Gambling & Lottery

INTRODUCTION

• Before Islam,gambling was a social evil.
• Allah strictly forbade all forms of gambling.
• Many Govt. organise gambling and lottery activities.
• ISLAM forbids gambling in all forms. 
• Any Money gained through gambling is considered HARAM.
• MAYSIR is the Arabic word for gambling in Quran, it means easy,no effort.
• QIMAAR  another word for Gambling.

FORMS OF GAMBLING

GAMBLING TODAY

1. Every transaction in which gain and loss is obscure is known as Qimaar' and 'Maisar' in the Shar'iah terminology, and as 'Juwa' in the Urdu language.
2. There are numerous methods of gambling and in every age and region, gambling has been played in different forms and methods.
3. ISLAM about Gambling.

They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they should spend. Say, "The excess [beyond needs]." Thus Allah makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought.(2.219).

O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah ], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.(5.90).

                                               GAMES OF CHANCE

• Slot Machine
• Jackpots
• Roulettes
• Card games
• Bingo
• Casino

BETTING

1. Sports betting is the activity of predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome.
2. ‘Betting’ on something whereby one wins/loses based merely on chance is a clear manifestation of the abomination of ‘maysir’ or gambling which is categorically forbidden to the believers who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day.
3. For eg:-Take the case of 2 persons competiting in aracr on the condition that the loser payes the winner $100 or that a person says,"If it rains today, i will give you $100, and if it does not rain,you will have to give me $100"
4. Since 1 party gains and the other loses in a mere chance game, it falls under the definition of gambling.

LOTTERY

• For the few who actually “win,” the lottery is a dishonorable way to make money as the bulk of lottery money comes from the hard work of the poor.
• Since the lottery exploits the vulnerable man, the one who “profits” from the lottery only profits from the loss of his people.
• The lottery also advocates a philosophy built around chance and “fate.” Yet Muslims know that no man earns a dime without the consent of Almighty Allaah.  
• Allah says in the Qu’ran: O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, AlAnsâb, and AlAzlâm (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitân’s (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful. Shaitân (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allâh and from As-Salât (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain? (Qur’an 5:90-91) .
• Allaah said: They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: “In them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit.” [Soft Break](Qur’an 2:219).
• WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?

  - Stop playing lottery.

  - Make repentance to Allaah and ask for forgiveness.

  - Encourage your fellow Muslims to stop immediately.

                         ARE FREE DRAWS HARAM? 

• No.Various Companies and Organisations sometimes do promotions for their products and services by making free draws.
• People don't have to pay money,they only have to fill out forms or write their names on cards to qualify for certain prizes
• Then the company officials draw 1 or more forms that carry winners names and grant them different prizes.
• This kind of free draw is NOT HARAM.

PROHIBITION OF GAMBLING

• Islaam, the all-embracing religion, not only displayed its just and moderate systems in beliefs and devotion, but also in economics and social orders.
• This just religion could not tolerate the unjust seizure of another person's wealth (through games of chance) which resulted in crippling the poor even more and strengthening the rich by accumulation of wealth without any effort nor could it tolerate the collection of a large amount from the poor and making it one person's property without any lawful religious reason.
• Therefore, it is clear that the prohibition of gambling is not only mentioned in the Qur’an but also supported by the tradition of the Prophet ) Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab: When the prohibition of wine (was yet to be) declared, Umar said: O Allah, give us a satisfactory explanation about wine. So the following verse of Surat al-Baqarah revealed; "They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: In them is great sin...." Umar was then called and it was recited to him. He said: O Allah, give us a satisfactory explanation about wine. Then the following verse of Surat an-Nisa' was revealed: "O ye who believe! approach not prayers with a mind befogged...." Thereafter the herald of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) would call when the (congregational) prayer was performed: Beware, one who is drunk should not come to prayer. Umar was again called and it was recited to him). He said: O Allah, give us a satisfactory explanation about wine. This verse was revealed: "Will ye not then abstain?" Umar said: We abstained.  (Book #26, Hadith #3662)

GAMBLING STATISTICS

 

• The gambling industry has grown tenfold in the U.S. since 1975
• 37 states now have lotteries
• 15 million people display some sign of gambling addiction
• 2/3 of american adults placed some kind of bet every year
• Gambling profits in casinos are more than $30 billion, while lotteries are about $ 17 billion annually

 EVIL EFFECTS OF GAMBLING

• Gambling distracts those who partake the game from the remembrance of Allah and prayer.
• Gambling sows the seeds of disputes and quarrels among the gamblers which ultimately assume hatred among them
• The sin of Gambling is greater than its benefits.
• It corrupts morals, making people sluggish in waiting to get wealthy by luck and chance
• It enslaves the gambler, who becomes a mute slave in the hands of gambling and seldom succeeds in abandoning it
• It brings about a sudden chaos in the countries due to sheer waste of wealth by losing the game
• It usurps the wealth of towns and transfers it to the hands of the mischeif-mongers within and outside the country
• Gambling is usually associated with increase of crime,suicide,divorce and other major epidemics in the society

QUESTIONS

1. Define the following:-1)Gambling 2)Lottery 3)Betting
2. What is the arabic word for Gambling and betting?
3. Why Gamblings are forbidden in ISLAM?
4. List the harms of Gambling
5. What are the forms of Gambling?
6. Gambling was a social evil.Suggest