Chess

Alsalamo alaykum,

I have a question regarding chess, it seems like in Zaidi fiqh the imams prohibit it while citing gambling. The narrations often quoted are of imams zaid and Ali ibn Abi talib AS refuting tools of gambling like dice. However with the studies of modern history we now know that chess never stemmed from gambling and was invented as a form of mental stimulation and challenge. Keeping in mind that the whole basis of chess prohibition by zaidi scholars is built on the accusation that chess resembles gambling, if it is proven that chess is not a form of mysar and is a skill-based sport like any other, does playing chess become halal?

wa alaikum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

The reason why chess is regarded as haram is not simply because it can be used as a means of gambling although I do believe some people have used it in that way.
Some scholars do cite gambling or the way it can provoke anger (especially when losing) as one of the reasons for its prohibition.
However, there's more depth to the matter.

According to the uṣūl (foundations) of us Zaydis, there are five primary sources of legislation:

1. al-Aql (Reason)
2. al-Kitab (Quran)
3. al-Sunnah of our beloved Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa salam
4. Aqwal (Statements) Amir al-Mumineen Ali alayhi as-salam
5. Ijmaa (Agreement) of Ahl al Bayt 

There are proofs from multiple perspectives that contribute to the ruling of chess being haram.
I will provide a general explanation here without going into technical detail, as that level of detail is more suited for students of fiqh.

First and foremost, the Qur’an teaches us that human beings have been created for one fundamental purpose: ʿibādah (worship).
Everything else in life is secondary and is meant to support that primary purpose.
This is why Islam provides guidance on all aspects of life everything is evaluated based on whether it serves or distracts from that ultimate goal.

The Qur’an instructs us to avoid laghw (futile or idle talk). وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ“And among mankind is he who purchases idle talk (lahw al-ḥadīth) to mislead from the path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it in mockery. For such there will be a humiliating punishment.” [Surah Luqman, 31:6]Many scholars interpret this not only as referring to music, but also to anything that is essentially vain, unproductive, or distracts from our spiritual purpose.

Imam al-Hadi ila al Haqq said this on the Tafseer of the mentioned verse:
“Idle talk (lahw al-ḥadīth) refers to singing and all kinds of amusement whether it be chess, string instruments played upon, or anything else from the entertainments that Allah has forbidden for His servants.”

The aḥādīth the transmissions of the sayings and actions of our beloved Prophet ﷺ show that he consistently warned against excessive involvement in idle pursuits, vain entertainment, wasting time, attachment to the dunya, and also directly warned against dice and backgammon.

From various akhbār (narrations), we see that the aṣḥāb (companions), and especially Imam ʿAlī (ʿalayhi as-salām), were firm in their disapproval of these pastimes. They extended this same stern attitude to chess as well.

Two narrations from Imam Ahmad Ibn Isa alayhi as-salam:

[2635] And he said: Muhammad narrated to us, he said: Othman ibn Abi Shaybah narrated to us, from Abu Muawiyah, from Ubaidullah ibn Umar, who said: I asked Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad: These dice are prohibited, so what about chess? He said: Everything that distracts from the remembrance of Allah is considered a form of gambling."

"[2633] And he said: Muhammad narrated to us, he said: Ahmad ibn Sabih narrated to us, from Hussein ibn Alawan, from Ja'far, from his father, from Ali who said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) prohibited us from greeting a drunkard while he is in his drunken state and those who joke about their mothers. Ali said [adding]: And I forbid you from greeting those who play chess. Abu Ja'far said: And those who joke about their mothers are those who criticize people with what they dislike until they insult them."

Lastly, within the Zaydi school, there exists an ijmāʿ (consensus) that chess itself is haram.

Even if no actual gambling with money takes place, the ruling remains the same, because it is not based solely on that factor.

wa salam