Board Games, Table-Tennis Etc.

First and foremost, we must understand the Shari’ah’s perspective on play and games in general. Play and games have become recognized as an objective sought after in our current entertainment-focused culture. There is not a single occasion in Shari’ah where entertainment is declared an object of attainment. Rather, wherever play and amusement are referenced in the Qur’aan, they are spoken of with disdain. We just quote two verses as examples…

وَمَا هَذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَهْوٌ وَلَعِبٌ وَإِنَّ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ لَهِيَ الْحَيَوَانُ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ

And this worldly life is not but diversion and amusement. And indeed, the home of the Hereafter – that is the [eternal] life, if only they knew
[Al-Ankabut: 64]

اعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَامًا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانٌ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ

Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children – like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion
[Al-Hadid: 20]

Yes, there are some circumstances where play and amusement result in temporary and eternal rewards, which Shari’ah does not condemn.

حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ قَالَ: نا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ – رَفَعَهُ – قَالَ: ” كُلُّ شَيْءٍ مِنْ لَهْوِ الدُّنْيَا بَاطِلٌ إِلَّا تَأْدِيبَ الرَّجُلِ فَرَسَهُ، وَمُلَاعَبَتَهُ أَهْلَهُ، وَلَهْوَهُ عَلَى قَوْسِهِ
(سنن سعيد بن منصور 2451)

Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said,
“Every play of the Dunya is wasted except a person’s training his horse, playing with his wife, and playing with his bow.

سَمِعْتُ [ص:119] رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «كُلُّ شَيْءٍ لَيْسَ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ لَهْوٌ وَسَهْوٌ، إِلَّا أَرْبَعَ خِصَالٍ: مَشْيُ الرَّجُلِ بَيْنَ الْغَرَضَيْنِ، وَتَأْدِيبُهُ فَرَسَهُ، وَمُلَاعَبَتُهُ أَهْلَهُ، وَتَعَلُّمُ السِّبَاحَةِ»
(المعجم الأوسط 8147)

Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said,
“Everything that is not part of the remembrance of Allah Ta’aala is futile and void, except four traits; a person’s walking between two targets, training his horse, playing with his wife, and learning to swim.”

These mentioned pursuits reap the following benefits:
(1) Helps a person to prepare himself for Jihaad against the disbelievers by gaining skill and strength.
(2) Aids in the preservation of spousal love by suitably gratifying her.
(3) If a person’s intention is to please Allah  by playing these games he will be rewarded for it.
(4) He will obtain exercise through swimming and other activities, which will help him stay stronger and healthier, allowing him to accomplish more good than individuals who are weak.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said,
“A strong believer is better and dearer to Allah than a weak believer, and both are good. Adhere to that which is beneficial for you. Keep asking Allah for help and don’t be helpless. If you are afflicted in any way, do not say: ‘If I had taken this or that step, it would have resulted into such and such,’ but say only: ‘Allah so determined and did as He willed.’ The word ‘if’ opens the gates of satanic thoughts”.

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ ‏ “‏ المؤمن القوي خير وأحب إلى الله من المؤمن الضعيف وفي كل خير‏.‏ احرص على ما ينفعك، واستعن بالله ولا تعجز‏.‏ وإن أصابك شيء فلا تقل‏:‏ لو أني فعلت كان كذا وكذا، ولكن قل‏:‏ قدر الله، وما شاء فعل؛ فإن لو تفتح عمل الشيطان‏”‏ ‏
(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “A strong believer is better and dearer to Allah than a weak believer, and both are good. Adhere to that which is beneficial for you. Keep asking Allah for help and don’t be helpless. If you are afflicted in any way, do not say: ‘If I had taken this or that step, it would have resulted into such and such,’ but say only: ‘Allah so determined and did as He willed.’ The word ‘if’ opens the gates of satanic thoughts”.

Hadhrat Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi Rahimahullah was once asked (Fataawa Mahmoodiya 538/19)
“Question: Is it permissible to play games at home or not? Such as table tennis, carom board, badminton, etc. One friend of mine said to play these games is haraam.

Answer: Those games which are not from the symbols of the disbelievers, there is no condition of money being awarded to the winner, the playing of which does not divert a person from good actions (such as Salaah, etc), and there are no elements that conflict with the Shari’ah therein (such as fighting, exposing the aurah, etc), then they are permissible (to play these games). And if these games increase one’s physical strength, by which one can be stronger against the disbelievers in jihaad (battle), then playing with this intention is even preferable and recommended. For example, horse riding and swimming. If these conditions are not met, then the ruling of impermissibility will be in accordance with the amount of evil the game entails. Under the mentioned principle the ruling of every game can be derived.”

Hadhrat Rahimahullah was also asked…

“Question: Carom board is a game. Is there any instance where there is room for the permissibility for it? I wish to know that if the carom board is played without any condition of money awarded to the winner, then in which instance will it be OK to play it, and when not?

Answer: If there is no gambling involved, and it doesn’t cause any deficiency in the other acts of Deen then playing it once in a while to relieve grief, and to achieve invigoration is permissible. Yes, playing it should not be made into a habit, and one should endeavour to avoid playing these games.”

Hadhrat Abu Darda Radhiyallaahu Anhu says, “I give rest to my heart with some Baatil (permissible amusements) so that I can get refreshed and energetic for Haqq (good actions). (Faydhul Qadir 3415/7)

There are other important points to remember about games…
– It is makrooh tahreemi (not permissible) to play chess and backgammon.
– It should not cause a person to forget Allah Ta’aala and become negligent of Him.
– There should not be any pictures, statues, etc. in these games.
– It should not develop within oneself the love for the world.
– It should not be habitual.

It is reported in Saheeh Muslim from Hadhrat Buraida Radhiyallaahu Anhu that Nabi Sallalaahu Alahi Wasallam said, “Whoever plays nardasheer it is as though he has painted his hands with the flesh and blood of a swine.”
Nardasheer: a dice game played by the pagan Arabs.

Allah Ta’aala says in the Qur’aan…

﴿فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ رِجَالٌ لَا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ يَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالْأَبْصَارُ‏

In mosques which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings [Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving of zakah. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about»[An-Nur: 36-37]

Hadhrat Imaam Ahmad Bin Hambal Rahimahullah narrates from Hadhrat Qaasim bin Muhammed Rahimahullah, “Whatever causes one to become oblivious of the remembrance of Allah Ta’aala and Salaah, then it is Maysir (a gamble).
It is reported from Hasan Basri Rahimahullah, “Love for the world is the root of all evil.”

In your question, you have asked about snakes and ladders, ludo, monopoly, etc. Since the usage of the dice in these games is required, it bears similarity to the game that the Arabs were prohibited from in the narration. One should therefore avoid playing these games due to this similarity.