with regard to the ruling that it does not disqualify a person from giving testimony. As for his disapproval of playing it, he explicitly stated this in the passage we cited earlier, and this is more consistent with his school and more fitting for it. Those who disapproved of it are more numerous, and among them are those whose statements carry authority.”

It was narrated through his chain of transmission, from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad, from his father, from ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah be pleased with him—that he used to say:

“Chess is the gambling of the non-Arabs.”

It was also narrated through his chain of transmission from ‘Alī that he passed some people playing chess and said:

“‘What are these statues to which you are devoted?’ For one of you to touch a burning coal until it goes out would be better for him than to touch these pieces.”

It was narrated from ‘Alī—may Allah be pleased with him—that he passed a gathering of Taym Allah where people were playing chess. He said:

“By Allah, you were created for something other than this! By Allah, were it not that it would set a precedent, I would strike your faces with these pieces!”

Mālik said: “We have heard that Ibn ‘Abbās had charge of an orphan’s property and burned the chess pieces.”

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar was asked about chess and said:

“It is worse than backgammon.”

Abū Mūsā al-Ash‘arī said:

“Only a sinner plays chess.”

It was narrated that ‘Ā’isha disapproved of al-kayl even when no wagers were placed on it. Abū Sa‘īd al-Khudrī also disapproved of playing chess. These, then, are the statements of the Companions—may Allah be pleased with them—and no contrary view has been reliably established from any Companion.

Al-Bayhaqī also narrated that Abū Ja‘far Muhammad ibn ‘Alī, known as al-Bāqir, was asked about chess and said:

“Spare us this Magian practice.”

Al-Bayhaqī said:

“We have transmitted reports expressing disapproval of playing it from Yazīd ibn Abī Habīb, Muhammad ibn Sīrīn, Ibrāhīm, and Mālik ibn Anas.”

I say:

In the language of the early generations, “disapproval” frequently—and indeed usually—means prohibition. These scholars explicitly stated that their disapproval amounted to prohibition. Indeed, they explicitly stated that chess is worse than backgammon, and backgammon is forbidden even when no stakes are involved.