The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 224
Seal of the Prophets - Volume III 224 left without prohibition for too long after the migration. 1 The Holy Prophet sa would emphasis the prohibition of alcohol to such extent that he would state, “You should not even sit at a table where another person is consuming alcohol. ” 2 In the very same year, according to various statements, gambling was also prohibited. Gambling refers to a game of chance, where revenues are not generated on the basis of effort or skill, rather, merely on the basis of coincidental circumstances. Since time spent in the generation of such revenue not only destroys a person’s character, but also becomes a means of ruining the balance of national wealth, with immense wisdom, the Islāmic Sharī‘at forbade gambling as well. 3 There is no doubt that hasty people who flow away with the tide of freedom, fear all kinds of restrictions. However, there is not an iota of doubt in the fact that the restrictions placed upon Muslims by Islām is solely for their own benefit; and the prohibition of gambling is due to the same principle. 4 Chess was forbidden during the very same year 5 because firstly, it generally becomes an excuse for gambling, and secondly, a person becomes so engrossed in it, that he becomes negligent towards the beneficial aspects of life. Islām certainly does not forbid a legitimate means of leisure, but it does indeed prohibit a person from moving about at whim in the likeness of an unbridled camel and destroying the beneficial aspects of his life. The game of chess possesses two great aspects of evil. Firstly, chess players become so overly indulged that they become negligent of the world around them. Secondly, they become inclined towards gambling, because chess is usually played with bets. Therefore, with immense wisdom, Islām has prohibited this game. 1 Please refer to Sīrat Khātamun-Nabiyyīn sa , Volume 2 2 * Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābul-Aṭ‘imah, Bābu Mā Jā’a Fil-Julūsi ‘Alā Mā’idatin ‘Alaihā Ba‘du Mā Yukrahu, Ḥadīth No. 3774 * Musnad, By Imām Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal, Volume 1, p. 114, Musnadu ‘Umar-abnil-Khaṭṭāb, Ḥadīth No. 125, ‘Ālamul-Kutub, Beirut (1998) 3 * Al-Mā’idah (5:91) * Tārīkhul-Khamīs Fī Aḥwāli Anfasi Nafīs, By Ḥusain bin Muḥammad bin Ḥasan * Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābul-Aṭ‘imah, Bābu Mā Jā’a Fil-Julūsi ‘Alā Mā’idatin ‘Alaihā Ba‘du Mā Yukrahu, Ḥadīth No. 3774 [Publishers] 4 Please refer to Sīrat Khātamun-Nabiyyīn sa , Volume 3 5 * Ṣaḥīḥu Muslim, Kitābush-Shi‘r, Bābu Taḥrīmil-La‘ibi Bil-Nardashīri, Ḥadīth No. 5896 * Musnad, By Imām Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal, Volume 2, p. 604, Musnadu ‘Abdillāh-ibni ‘Amr-ibnil-‘Āṣ, Ḥadīth No. 6547, ‘Ālamul-Kutub, Beirut (1998) * Tārīkhul-Khamīs Fī Aḥwāli Anfasi Nafīs, By Ḥusain bin Muḥammad bin Ḥasan, Volume 2, p. 29, Ṣifatul-Maisiri, Mu’assasatu Sha‘bān, Beirut