Yet some such activities may be permitted if their harm does not outweigh their benefit; taking money through them, however, is not permitted. Thus foot racing, wrestling, and similar activities are permissible, although taking money through them is forbidden. Likewise, beating the frame drum at celebrations is permitted, although taking money for it is forbidden. It is therefore clear that the prohibition of these activities is not confined to gambling, and it is impermissible to restrict it to that alone. If backgammon and similar games were prohibited solely because of gambling, backgammon would be like horse racing, archery, and similar activities.
For when gambling enters into these activities, they regard them as forbidden, even though they are righteous pursuits that are either obligatory or recommended. As authentically reported, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“Practise archery and horsemanship; I prefer that you practise archery rather than horsemanship.”
“Whoever learns archery and then forgets it is not one of us.”
“He and his successors used to hold horse races.”
“He recited from the pulpit the verse, ‘Prepare against them whatever strength you can muster, and steeds of war,’ then said: ‘Indeed, strength is archery! Indeed, strength is archery!’”
How, then, can something commanded by Allah and His Messenger, whose prescription the Muslims unanimously affirm, be likened to something forbidden by Allah, His Messenger, and his Companions after him? If gambling alone were deemed the grounds for prohibition, backgammon and chess would be like archery contests.
The Second Argument
It may be said: Suppose that gambling is the original reason for the prohibition. Nevertheless, the Lawgiver coupled wine and gambling together in prohibition. Allah Most High said:
“Wine, gambling, sacrificial stones, and divining arrows are nothing but defilement from Satan’s handiwork, so shun them that you may prosper.”
“Satan only seeks to stir up enmity and hatred among you through wine and gambling