Saudi Arabia's grand mufti, Sheikh Abdullah al-Sheikh, has ruled that chess is forbidden in Islam. He said that the game encourages gambling and is a waste of time, The Guardian reported. Al-Sheikh was responding to a question on a television show, where he further added that chess was "a waste of money and a cause for hatred and enmity between players". He justified the ruling by referring to verses in the Quran that banned intoxicants, gambling, idolatry and divination.

According to the report, it is unlikely that the ruling will be enforced. It is more plausible that chess would be relegated to other minor vices like music. As the ruling was an answer to a question, it is also likely that it was meant to be treated as an opinion, rather than a formal edict.

The grand mufti is the senior-most religious authority in Saudi Arabia. His role is to give fatwas, or opinions, on legal matters and social affairs. The Saudi court system is heavily influenced by the opinions of the grand mufti.