Backgammon

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Whoever plays backgammon, it is as if he dipped his hand in the flesh and blood of a pig.” [Sunan Ibn Majah]

Backgammon is one of the oldest board games for two players involving a dice. Luck factors into the outcome. It may be played for money and is then a form of gambling.

Pigs are impure animals, and as much as a Muslim would not like to immerse his/her hands in the flesh and blood of a pig, he/she should hate any game that involves gambling.

Another reason for the prohibition of such games is that people waste their time by engaging in them and do not care about even as essential things as their prayers. Being involved in any activity to the extent that it affects one’s remembering Allah, and the rights of others that He has ordered us to fulfill, is forbidden. In light of this, ask the Mufti in your heart what the ruling on T.V. and movies should be.