Praise
be to Allaah.
I think that it is not permissible to play such games in
this place that has been prepared for performance of prayers and has been
rented by this good person. Undoubtedly these games in which there is no
benefit are a waste of valuable time that should be used to acquire
beneficial knowledge and spent in dhikr, du‘aa’, worship and earning
income by permissible means. Bu if it is known that if they did not play
these games they would go to something worse than that, such as theatres
or places with dancing and music, where they would see scantily dressed
women, indecent movies and so on, then it is permissible for them to keep
busy with these games which will distract them from sin and evil, and the
causes of fitnah (temptation). Some kinds of evil are less serious than
others. But they should not do that in this place that has been prepared
for prayer; rather they should go back to their homes or to places where
such games are appropriate, such as cafes and parks and so on. And Allah
knows best. End quote.
Website of Shaykh ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Jibreen
http://www.ibnjebreen.com/ftawa.php?view=vmasal&subid=10991&parent=3345.