matched betting, from my own research, is not classified as gambling because I understand that it is totally risk free and you cannot lose money while being guaranteed profit. Is it permissible?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

If there was really no risk of loosing in "matched betting", you would have seen all wealthy companies investing in it. Matched betting is a type of calculated betting which means it is a type of gambling with small percentage of risk. It is a betting and betting is not allowed in Islam.

Wassalam.
Would a raffle be considered gambling if it involved people buying tickets for £1 each that were all then put in a container and one winner picked out at random who wins an expensive prize?
Mohammad Saeed Bahmanpour

Salamun alaykum

Yes this practice is considered as gambling. In general any practice which involves a prize achieved from the property of the participants is gambling.