Is playing chess permissible or forbidden under the mentioned conditions, and is it true that Imam Al-Shafi'i used to play chess?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
We have previously mentioned the ruling on playing chess. It has not been authentically reported that Imam Al-Shafi'i permitted it; rather, what is transmitted from him is his dislike for it and his hesitation regarding its prohibition. He said about it: "It is an amusement similar to falsehood. I dislike it, but its prohibition is not clear to me."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/44403
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 44403
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy