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Last updated on March 6th, 2018 at 12:30 am
The Guardian reports:
Iraq’s Arab Sunnis will do a U-turn and join the political process despite their lack of representation in the newly elected national assembly, Sunni leaders said yesterday.
Many Sunnis protested that the election was flawed and unfair, but in the wake of Sunday’s results, which confirmed the marginalisation of what was Iraq’s ruling class, their political parties want to lobby for a share of power.“Our view is that this election was a step towards democracy and ending the occupation,” said Ayad al-Samaray, the assistant general secretary of the Iraqi Islamic party. He said unnamed Sunni leaders blundered in depicting the election as a deepening of the occupation.
Before glee overwhelms, consider the source. Meanwhile, chess guy Tim Krabbé has been observing Shiite alliance supporter Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, whose website details his opposition to chess (although he is a cricket fan; bring on the Grand Ayatollah’s XI). Questions have been asked:
Question: Is playing a chess allowed?
Answer: It is absolutely unlawful.
Question: Chess is Halal or Haram?
Answer: Chess is absolutely forbidden.
Question: I would like to ask you on the subject of chess. Is it permissible to play it to augment to the intelligence, knowing that I do not bet on it and that I have no bad intentions playing it?
Answer: It is not permissible to play chess.
You sense that the Grand One was getting a little frustrated at this point, what with all the chess questions. Yet Tim next sent one himself, and it’s infidelicious:
Question: It is absolutely forbidden to play chess. But is it permissible to compose and solve chess problems? This is more like inventing riddles and creating poetry.
“In a few days,�? writes Tim, “I had my answer … “
- Sounds like post-democracy Iraq is going to be a lot of fun. But, given that chess continues reasonably happily in Iran, I doubt that the game will actually be outlawed.Posted by rexie on 02/15 at 11:01 AM • permalink
- What’s next, the Sunni outlaw the veiling of women? After all, that’s a custom they picked up from Persia and India, just like chess.Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 02/15 at 11:39 AM • permalink
- Krabbe, quit teasing the Ayatollah. That’s mean!Posted by Aaron – Freewill on 02/15 at 11:55 AM • permalink
- Yes the French lead the world in so many fields of human achievements.
Let’s see… there’s train technology, bridge building, haute cuisine and now child sex education in third worls countries. And explicit tutorial pictures too!
Wonder if Al Jazeera-on-the-Seine will run a series on this french humanitarian aid.
Of course the redneck Americans are also way behind in this field of Education.
Whilst the UN aid workers are busy Scheduling meetings about holding meetings and exchanging business cards, the American and Australian aid workers on the ground in Aceh have not managed yetvto even educate one tsunami victim in the field of Sex education!
Shame on them!
- Apparently they’re serious about this chess thing. I checked another source, the famous Ask the Imam site and found the following:
Is playing chess/checkers haram? If yes, why?
I have heard that it is haram because of lut (addiction). If that is so, then wouldn’t other addictive things be haram also (i.e. internet, video games, stocks, etc.). And what if one doesn’t find it addictive? Is it still haram then?
Answer 962004-07-28
A: Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, ‘Whosoever plays chess, it is as though he soiled his hands in the blood of swine.’ (Nasbur-Raayah Vol.4 Pg.274).
The prohibition is general. However, chess and games of its like are generally addictive and in addition to it are a complete waste of valuable time.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
It is interesting to note that al-Sistani is a Shiite, and Desai in a Wahabbist, who has referred to Shiites as unbelievers.
- Whosoever plays chess, it is as though he soiled his hands in the blood of swine
They sure do know what they hate, don’t they?
chess and games of its like are generally addictive and in addition to it are a complete waste of valuable time.
As opposed to engaging in mindless and endless theological discussions on the internet or having to stop whatever you’re doing five times a day and bend over for Allah.
- Seems like the girls get all the fun jobs;
No: 1
Question:If my wife wants me to masturbate in front of her, is it then allowed?
Answer:You are not allowed to do it with hand, but your wife is.
No: 5
Question:When I am unable to do Muta’h (temporary marriage), am I allowed to masturbate?
Answer:Masturbation is not permissible under any circumstances.
- Hungry Hungry Hippos is a gateway to chess so is obviously haram.Posted by drscroogemcduck on 02/16 at 12:01 AM • permalink
- Noooo–!Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 02/16 at 01:27 AM • permalink
- Andrea Harris — Don’t forget algebra. And the lateen rig. And Damascus steel. And… oh hell, ANY significant accomplishment of Islam…
But hey, what’s the official word on 3-D Star Trek Chess?
Posted by richard mcenroe on 02/16 at 01:55 AM • permalink
Question: It is absolutely forbidden to play chess. But is it permissible to compose and solve chess problems? This is more like inventing riddles and creating poetry.
Answer: Only after you’ve moved your clothes to a lower peg, and before you’ve slapped your mother.
Posted by Jim Geones on 02/16 at 07:50 AM • permalink