Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Mu` meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatu

Dear Burhan,

i am very glad to receive your emails no i have two questions on my mind i would like to know in details if playing chess is forbiden and if a beliver is allowed to marry a christian girl although it is said one is allowed to marry people of the book no i dont think they follow the book although it is corupted the truth that is still there the do not follow and use a diffrent verse to contredict what is forrbiden to be un forbidden

Marry christians corrupt

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: i would like to know in details if playing chess is forbiden

Sahih Muslim Hadith 5612 Narrated by Buraydah ibn al-Hasib

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘He who played chess is like one who dyed his hand with the flesh and blood of swine.’

The narration you have inquired about is indeed considered authentic. Islam guides that the absolutely most expensive commodity one has been blessed with and will be held accountable for is the ‘time’ one has been allocated with in the short and transient life of this world as a test and trial from their Lord.

Allah says in the Holy Quran in Chapter 67 Surah Al Mulk verse 2:

He (Allah) created death and life that He may test you, to see which of you is the best in deeds.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 51 Surah Dhariyat verse 56:

I have not created the jinn and men except for this that they should worship Me alone.

The guidance of Islam encourages those who have professed belief to utilize this allocated time in doing good wholesome deeds either for oneself or for one’s fellow mankind; deeds which will profit oneself or others spiritually, physically, materially, or even mentally so that the one may further strive towards success and salvation in the test period of this short and transient life.

Islam absolutely discourages the believers from ‘wasting’ their precious and allocated time in doing useless and worthless deeds; deeds which will bring absolutely no profit to themselves or others, either in this world or the Hereafter! All such useless and worthless deeds which bring absolutely no gain or benefit to one in this world or the Hereafter, nor furthers one’s cause towards salvation and success are prohibited for the believers who sincerely believe in Allah and the Last Day.

Islam guides that just as a student in an exam utilizes his time to make sure he scores the maximum he can in his results, the precious time allocated by the Lord to each individual in the short and transitory life of this world as a test must be ‘utilized’ to further one’s cause of existence rather than ‘wasted’ on worthless deeds and acts.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 70 Surah Mairaj verses 42-44:

Therefore, leave them engrossed in their vain talk and play, until they encounter that Day of theirs which they are being promised; when they shall be rushing out of their graves as though they are racing towards the shrines of their deities. Their eyes shall be downcast and abasement shall be covering them. That is the Day they are being promised.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anam verse 32:

This worldly life is but a sport and an amusement. In fact, the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who desire to be safe from harm. Will you not, then, use your common sense?

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 43 Surah Zukhruf verse 83:

Well, let them remain absorbed in their falsehoods and sports, till they see that Day of theirs with which they are being threatened.

Beloved brother, the deen of Islam does allow some level of amusement or entertainment which are good and wholesome like spending quality time with family and friends, or some sport which benefits one physically, etc.; but to ‘waste’ a commodity as precious and invaluable as time on useless and worthless deeds which bring absolutely no benefit to oneself or others is absolutely discouraged in Islam.

Thus even though useless and worthless games like chess, backgammon, or games which involve dice are mentioned by name as discouraged and prohibited; the truth is that all such acts which bring oneself or others absolutely no benefit except ‘killing’ or ‘wasting’ time are discouraged in Islam.

Al-Muwatta Hadith 52.7

Yahya said that he heard Malik say, "There is no good in chess, and he (the Messenger of Allah (saws)) disapproved of it." Yahya said, "I heard him disapprove of playing it and other worthless games. He recited this ayat, 'What is there after the truth except going the wrong way.' " (Sura l0 verse 32).

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4920 Narrated by AbuMusa al-Ash'ari

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “He who plays backgammon disobeys Allah and His Messenger (saws).”

Al-Muwatta Hadith 52.6

Yahya related from Malik from Musa ibn Maysara from Said ibn Abi Hind from Abu Musa al-Ashari that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "Whoever plays games of dice has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger."

