The Support of the Needy on the Legal Ruling of Chess

And he increased in that, so his kingdom in Persia was characterized by a great deal of playing the lute and Shatranj Chess. I say: Among what pertains to this chapter is the narration concerning Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Suli, the virtuous man famous as al-Suli, who lived at the turn of the third century [approx. 912 CE].

He is the one who established and elaborated the reasoning for the Bab al-Karam Literally "The Gate of Generosity," a specific strategic opening in the advancement of the eight [pawns]; his mastery of it was so unique that it led to the outwitting of others. It has even become a proverb; it is said of one whose skill in play is being highly praised: "So-and-so plays with the skill of al-Suli."

He has writings on the subject that are widely quoted, containing insights that can hardly be found with anyone else. And some narrators have mentioned in his garden—as related by al-Mas'udi in The Meadows of Gold original: "Muruj al-Dhahab," a famous 10th-century historical and geographical work—that the Imam al-Radi billah The Abbasid Caliph, reigned 934–940 CE went to one of his pleasure gardens with his companions. He said to the boon companions present: "Have you ever seen a sight more beautiful than this?" They began describing its beauties and praised the garden with terms that no worldly flowers could match. Then al-Radi said: "Al-Suli’s play at chess is more beautiful than these flowers, than this garden, and than everything you describe."

Then he related—as al-Mas'udi mentioned in his praise and commendation of the Imam al-Muktafi The Abbasid Caliph, reigned 902–908 CE—that al-Suli’s excellence in playing chess had been mentioned to the Caliph. At that time, al-Mawardi the player was well-established in the Caliph's court and held a place in his heart, for the Caliph was fascinated by his play. When the two played together, al-Suli began to overwhelm him with the beauty of his ingenuity in his moves, his coordination of pieces, his tabiya A standard opening setup or "battle array" in medieval chess, and his refusal to be undermined or deceived. This was in addition to the prestige al-Suli gained over him by defeating him in their first encounter. When the play between them continued and al-Muktafi saw al-Suli's excellence, he turned away from his favor for al-Mawardi and said to him: "You have been countered, and I have provided you with a more exalted master."

And there is disagreement regarding the reason for the game's invention. It was said it was for imitation [of war], as mentioned previously. It was also said that a woman had a son who was a king, and he was killed in a war apart from his companions. She cried, "How could this be? Show it to me plainly!" So chess was manufactured for her. When she saw it, she was consoled by it, as I shall mention in the second section of the second chapter. And it was said that the kings of India were wise men who did not approve of fighting and the shedding of blood. So they invented chess, so that if two kings disputed over their kingdom, the two armies would line up and the two sides would face each other, and the positions would advance without fighting or shedding blood. This was related by al-Zamakhshari A renowned 12th-century scholar. Among the words of certain poets that point to this is the following:

A square land, red, made of leather,
between two sides known for their nobility.
It recounts a war, yet one without flames,
without anyone therein sinning by shedding blood.
As if the horses Knights and the rukhkhakh Rooks/Chariots together,
among the bayadiq Pawns, were a battalion of charcoal.