Saudi Arabia's grand Mufti ruled that chess is forbidden by Islam pointing out that it encourages gambling and is a waste of time. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/21/chess-forbidden-in-islam-rules-saudi-arabia-grand-mufti No chess, no movie theaters, no alcohol . . . no fun.
about Chess, If he already have negative mindset, then what anybody can do ? I'm a Chess Player also, I love Chess and Chess taught me, how to take right decisions in different situations. If he don't like Chess, who will argue ? If living like moron is a life for them.
“a waste of time and money and a cause for hatred and enmity between players”. what about Guns and Swords, hatred and enmity is inside your mind. If you killed anybody, you can't blame gun for that. same way, If you hate somebody, you can't blame Chess for that.
This dude needs to get slapped right in the chops. Chess isn't a gambling game. It's a game of pure skill. There is no gambling involved in the playing. I understand you can set wagers, but the best player will win out almost the majority of the time. I think he's afraid if people in his society start engaging in thought provoking games they might gain some intelligence and strategize and rise up to defeat the oppressive leaders of their country.
under Dictatorship, If any country's citizens start thinking, then that empire ends. this is part of dictatorship. eat, sleep, pray etc. but don't think, do what we say, or you will get punished or killed.
Well I am sure many of them play cards, isn't that worse than chess? Chess is a game of strategy and isn't along the lines of gambling. I do find all these 'rules' contradictory in so many ways. Murder and rape is wrong, yet they carry on doing it and find some justifiable reason. It's like reading a tabloid paper, is that wrong too? I know many people don't approve of them so isn't that a bad influence too?
I wonder how he feels about checkers? Neither one of these are gambling since most people play it for fun, and if there is a tournament it's just to compete and test skills without money being exchanged. Some of the big commercial events do award a prize, and that's far from gambling since they don't play for that reason. Arabia Mufti should reevaluate his decision, because it is meant well but it is incorrect to impose upon people since it is not against Islam and it is not a form of gambling.
Man, it seems like these guys just look for stuff to get uptight about! Chess?! Are you kidding me? This is getting ridiculous! I can see it in a sci-fi alternate future novel: a brave new world where they ban chess in Western countries too, so we don't offend these people by playing it!!