Playing Monopoly and Scrabble

9-5-2006 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is it permissable to play board games such as Monopoly and Scrabble? In Monopoly the goal is to make your opponent bankrupt and I was wondering if this was non Islamic?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

Any game which includes dice is forbidden, among which is monopoly, as the Prophet said: "Whoever rolls dice has disobeyed Allaah and His Messenger.” [Abu Daawood, and Ibn Maajah] For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 91109.

As regards Scrabble, what we know about it is that it does not include dice rather it enables the components to improve their knowledge of words. If this is the case, then it is permissible in principle, provided the religious requirements are met, for instance it should not preoccupy one from performing an obligation, it should not take too much time from the person, and it should not involve a sin.

For more benefit on how a Muslim should benefit from his time, please refer to Fatwa 86533.   

Allaah Knows best.