Is gaming haram?

The short answer

Play in itself is not haram; the Prophet ﷺ allowed games and sport. A game becomes haram when it involves gambling, shirk or indecent content, or when it makes you miss prayers and duties. Some specific games, such as backgammon (nard), are forbidden by hadith, and scholars differ on others such as chess.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Explanation

Islam does not see all fun as a waste. On Eid, Ethiopian men played with shields and spears and the Prophet ﷺ encouraged them, "Carry on! O Bani Arfida", while Aisha watched 1. As a young girl, Aisha played with dolls with her friends, and when they hid on seeing the Prophet ﷺ, he would send them back to play with her 2.

But some things are clearly off-limits. The Quran forbids maysir (gambling) and says Satan uses it, like alcohol, to create hatred and to turn people away from remembering Allah and from prayer 3. The Prophet ﷺ even said that whoever just says to a friend "Come, let me gamble with you" must give charity to make up for it 4. Paying real money for random rewards, or betting on matches, raises exactly this concern.

A specific game was also named: whoever plays nardashir (a game like backgammon) is like one who dyed his hand in pig's flesh and blood 5. Scholars have used this hadith when discussing other games of chance.

Then there is time. Health and free time are two blessings that many people lose without noticing 6. On the Day of Judgment, each person will be asked about his life and what he did with it 7. A game that swallows hours of your day, delays your prayers or keeps you from family and study has become harmful, whatever the game is.

A balanced approach: check the content (no shirk, nudity or glorified sin), avoid anything involving gambling, never let a game delay salah, and set a time limit. Play can be a halal break when it stays a break.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 949
    Sahih Bukhari

    On Eid, Ethiopians played with shields and spears and the Prophet ﷺ encouraged them.

    Narrated Aisha:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to my house while two girls were singing beside me the songs of Buath (a story about the war between the two tribes of the Ansar, the Khazraj and the Aus, before Islam). The Prophet (ﷺ) lay down and turned his face to the other side. Then Abu Bakr came and spoke to me harshly saying, "Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet (ﷺ) ?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) turned his face towards him and said, "Leave them." When Abu Bakr became inattentive, I signaled to those girls to go out and they left. It was the day of `Id, and the Black people were playing with shields and spears; so either I requested the Prophet (ﷺ) or he asked me whether I would like to see the display. I replied in the affirmative. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) made me stand behind him and my cheek was touching his cheek and he was saying, "Carry on! O Bani Arfida," till I got tired. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked me, "Are you satisfied (Is that sufficient for you)?" I replied in the affirmative and he told me to leave

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرٌو، أَنَّ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَسَدِيَّ، حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَعِنْدِي جَارِيَتَانِ تُغَنِّيَانِ بِغِنَاءِ بُعَاثَ، فَاضْطَجَعَ عَلَى الْفِرَاشِ وَحَوَّلَ وَجْهَهُ، وَدَخَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَانْتَهَرَنِي وَقَالَ مِزْمَارَةُ الشَّيْطَانِ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ـ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ دَعْهُمَا ‏"‏ فَلَمَّا غَفَلَ غَمَزْتُهُمَا فَخَرَجَتَا‏.‏ وَكَانَ يَوْمَ عِيدٍ يَلْعَبُ السُّودَانُ بِالدَّرَقِ وَالْحِرَابِ، فَإِمَّا سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَإِمَّا قَالَ ‏"‏ تَشْتَهِينَ تَنْظُرِينَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ‏.‏ فَأَقَامَنِي وَرَاءَهُ خَدِّي عَلَى خَدِّهِ، وَهُوَ يَقُولُ ‏"‏ دُونَكُمْ يَا بَنِي أَرْفِدَةَ ‏"‏‏.‏ حَتَّى إِذَا مَلِلْتُ قَالَ ‏"‏ حَسْبُكِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَاذْهَبِي ‏"‏‏.‏

  2. 2
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 6130
    Sahih Bukhari

    Aisha played with dolls with her friends, and the Prophet ﷺ let them carry on.

