as they did backgammon. Mālik was asked about a man playing it with his wife at home. He said: “I do not approve of that. Playing games is not the way of a believer, for Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: ‘What is beyond the truth except error?’ [Yūnus: 32] This, then, belongs to falsehood.”
Playing any of these games for gambling or wagers is unlawful and impermissible by scholarly consensus, because it constitutes the gambling of which Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:
“Intoxicants, gambling, stone altars and divining arrows are nothing but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid them that you may succeed.” [al-Mā’idah: 90]
As for playing any of these games without gambling, some scholars have allowed latitude in this. The correct view, however, is that it is impermissible, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever plays backgammon has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger.” His statement was general, making no distinction between gambling and other forms of play.
Moreover, playing chess and similar games distracts people from worship, occupies them at the expense of remembering Allah and observing the prayers, and, when it becomes habitual, leads to gambling and false oaths. All of this is sinful conduct. Habitually playing such games therefore compromises a person’s standing as an imam and as a witness. Whenever ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Umar saw any member of his household playing backgammon, he would strike him and break the set.
‘Ā’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, learned that a household residing in her house possessed a backgammon set. She sent them a message concerning it: “Unless you remove it, I will evict you from my house,” and rebuked them for it. Success is granted by Allah.
Section
On Killing Snakes and Harmful Animals
It is established in several hadiths that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded that snakes be killed. Among these is his saying, peace and blessings be upon him: “Five noxious creatures may be killed both outside and within the Sanctuary,” among which he mentioned the snake. It is also narrated that he said: “We have made no peace with them since we began fighting them.” Another narration reads: “since we became their enemies. Whoever leaves them alone is not one of us.” Ahmad ibn Sālih said: The enmity intended in the hadith dates from the time Adam, peace be upon him, was expelled from