Part 14

points of views as shown in the Hanbali school of jurisprudence and others: It is as filthy as wine and this is

the correct point of view.

It is not filthy due to its solidity. Solid hashish is pure but liquid hashish is filthy.

Once, Abu Musa asked, "0 Messenger of Allah what is the ruling of Bit' and Mizr (two

intoxicants beverages made in Yemen). The former is made of honey and the lather is made of barely. He

added, the Prophet is so eloquent. The Prophet answered,

"Every intoxicant that causes the negligence of Prayer is forbidden." 1

"Of that which intoxicates in a large amount, a small amount is unlawful." 2

In the hadith above, there is no reference to the dichotomy of intoxicants into solid or liquid.

Whatever the kind or form of an intoxicant, it is unlawful. Hashish is not mentioned by the early Muslims

because it was used only after the coming of Tatars to the Islamic world.

Abdul-Malik Ibn Marawan recounted a story about a young man who came to him weeping because of

a sin he committed. The young man asked: Is repentance available to me? Abdul-Malik said, "What did

you commit of sins? I committed a grievous sin, the man declared. Abu Malik said, "You would better

repent to Allah Who accepts the repentance of His servants and forgives all sins." Then, the young man

said, "O leader of the believers, I was used to robbing graves. There I have seen many wondrous scenes. He

asked him: "What did you see?" He said, "One night I robbed a grave where I noticed the corpse not

directed to Qiblah. I was scared and started to leave but I heard someone saying, "Would not you ask why

he was turned away from Qiblah? Why, I asked. He said, "Because he was not serious in Prayer."

When I stole from another grave I noticed that the corpse was turned into a pig and his neck tied by

chains. I was scared and attempted to leave, but I heard someone saying, "would not you ask about his

deeds, and why he was tortured?" I asked why?" He said, "He drank wine in the world and died without

In the third grave I saw that the corpse was spinned into the earth by wedges of fire and that the

tongue was pierced to the back of his head. I became scared and tried to go back but someone called me by

saying,' "Would you like to know why he was tortured?" I asked. "Why"? He said, "He did not free

himself of traces of urine and was a talebearer."

In the fourth grave, I saw that the corpse blazing in fire. I was scared and attempted to leave but I was

called would you like to know why he was tormented. I asked, "Why?" He replied he neglected prayers.

Eventually, I stole from a fifth grave which was so wide as far as one's sight and shiny. The corpse was

lying on a bed illuminated and well dressed. I honored him and tried to leave but someone called me

saying, "would you like to know why he was honored?" "Why? I asked ." He said, "He was a devout young

man who was brought obeying and worshipping Allah." Then Abdul-Malik commented, "This is a lesson to

the sinful men and a good tiding to the devout people. May Allah count you and us among the devout and

obedient people and let us be protected from the wrongdoing. He is the Most Generous, the Most

Reported by AtTirmidhi, Al-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawud and Ahmad.

{O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, sacrificing to stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an

abomination, of Satan's handiwork: eschew such (abomination) that ye may prosperO0 Satan's plan is

(but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the

remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: will ye not then abstain?} (5:90-91)

Gambling connotes backgammon, chess and speculation by nuts, balls, stones and all kinds of

betting. It ranks under encroaching upon people's rights that Allah has made forbidden in His saying,

{And do not eat up your property among yourselves for vanities, nor use it as bait for the judges,

with intent that ye may eat up wrongfully and knowingly a little of (other) people's property.} (2:188)

It was also referred to in the Prophetic saying,

"Some people spend Allah's wealth (i.e. Muslim's Wealth) in an unjust manner, such people will be put in

the (Hell) fire on the day of resurrection"1

"The one who invites his companions: Come let us gamble", should (expiate his sin) by giving in charity."2

Since the mere willingness to gamble requires expiation, what would be the sin of the real practice of

gambling? The Muslim scholars have differed about the exact legal ruling on backgammon and chess in

case of being played free from betting. However, the preponderant opinion is to prohibit backgammon.

They established their view on the Prophetic saying,

"He who played backgammon is like one who dyed his hand with the flesh and blood of swine" 3)

"He who played backgammon has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger." 4

Ibn ' Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated,

"Backgammon is (a kind of) gambling, and (is sinful) as eating the pork, and playing it without betting is

(as prohibited) as embrocating with the swine's fat."

