Law of Playing Dice in Islam

Dice is one of the classic games which is until now still had a lot of fans. Its fans were came from various circles.

Especially at this time the game of ludo king dice is very popular by the young generations. Just like other games in general, playing dice is also very potential to make us forget ourselves, forget the time and other duties because it is too focused and too cool with this dice game

Besides the dice game can also cause division among players due to defeat, victory, competition, cheating hunting revenge when the game lasted even until the game ended. Not only that, dice close to gambling also will certainly make the players forget even disregard the sin of gambling. Gambling is not only harm yourself but also others. Read also : benefits of illness in Islam

Allah Ta’ala said :

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنْصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

“O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, (sacrificing on) stone alters (to other that Allah), and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.” (QS. Al-Maidah : 90)

Connecting the word of Allah about the haram of gambling, Abdullah ibn Umar radhiyallahu ‘anhu stated that the game of the dice belonged to the gambling. This is explained in a hadith which means:

“Playing dice is included as gambling.” (Hadith narrated by Baihaqi)

The Law of Playing Dice According The Islamic View

With the many negative impacts that accompany the dice game, this article will discuss what is actually the Law of Playing Dice In Islam more clearly based on al-Qur’an, hadith and some opinions of scholars.

1. Haram (Forbidden)

The game of dice is haram by the majority of scholars such as Imam Hambali, Imam Hanafi, Imam Maliki and many other Shafi’i scholars. Read also : law of using braces

Here is a hadith which states that the law of playing dice is haram :

عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَنَّ النَّبِىَّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ « مَنْ لَعِبَ بِالنَّرْدَشِيرِ فَكَأَنَّمَا صَبَغَ يَدَهُ فِى لَحْمِ خِنْزِيرٍ وَدَمِهِ

From Sulaiman bin Buraidah, from his father, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “Whoever plays dice, then he seems to have dipped his hand into the flesh and the blood of a pig” (Hadith narrated by Muslim)

The meaning of this hadith is that playing dice will be same as dipped both hands into the flesh and also blood of a pig which even the law of touching a pig in Islam is haram.

Later on another hadith also explain about playing dice is same as disobeyed Allah and His Massenger while in Islam itself love and role modeling Allah and His Massenger is a virtue of all Moslems. Read also : law of blow out food in Islam

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The hadith said,

عَنْ أَبِى مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِىِّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ « مَنْ لَعِبَ بِالنَّرْدِ فَقَدْ عَصَى اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ

“From Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari, Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “Whoever plays the dice, he has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger.” (Hadith narrated by Abu Daud and Ahmad)

Beside that, Abu ‘Abdirrahman also tell a story that he ever heard Rasulullah shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said :

مَثَلُ الَّذِى يَلْعَبُ بِالنَّرْدِ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ فَيُصَلِّى مَثَلُ الَّذِى يَتَوَضَّأُ بِالْقَيْحِ وَدَمِ الْخِنْزِيرِ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ فَيُصَلِّى

“Permissibility of the person who plays dice then he stands and prayer is like someone who performs ablution with pus and pig’s blood, then he stands then performs salah (prayer).” (Hadith narrated by Ahmad)

Some of the above verses and hadiths make it very clear that the law of playing dice is banned even harambecause of the various harm that will be inflicted in the game.

In addition to dice games, other games that seem to give a lot of negative effects are also prohibited such as monopoly or snake ladder. Whether it is meant by betting or gambling or even not. Read also : virtues of reading suurah yassin in the morning

About this matter Ibn Tairmiyah rahimahullah said :

وَاللَّعِبُ بِالنَّرْدِ حَرَامٌ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِعِوَضِ عِنْدَ جَمَاهِيرِ الْعُلَمَاءِ وَبِالْعِوَضِ حَرَامٌ بِالْإِجْمَاعِ

“The dice game is haram though not for the purpose of placing a bet (gambling). That is the opinion of most scholars. Whereas if the game dice coupled with the bet, then the haram is clear enough based on the agreement of the scholars (ijma).” (Majmu’ Al Fatwa)

 Ever told on a story from Nafi’, student and son in-law of Ibn Umar radhiyallahu ‘anhuma that,

“That Ibn Umar saw one of his family members playing the dice, he immediately hit him and broke the dice.” (Hadith narrated by Bukhari)

“Then Aisha radhiyallahu ‘anha also relates that she had rented her house to someone. Then she got a report that the house’s tenant kept the dice in her house. Aisha also sent a letter to them. “If you do not throw the dice away, I’ll get you out of my house.” (Hadith narrated by Malik)

Later told by Kultsum bin Jabr, that friends of Abdullah bin Zubair (which at that time rule Mekah) ever preached.

“It has come to me a news that there are some Quraysh people playing dice. I swear by Allah, if anyone is arrested and handed over to me for playing dice, I will certainly be punish from hair to skin. And the person who reported will be given by me a present of the treasure that the man brought.” (Hadith narrated by Al-Baihaqi)

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To be clearly Syaikhul Islam explains that:

“The law of playing the dice is forbidden according to the imam of 4 madhhab, either with or without a bet.” (Majmu ‘Fatawa)

2. Makruh (Dislike, not considered as a Sin)

Another opinion about the law of playing dice is makruh. This opinion is expressed by some scholars such as Abu Ishaq Al Maruzi who is a Shafi’iyah scholar.

However, this opinion is considered unfounded and can not defeat the arguments stating that the playing dice is haram. Read also : importance of Al-Qur’an in Ramadhan

From all the series of verses and hadiths delivered, it is very clear that playing dice is very close to gambling and the law of gambling is haram since it causes many negative impacts on yourself and others.

As a Muslim is certainly obliged to obey the rules of Allah subhana hu wa ta’ala contained in Al-Qur’an and hadith as a form of piety and our faith in Allah Subhana Hu wa Ta’ala.

Such is the explanation on the law of playing dice this time. Hopefully this article can add scientific treasures and increase our faith in all to live a better life and in accordance with the Islamic corridor. Amin.