Your Question: if a beliver is allowed to marry a christian girl although it is said one is allowed to marry people of the book no i dont think they follow the book although it is corupted

Beloved brother in Islam, just as any woman (or man) who declares the testification of faith in Allah and His Last Messenger will be regarded as a legal ‘muslim’ in the Sight of Shariah Law, any woman who is born into or professes their belief as a Jew or a Christian will be regarded as one amongst the ‘People of the Book’ in the Sight of Shariah Law. Just as the marriage of the legal ‘muslim’ who has declared the testification of faith is considered lawful in Shariah Law, a marriage between a believing man and an eligible sister from amongst the ‘People of the Book’ will be absolutely lawful and legal in the Sight of Shariah Law.

There is a huge misunderstanding and confusion in the Muslim Ummah today that the People of the Book of today are not the same and they commit shirk, therefore the laws of the permissibility of their food and the marriage with their woman are forbidden to the believers. Allah Subhanah Himself in the Quran declares that the People of the Book commit shirk and are disbelievers, but in spite of that He has given them a special status as the People of the Book to them, and made it permissible for the believers to marry amongst their woman and eat of their food; if they wish to do so.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 30:

30 The Jews call Uzair a son of Allah and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah! That is a saying from their mouths; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verses 72-73:

72 They do blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ, the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah will forbid him the garden and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.

73 They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One Allah. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy) verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 171:

171 O people of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of Allah aught but Truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah, and His Word which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His Messengers. Say not "Trinity": desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is One Allah: Glory be to Him: (for Exalted is He) above having a son! To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs.

Even when the Quran was being revealed, the Christians believed in the falsehood that Prophet Jesus (a.s.) was (I seek refuge in saying this!) the son of Allah Subhanah! But in spite of their this false belief and blasphemy, Allah Subhanah has permitted the believers to marry amongst the chaste woman of the People of the Book, if they choose to do so.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 221:

221 Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters) until they believe; a slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman even though she allure you. Nor marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe: a man slave who believes is better than un unbeliever even though he allure you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the fire. But Allah beckons by His grace to the Garden (of Bliss) and forgiveness and makes His Signs clear to mankind: that they may celebrate His praise.

Indeed, Allah Subhanah has forbidden the believers to marry amongst the ‘mushriks’ (polytheists or idolators). Even though the Quran holds the Jews and the Christians guilty of the abominations of blasphemy, disbelief and ‘shirk’; Allah refers to them as the People of the Book because unlike the other ‘mushriks’, the People of the Book in essence believe in the true concept of monotheism or One God through the Divine Scriptures that Allah Subhanah sent towards them, but they themselves twisted the Truth and invented false beliefs without any authority.

Besides believing in the essence of monotheism, the People of the Book believe in all the other aspects of faith: ie. in the concept of the Messengers, in the concept of Divine Books, in the concept of the Angels, in the concept of Paradise and Hell in the Hereafter, and in the concept of the Divine Decrees. Because their belief in the elements of ‘emaan’ or ‘faith’ are so close to the belief of the believers in their essence, the Lord Most Merciful has granted them a special status and separated them from the other ‘mushriks’, and named them The People of the Book, and permitted and made lawful for the the believers to marry amongst their chaste women and consume their food, if they wish to do so.

Therefore the statement that the People of the Book at the time of the Revelation of the Quran and the People of the Book now are not the same and thus the laws of permissibility of marriage and food towards them do not apply are absolutely baseless and false!

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, Allah Subhanah Alone has the Right to declare what is lawful and what is unlawful, and just as it is a grave sin for one to declare lawful what Allah has declared as unlawful (swine, wine, gambling, etc.); it is also a grave sin to declare unlawful what the Lord Himself has declared as lawful.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 116:

But say not for any false thing that your tongues may put forth "This is halaal and this is haraam!", so as to ascribe false things to Allah. For those who ascribe false things to Allah will never prosper.

Allah Subhanah has declared it lawful for the believers to consume the food of the People of the Book and to marry amongst their chaste women, if one wishes to do so…thus let no one convince you otherwise!

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan