7. Playing with dice and playing chess

Playing with dice is h a r k , according to Amir al-Mu'mineen 'Ali (&), ,. who said: "Playing with two burning coals is dearer to me than playing with two dice."173 He would not greet people who were playing with dice.'74 The evidence for this prohibition is the words of the Messenger of AUah (g): - , "Whoever plays with dice, it is as if he were dipping his hand in the flesh and blood of a pig."175 Chess is also harim according to 'Ali (&), as was narrated from him by Ibn ~ u d b a h . ' ~ ~ He used to say concerning chess: "It is the gambling of the non-Arab~."'~~ According to another report: "It is a kind of gambling." 17' It was narrated that Maysarab ibn Habeeb said: " 'Ali ibn Abi ?[2lib (&) passed by some people who were playing chess and said: 'What are these images to which you are (so assiduously) devoted?'79 Holding a coal until it goes out is better for him than touching these.""80 It was narrated that 'Ammir ibn Abi 'Ammir said: " 'Ali (&) passed by a group of (the tribe) TaymAllah who were playing chess. He stood over them and said: 'Allah created you for something other than this. By Allah, were it not that it would set a precedent, I would hit your faces with it."'181 The evidence for this prohibition is that it is gambling, which is h a r h according to the Quran and by analogy.182