    Narrated `Aisha:I used to play with the dolls in the presence of the Prophet, and my girl friends also used to play with me. When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to enter (my dwelling place) they used to hide themselves, but the Prophet would call them to join and play with me. (The playing with the dolls and similar images is forbidden, but it was allowed for `Aisha at that time, as she was a little girl, not yet reached the age of puberty.) (Fath-ul-Bari page 143, Vol)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كُنْتُ أَلْعَبُ بِالْبَنَاتِ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَكَانَ لِي صَوَاحِبُ يَلْعَبْنَ مَعِي، فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا دَخَلَ يَتَقَمَّعْنَ مِنْهُ، فَيُسَرِّبُهُنَّ إِلَىَّ فَيَلْعَبْنَ مَعِي‏.‏

  3. 3
    Quran Al-Maaida · 5:90–91

    Gambling is from Satan's work; he uses it to turn people away from remembrance and prayer.

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡخَمۡرُ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرُ وَٱلۡأَنصَابُ وَٱلۡأَزۡلَٰمُ رِجۡسࣱ مِّنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ فَٱجۡتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ ۝٩٠ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيۡنَكُمُ ٱلۡعَدَٰوَةَ وَٱلۡبَغۡضَآءَ فِي ٱلۡخَمۡرِ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمۡ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَعَنِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِۖ فَهَلۡ أَنتُم مُّنتَهُونَ ۝٩١

    90 O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful 91 Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist

  4. 4
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 6107
    Sahih Bukhari

    Whoever says "Come, let me gamble with you" must give charity.

    Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "Whoever amongst you swears, (saying by error) in his oath 'By Al-Lat and Al- Uzza', then he should say, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.' And whoever says to his companions, 'Come let me gamble' with you, then he must give something in charity (as an expiation for such a sin)." (See Hadith No)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الْمُغِيرَةِ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الزُّهْرِيُّ، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ حَلَفَ مِنْكُمْ فَقَالَ فِي حَلِفِهِ بِاللاَّتِ وَالْعُزَّى‏.‏ فَلْيَقُلْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ‏.‏ وَمَنْ قَالَ لِصَاحِبِهِ تَعَالَ أُقَامِرْكَ، فَلْيَتَصَدَّقْ ‏"‏‏.‏

  5. 5
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 2260
    Sahih Muslim

    Playing nardashir is like dyeing one's hand in pig's flesh and blood.

    Buraida reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said:He who played Nardashir (a game similar to backgammon) is like one who dyed his hand with the flesh and blood of swine

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ، مَرْثَدٍ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَنْ لَعِبَ بِالنَّرْدَشِيرِ فَكَأَنَّمَا صَبَغَ يَدَهُ فِي لَحْمِ خِنْزِيرٍ وَدَمِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 6412
    Sahih Bukhari

    Health and free time are blessings many people lose.

    Narrated Ibn `Abbas:The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "There are two blessings that many people are deceived into losing: health and free time

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا الْمَكِّيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ ـ هُوَ ابْنُ أَبِي هِنْدٍ ـ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ نِعْمَتَانِ مَغْبُونٌ فِيهِمَا كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ، الصِّحَّةُ وَالْفَرَاغُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ عَبَّاسٌ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا صَفْوَانُ بْنُ عِيسَى، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِثْلَهُ‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2417
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani
    Graders differ
    • Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih
    • Al-Albani: Sahih
    • Bashar Awad Maarouf: Hasan Sahih
    • Zubair Ali Zai: Daif

    Each person will be asked about his life and what he did with it.

    Abu Barzah Al-Aslami narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said:"The feet of the slave of Allah shall not move [on the Day of Judgement] until he is asked about five things: about his life and what he did with it, about his knowledge and what he did with it, about his wealth and how he earned it and where he spent it on, about his body and for what did he wear it out." [He said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih. Sa'eed bin Abdullah bin Juraij (a narrator in the chain) [is from Al-Basrah], and he is the freed slave of Abu Barzah AlAslami, and Abu Barzah AlAslami's name is Nadlah bin 'Ubaid

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَخْبَرَنَا الأَسْوَدُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بَرْزَةَ الأَسْلَمِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لاَ تَزُولُ قَدَمَا عَبْدٍ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حَتَّى يُسْأَلَ عَنْ عُمْرِهِ فِيمَا أَفْنَاهُ وَعَنْ عِلْمِهِ فِيمَا فَعَلَ وَعَنْ مَالِهِ مِنْ أَيْنَ اكْتَسَبَهُ وَفِيمَا أَنْفَقَهُ وَعَنْ جِسْمِهِ فِيمَا أَبْلاَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏ وَسَعِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جُرَيْجٍ هُوَ بَصْرِيٌّ وَهُوَ مَوْلَى أَبِي بَرْزَةَ وَأَبُو بَرْزَةَ اسْمُهُ نَضْلَةُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ ‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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