The ruling on playing chess

Q: I am a Jordanian person. A while ago I bought a paper for two dinars in which five names were written. Then I paid two dinars to the supervising company plus two dinars to the first name in the list; thus I paid 6 dinars. My name will be no. (15) and no. (1) will be pushed out of the list. (Part No. 15; Page No. 212) When I have three similar papers, I will sell them to three persons for two dinars per paper in doing so, I will regain what I paid and each of the new three participants will do the same and thus I will be no. (1) in (the 243 members list). By doing this, I will get 2 x 243 = 486 dinars. I will attach a copy of these instructions with my letter. I have already got this sum but I wish that your Eminence will tell me the legal ruling on this matter in order to erase my doubts concerning it. It is worth mentioning that this process is widely spread among the people in Cyprus, Amman and Al-Zarqa'. What is the ruling on the money which I gained from this process? I hope that your Eminence will respond to my message.

A: If the matter is as you have mentioned, this process is a kind of gambling which Allah prohibits by saying: O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and gambling, and Al-Ansâb, and Al-Azlâm (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitan’s (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful. (Part No. 15; Page No. 213) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.