Is chess halal? What is the hukum for it? Can you please state a Hadith about it clearly stating its hukum.
The actual matter that needs to be examined in matters such as this, is that if games such as chess etc. will involve the person playing in Lahw or not i.e. will playing these types of games, and involvement in this type activity make someone be neglectful of his prayers and other commandments of Allah or not; or will it expose the person playing or involved in these types of activities, to be in the company of those people who are transgressors or neglectful of the commandments of Allah. If this is the case, then it is not allowed. But, on the contrary, if the intention is to sharpen the mind and to increase intellect then it is permissible. It is based on keeping the different aspects of these things in mind that there may seem to be an apparent discrepancy amongst the scholars of Islam on this issue. That is why, according to the scholars of Fiqh Hanafi, it is considered Makruh.
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