1. The Lawful and Unlawful in Regards Chess, Games of Chance, Singing

2. As dicussed islam does not forbid us from relaxing and enjoying life. ● We are not angels, so it is not possible for one to be in a complete state of worship all the time. We can relax and unwind as long as the methods we used to do so are lawful. ● So thus playing games are lawful as long as the game played does not involve anything unlawful. Being so, any sort of game played with an element of gambling is forbidden ● The Qur'an classifies gambling in the same category as drinking, idolatry, and divining with arrows. The Prophet said, ● "He who says to his friend, 'Come, let us gamble,' must give charity (sadaqah)" (Bukhari and Muslim), ● This means that merely inviting someone to gamble is a sin

3. In addition, Islam forbids us from playing games that involve dice because dice are used for gambling The Prophet said: "He who plays with dice is like the owho handles the flesh and blood of swine." (Reported by Muslim) Also: "He who plays with dice disobeys Allah and His Messenger." (Muwatta) These two sayings of the Prophet are clearly applicable to all games that involve dice including Badgammon, Monopoly, even yatzee. If you want to play those games, find something else to use besides dice. Now a days these games are available for play without dice ● Some scholars allow for the playing of games with dice as long as no gambling is involved

4. What about chess? Some consider it halal, others makruh, and still others haram. Who is correct? Those who consider it haram cite some ahadith in support of their position such as: “He who played chess is like one who dyed his hand with the flesh and blood of swine.” But researchers have proved that chess did not appear until after the death of the Prophet, thus all such ahadith must have been fabricated. The Companions of the Prophet themselves held differing views about playing chess. Ibn 'Umar said that it is worse than backgammon and 'Ali regarded it as gambling (perhaps meaning when it is played for money), while some others merely expressed disapproval of it. However, some Companions and some of the second generation scholars allowed it. Among these were Ibn 'Abbas, Abu Hurairah, Ibn Sirin, Hisham bin 'Umrah, and Sa'id bin al-Musayyib.

5. The most correct view is those of the latter persons mentioned because if there is no text forbidding a thing then the thing is lawful Moreover, in addition to being a game and a recreation, chess is also a mental exercise which requires thought and planning. In this respect it is the opposite of backgammon, for while backgammon is a game of chance and therefore comparable to divining with arrows, chess is a game of skill and strategy which may be compared to archery. However, playing chess is permissible only if the following three conditions are met: ● One should not get so absorbed in it that he delays his salat; chess is well-known to be a stealer of time. ● There should be no gambling involved. ● The players should not utter obscenities or vulgarities. ● If any of these conditions are not met it should be considered as haram.

6. That brings us now to singing. ● Among the entertainments which may comfort the soul, please the heart, and refresh the ear is singing. Islam permits singing under the condition that it not be in any way obscene or harmful to Islamic morals ● Aishah narrated that when a woman was married to an Ansari man, the Prophet said, " 'Aishah, did they have any entertainment? The Ansar are fond of entertainment.'' (Bukhari.) ● Ibn 'Abbas said, " 'Aishah gave a girl relative of hers in marriage to a man of the Ansar. The Prophet came and asked, 'Did you send a singer along with her?' 'No,' said 'Aishah. The Messenger of Allah then said, The Ansar are a people who love poetry. You should have sent along someone who would sing, 'Here we come, to you we come, greet us as we greet you.' " ● (Ibn Majah.)

7. We also have the following: ● Aishah narrated that during the days of Mina, on the day of 'Eid al-Adha, two girls were with her, singing and playing on a hand drum. The Prophet was present, listening to them with his head under a shawl. Abu Bakr then entered and scolded the girls. The Prophet, uncovering his face, told him, "Let them be, Abu Bakr. These are the days of 'Eid." (Bukhari and Muslim.) ● It is reported that many Companions of the Prophetas well as second generation Muslim scholars used to listen to singing and did not see anything wrong with it. As for the ahadith which have been reported against singing, they are all weak and have been shown by researchers to be unsound. ● The jurist Abu Bakr al-'Arabi says, "No sound hadith is available concerning the prohibition of singing," while Ibn Hazm says, "All that is reported on this subject is false and fabricated "

8. It must be noted that the singing (anasheed) the companions listened to was not accompanied with music but instead was like poetry There are some limitations to be observed in the matter of singing: ● The subject matter of songs should not be against the teachings of Islam. For example, if the song is in praise of wine, and it invites people to drink, singing or listening to it is haram. ● The singing must not be accompanied by sexual movements ● Each individual is the best judge of himself. If a certain type of singing arouses one's passions, leads him towards sin, excites the animal instincts, and dulls spirituality, he must avoid it, thus closing the door to temptations. ● The singing must not be done in conjunction with haram activities—for example, at a drinking party, or if it is mixed with obscenity and sin