The most correct evidence regarding chess is the statement of Ali, may God be pleased with him. Wathilah ibn al-Asqa', may God be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings of God be upon him) said: "Indeed, God Almighty looks down every day three hundred and sixty times, and the player of chess (sahib al-shah) has no share in it." Abu Bakr recorded it with his chain of narration (43). Furthermore, it is a game that distracts from the remembrance of God Almighty and from prayer, so it resembles playing with dice. As for their argument that there is no text regarding it: we have already mentioned a text regarding it, and it is also in the same meaning as dice, which is textually prohibited. Regarding their argument that it involves the strategy of war: we say that this is not the intended purpose of it, and most of those who play it only intend by it play and gambling (45). Regarding their argument that it relies upon skill and strategy: this is even more absorbing, thus distracting more from the remembrance of God and prayer (47). Having established this, Ahmad said: Dice is more severe than chess. He only said this because of the existence of a text regarding dice and the consensus on its prohibition, unlike chess. When its prohibition (48) is established, the Qadi said: It is like dice in terms of rejecting the testimony of one who plays it. This is the view of Malik and Abu Hanifah, because it is prohibited, just like it. Abu Bakr said: If it is played by one who believes in its prohibition, then it is like dice regarding him; but if it is played by one who believes in its permissibility, his testimony shall not be rejected, unless it distracts him from prayer at its times, or leads him (49) to false swearing or other similar prohibited acts, or he plays it on the road, or does something in his playing that is considered disrespectful, or the like, which removes him from the state of muru'ah (moral integrity). This is the school of al-Shafi'i, because it is a matter in which there is a difference of opinion, so it resembles other matters of disputed status.

Section: The one who plays with pigeons, flying them, his testimony is not accepted. This is the view of the Ahl al-Ra'y (the rationalist school). Shurayh would not permit the testimony of a pigeon owner or a bathhouse owner; this is because it is considered foolishness, baseness, and a lack of muru'ah, and it entails causing harm to neighbors by his birds, looking down into their houses, and throwing stones (50) at them. Indeed...