A video clip of Saudi Arabia’s top cleric saying that the game of chess is ‘forbidden’ in Islam because it wastes time and leads to rivalry and enmity among people has provoked heated debate, and widespread criticism, among Arabic Twitter users, reported the Associated Press.

'According to Saudi Islamic leaders chess is simply a waste of time that encourages gambling.'

'So much so that Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti has ruled that the game is forbidden in Islam.'

Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al ash-Sheikh said it was ‘a waste of time and money and a cause for hatred and enmity between players.’

To support his ruling Al-Sheikh quoted the verse in the Qur’an that bans ‘intoxicants, gambling, idolatry and divination’.

'He made the claim during a television show in which he issued fatwas to viewers who sent in religious-based questions, the Guardian reports.'

'He is not the first Muslim leader to make such a ruling on chess.'

'Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s supreme Shia authority, has previously issued rulings forbidding chess.'

'And after the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, playing chess was declared forbidden by senior clerics because of associations with gambling.'

'But in 1988 Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini lifted the ban in Iran and ruled the game could be played – as long as people did not bet on it.

The country us now involved in the game at an international level.'

'In all likelihood Al ash-Sheikh’s ruling will probably not be enforced, but could see chess afforded the same status as other minor vices such as music.'

'And since the ruling was in response to a specific question, it is likely he was offering advice rather than issuing a formal edict.'

Nigel Short, the British chess grandmaster, said banning chess in Saudi Arabia would be a ‘great tragedy’. He told the BBC: ‘I don’t consider chess to be a threat to society. It is not something that is so depraved as to corrupt morals.’