Book of Chess, Its Problems, and Its Subtleties

...because anyone whose capability in warfare allows him to penetrate the enemy's territory and overcome many men—or is capable of doing so—has truly earned his place in the time of war. He made the movement of the Horse original: "al-Faras," the Knight. a leaping one, because the cavalryman’s role is to keep his distance [from the infantry] when they clash. Yet, when he is prepared to regroup at the tents, he turns back on himself; he made his movement [crooked] in advancing, retreating, and capturing A reference to the unique L-shaped move of the Knight, which "turns" rather than moving in a straight line., because the cavalryman needs to strike his peers and then distinguish himself from them through maneuver and initiative.

He made the movement of the Rook original: "al-Rukh." along a straight path, for its ultimate range 2 is to move in parallel directions. It is the piece with the greatest reach because it represents the commander of the right and left wings in war; he is the one who charges and attacks whatever faces him, striking at the enemy's vulnerabilities wherever he break reaches.

As for the Shah original: "al-Shah," the King., he made his movement a single square in any direction, because the King is not one who runs [in the thick of battle]. However, he is given the choice to move however he wishes—advancing, retreating, moving forward, or moving backward. The rule for the Vizier original: "al-Firzan," the Counselor or Queen. is similar, except that he has even less freedom of movement than the King; therefore, his capture was restricted to a single diagonal point In the medieval version of chess, the Vizier or Queen was a much weaker piece, moving only one square diagonally..

He distinguished between Chess and Backgammon original: "al-Nard." through both religious law and reason. The wise have reached a consensus on the prohibition of Backgammon. How shameful it is for a rational person to become enslaved to two dice original: "al-fassayn," literally "two stones," referring to the dice used in backgammon. which play with him and dictate his actions!

O you who are entrusted with the command, you have not followed in this game either error or right guidance.
When you desire a move from them, they may not be obedient to you; yet do what is required, for the one who fails is but a slave to them.