It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever plays backgammon (or chess), then he has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger."

It is narrated from Umm al-Mu'mineen Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that some people used to stay in her house. The Prophet (peace be upon him) heard that they had chess (or chaucer) with them, so he sent a message saying, "Remove the chess from my house, otherwise I will expel you from my house," and he considered it bad.

Whenever Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) saw any of his household playing chess (or backgammon), he would beat him and break the chessboard.

Yahya said: I heard from Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him: Playing chess is not good, there is no benefit or goodness in it, and he considered it disliked. And I heard from Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him: He used to say: Playing chess and all frivolous, useless games are disliked, and he used to recite this verse «﴿فَمَاذَا بَعْدَ الْحَقِّ إِلَّا الضَّلَالُ﴾ [يونس: 32] » "So what is there after the truth except misguidance?"