What is the ruling on playing cards?
The card game is a common game among disbelievers and sinners. Since it is based on chance, it is suitable for gambling and is often played for it. Considering these descriptions, it is not permissible for believers to engage in it, even if it is played without gambling; because Allah Almighty has forbidden them from resembling disbelievers and said: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا﴾[1]; “O you who believed! Do not be like those who disbelieved,” and said: ﴿أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلُ﴾[2]; “Has the time not come for believers that their hearts should be humble for the remembrance of Allah and what has been revealed of the truth, and that they should not be like those who were given the Book before?!” He has also forbidden them from resembling sinners and said: ﴿وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ بَطَرًا وَرِئَاءَ النَّاسِ﴾[3]; “And do not be like those who came out of their homes boastfully, showing off to people,” and said: ﴿وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا اللَّهَ فَأَنْسَاهُمْ أَنْفُسَهُمْ ۚ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ﴾[4]; “And do not be like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves. They are the sinners,” and He has sternly warned them against it and said: ﴿إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا مِثْلُهُمْ﴾[5]; “Surely then you will be like them.” Also, it has been narrated from the Prophet that he said: «مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ»[6]; “One who copies a people is considered one of them,” and from the Ahl al-Bayt that they said: «أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَى نَبِيٍّ مِنْ أَنْبِيَائِهِ: قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ: لَا تَلْبَسُوا لِبَاسَ أَعْدَائِي، وَلَا تَطْعَمُوا طَعَامَ أَعْدَائِي، وَلَا تَسْلُكُوا مَسَالِكَ أَعْدَائِي -وفي رواية أخرى: وَلَا تُشَاكِلُوا بِمَشَاكِلِ أَعْدَائِي- فَتَكُونُوا أَعْدَائِي كَمَا هُمْ أَعْدَائِي»[7]; “Allah the Exalted, the Majestic revealed to one of His Prophets: Say to the believers: ‘Do not wear what My enemies wear, do not eat what My enemies eat, and do not follow the footsteps of My enemies,’ -and in another narration: ‘and do not engage in disputes similar to those of My enemies- or you will become My enemies, as they are My enemies.’”