Is playing billiards permissible or forbidden, and is working in a billiard hall operating a coffee and tea machine forbidden?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It has been previously mentioned that the ruling on billiards, if played for money, is forbidden because it falls under gambling. If it is not played for money, there is no harm in it, as long as no prohibitive factors arise, such as neglecting prayers. As for working in a billiards hall, such as serving tea to players, if the game is forbidden (because it is played for money or leads to neglecting prayers), then the work is forbidden because it constitutes aiding in sin. If the game is permissible (not for money and does not distract from obligations), then there is no harm in working to assist its players.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/35829
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 35829
- 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