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Is Online Poker Haram?

20 January, 2024
Q As-salamu `alaykum. My friends always send me a request to play the game Texas Poker on Facebook. I know that playing poker is haram. But what is the Islamic ruling on playing online poker or poker game?

Answer

Wa `alaykum as-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.


In this fatwa:

If Poker does not involve losing or gaining money and used just for entertainment at times that do not take over any prayer, work, or study, it is not haram.

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In his response to your question, Prof. Dr. Monzer Kahf, Professor of Islamic Finance and Economics at Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies, states:

Any game that involves payment of money on the basis of chance is not permissible in the Shari`ah. Poker, like any others, may or may not involve losing/gaining money. If it does not involve that and used just for entertainment at times that do not take over any prayer, work, study or doing any useful service, is not then forbidden (haram).

For more, see these fatwas:

Is Playing Blue Whale Game Allowed?

Is Game Development Haram?

Entertaining Games: Permissible?

Allah Almighty knows best.

About Prof. Dr. Monzer Kahf
Dr. Monzer Kahf is a professor and consultant/trainer on Islamic banking, finance, Zakah, Awqaf, Islamic Inheritance, Islamic estate planning, Islamic family law, and other aspects of Islamic economics, finance, Islamic transactions (Mu'amalat). Dr. Monzer Kahf is currently Professor of Islamic Finance & Economics at the Faculty of Economics and Management, Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, Turkey