Playing Cards-His Eminence
As-Sheikh Sa’d ibn Nasr AshShitri
Playing Cards
His Eminence As-Sheikh Sa’d ibn Nasr Ash-Shitri ( ‫ﺣﻔﻈــﻪ اﻟﻠــﻪ‬
‫)ﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ‬
‫ﺑﺴﻢ اﻟﻠﻪ اﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ اﻟﺮﺣﻴﻢ‬
The type of cards intended here is the deck which has 52 cards
and consists of black, red, diamonds, hearts and spades.
Among the most popular games played with cards are; Blackjack,
Poker, Spades, Hearts, Spoons and Gin Rummy.
The discussion about playing cards;
If playing cards involves lying, deception, and
abandoning obligations, such as the prayer in
congregation, Jumu’ah, or going to work ,then involving
yourself in this game is Haraam.
Nonetheless, if these actions aren’t involved then the
scholars are split into 2 sides about the issue;
Prohibited -and this is the view of the Permanent
Committee of Senior Scholars in Saudi Arabia, Shaykh AlUthaymeen, and others.
Halal- and this is the view of other senior scholars.
The reason why some scholars say it’s Haraam (Prohibited):
It causes one to subdue the other in a game, thus causes
hatred and enmity ,or allows a person to degrade another
with insults, or call them ignorant.
They will despise each other
slander, and so forth.
by cursing, lying,
The same reason why Backgammon is Haramm.
The reasons why other scholars say it’s Halal (permitted):
Based on the origin of things in this world. i.e
“Everything is Halal until there is text that states its
Haraam”.
It keeps people away from backbiting, tale-carrying and
other forms of sins.
Shaykh Sa’d Ash-Shitri’s conclusion.
Playing card games are prohibited in Islam and this is based
on the following considerations:
Backgammon and card games
coincidence and good luck.
are
built
on
chance,
Even though these games require one to use their mental
faculties and other skills, in most cases the people
rely on chance and luck more.
The Qiyas [ Legal deduction ] is a proof in the shariah
and therefore it removes it from the origin of being
Halal.
The argument that it prevents people from sinning can’t
be used as a proof. Drinking alcohol sometimes prevents
people from backbiting, tale-carrying and others sins,
yet this doesn’t make it Halal. [1]
And Allah knows best.
Translated by
Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle
1438©
Doha, Qatar, The Blessed Arabian Gulf
upcoming topics on the Gazette
A Discussion about Oral Sex
and scholars’ views about
the topic. Is it allowed or
prohibted, and a refutation
against those Du’at who
allow
it
between
in
unmarried couples in the
WEST
[1] Al-Musabaqat [‫ ]اﻟﻤﺴﺎﺑﻘﺎت‬page 229-231, By shaykh Sa’d AshShitri