The ruling on playing cards

Q 2: What is your opinion on a kind of game called "Balut"? This game is played with pieces of paper the same size of the 5 banknote, which contain different pictures and numbers. When the Adhan (call to prayer) is announced while people are playing it, they do not repeat its words as required by the Sunnah. They do not remember Allah after it is finished nor say the supplication which is obligatory to be said at hearing it. Then they go to the Masjid (mosque) to offer Salah (Prayer). After returning from the Masjid, people enter and greet them but they do not repeat their greeting because their thoughts and hearts are busy. A person can not stay with them in the same place due to the heavy smoke, the noisy voices, laughter, cursing and oaths which they take; some oaths are taken by Allah and some by others, besides Allah. (Part No. 15; Page No. 233) I hope you can tell me the ruling on playing this game, its bad effects on those who play it and on the whole society.

A: Playing with cards in the way which the questioner described diverts people from the remembrance of Allah and Salah and raises enmity and hatred among players. They may play for money paid by the defeated to the winner which is accompanied by mutual cursing and taking of false oaths. If these matters and the likes are the result of this game, then it will be unlawful because of the saying of Allah (Exalted be He), O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and gambling, and Al-Ansâb, and Al-Azlâm (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitan’s (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful. Shaitân (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allâh and from As-Salât (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain? As for the bad effects on the players, they commit an unlawful act. So they are sinners as this leads to abandoning obligatory acts such as leaving Salah in congregation or committing forbidden acts such as cursing, false oaths, swearing by people other than Allah and smoking. As for the bad effects of this game on the whole society, it should be known that the bonds of the good society are achieved through two matters: Following the commands of Allah and avoiding His prohibitions. (Part No. 15; Page No. 234) The decomposition of society takes place when the obligatory acts are neglected or when prohibited acts are committed widely. This game has bad effects on the society because it is a reason of abandoning Salah in congregation, which results in separation, hatred, enmity and committing forbidden acts. It also leads to laziness in seeking livelihood if it is not played for money. However, if it is played for money, the resulting money will be unlawful as we have illustrated earlier.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.