Chess and Islam
Chess and Islam is an issue of some ongoing dispute:
| “ | After the 1979 Islamic revolution, playing chess was banned in public in Iran and declared haram, or forbidden, by senior clerics because it was associated with gambling. But in 1988, Iran’s then supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, lifted the ban and said it was permissible as long as it was not a means of gambling. Iran now has an active confederation for playing chess and sends players to international games.[1] | ” |
One of the top players in the world is from the Islamic country of Iran, and at age only 16 he defeated the number one player, Magnus Carlsen:
| “ | A 16-year-old Iranian chess prodigy has upended the chess world by beating World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen in the final of the Banter Blitz Cup.
Alireza Firouzja defeated the Norwegian 8.5-7.5 in the final of the online quickfire knockout contest -- where players must comment verbally on their moves, and their opponents, during the game -- to claim the $14,000 prize. The Iranian is the second-youngest player to reach the 2700 Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) rating -- the rankings that govern international chess competition.[2] |
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But some Muslim clerics have forbidden playing chess because it can be a waste of time and can encourage gambling, although chess itself has no dice.
At least one former Soviet Union nation which is predominantly Muslim now has officially encouraged education and training in chess for youngsters.
