Can I play cards if there is no gambling involved?

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

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

It is Haram to play cards if gambling is involved. If gambling is not involved, then it will not be Haram. However, the nature of games played with cards entails a general ruling of dislike (Karahiyyat) as they contain elements of Haram such as animate pictures and the general association of cards with gambling. Such games distract one from Allah’s remembrance, and often prevent one from fulfilling his/her Shar’i duties.[1]

Thus, one should abstain from playing cards even if it does not involving gambling.[2]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Abdullah ibn Mohammed Aijaz

Student Darul Iftaa
Baltimore, USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.