The Islamic View on Gambling And Playing Cards
Quran 2:219-220] They ask you about intoxicants and gambling: say, “In them there is a gross sin, and some benefits for the people. But their sinfulness far outweighs their benefit.” They also ask you what to give to charity: say, “The excess.” Allah thus clarifies the revelations for you, that you may reflect, upon this life and the Hereafter.
[Quran 5:90-91] O you who believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and the altars of idols, and the games of chance areabominations of the Shaytan devil; you shall avoid them, that you may succeed. The devil wants to provoke animosity and hatred among you through intoxicants and gambling, and todistract you from remembering Allah, and from observing the Contact Prayers (Salat). Will you then refrain?
Allah forbids His believing servants from consuming Khamr and Maysir which is gambling. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Ali bin Abi Talib, the Leader of the Faithful, said that chess is a type of gambling. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Ata’, Mujahid and Tawus, or , two of them, said that every type of gambling, including children’s playing with (a certain type of) nuts, is Maysir. Ibn `Umar said that Al-Maysir means gambling, and this is the same statement that Ad-Dahhak reported from Ibn `Abbas, who added, “They used to gamble during the time of Jahiliyyah, until Islam came. Allah then forbade them from this evil behavior.”