Regarding chess, with or without betting, it is viewed as forbidden by most jurists, for if it includes

betting, there is originally no difference of opinion concerning its prohibition. But in case it is void of bet-

Reported by A1-Bukhari and Ahmad.

ting, the prohibition stands more preferable.

However, according to a narration of Imam Shaffi'i, if it is played in privacy and does not take one's

mind away from obligations or observing prayer on its due time, it is regarded allowable.

Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) when asked about chess said, "Most scholars held it

forbidden. In case it leads to the negligence of prayer on time or includes betting, it is strictly forbidden.

Otherwise, it may be considered abominable"

The basic proof to prohibit chess by most jurists is derived from Allah's saying,

{Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine... The division (of meat) by raffling

Sufyan and Waki' Ibn Al-Jarrah interpreted "The division (of meat) by raffling with arrows as to refer

`Ali Ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Chess is the gambling game of the "Ajam"- Non

Arabs. He has also passed by a group of people playing chess and said to them,

"What are these idols to which you are dedicating yourselves in worship? To touch a firebrand until it

gets quenched is better than touching such idols."1 He added, "By Allah, it is not the purpose for which you

have been created". On another occasion he said, "He who plays chess is a great liar. You say to your

fellow player. "You are dead", while he is not so". Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari said, "No one plays chess except

the sinful person". It was said to Yzhaq Ibn Rahwayh: "Is there something in playing chess?"2

He answered, "It is wholly sinful". When he was informed that the soldiers in camps were used to playing it

as a means of training for war, he said, "It is impiety." Muhammad Ibn Kab Al-Karzi commented, "The

least punishment that a chess player will suffer on the Day of Resurrection is to be gathered with the

wrongdoers". Concerning chess Ibn 'Umar said, "It is more mischievous than backgammon." And a

similar narration with the same effect was quoted from Imam Malik. It is mentioned that Ibn 'Abbas was

appointed as the guardian of the property of an orphan. Among that property there existed a chess game.

Thereupon, Ibn Abbas set that game on fire. Hence, if it was permitted to play that game, Ibn Abbas would

not have destroyed it, since it was property of an orphan.

Accordingly, the prohibition of chess is measured to that of wine. Ibrahim AI-Nakha'i said about

chess: "It is cursed". Abu Bakr AI-Athram in his collection mentioned the Prophetic saying,

"Daily Allah has three hundred and sixty looks which comprehend all his creatures except the sheep

playeri.e. chess playerfor he says" check-mate."

Abu Bakr AI-Ajiri related the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) saying,

"If you pass by those who play with these idols i.e. backgammon and chess and other amusement -do not

greet them. For when they gather and are up to their elbows in playing, Satan alone with his fellows attend

their game. And if one of the players averted his glance from playing, Satan would thrust him -to turn again

to playing thus, they keep playing till they disperse. They are like a group of dogs that come across a

cadaver, eat of it till they are fed up and then go away. In addition, the chess player usually commits lying,

Mujahid said, "Every man when he is dying views his fellowmen whom he used to accompany. One

day, a man who was used to playing chess was at the point of death. When he was asked to pronounce the

Shahadah -declaration of faithhe instead said," mate" and died.

His tongue was wrenched by the words he used to say in his life. The Prophet (pbuh) said,

"Everyone dies in the same manner as he lives and is resurrected in the same manner as he dies"1

21) Accusing A Woman of Adultery

{Those who slander chaste secured, and believing women are cursed in this life and in the

hereafter: for them is a grievous chastisement. On the day when their tongues, their hands, and

their feet will bear witness against them as to their as to their actions.} (24: 23-24)

{And those who launch a charge against chaste women and produce not four witnesses (to

support their allegations) -flog them with eighty stripes: and reject their evidence ever after: for

such men are wicked transgressors.} (24: 4)

Allah the Almighty in these verses makes it clear that whosoever unjustly accuses as chaste

free woman of committing adultery is cursed both in this world and in the hereafter, and deserves

In addition, he is flogged with eighty lashes and his witness is not accepted even though he

In the Sahih Bukhari and Muslim -the Prophet says,

And among which he mentioned charging believing women, unmindful though innocent, with

An example of such an accusation is if someone says to a Muslim chaste free woman:" You