| BEWARE OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF GAMBLING
By Asma bint Shameem All Muslims are aware that Islam prohibits gambling. The prohibition is clearly stated in the Quraan, and the Sunnah.
But, did you realize, dear brothers and sisters, that in spite of this there are various forms of gambling that we may still be involved in it ?? Of course, going outright to a casino is haraam, but did you know that playing the lotto, buying raffle tickets, pick 3, Bingo etc. are included under 'gambling' and thus, haraam?
That all those games of chance like betting and sports-wagering are regarded as gambling and any form of assistance to it is also Haraam ??
That, putting in even a few dimes in a slot machine 'just for fun' are also haraam?
Yes, it is haraam…..even if you were in 'Transit' at the airport and did not have anything else to do !
Maybe a lot of us dont bet or play the slot machines, but many, many of us are involved in the lottery, somehow. Either we are buying the tickets ourselves or we are selling them at our convenience store.
And both buying and selling the lottery tickets is considered gambling and is haraam.
Actually, any transaction involving money in which a person may win or lose, and he does not know whether he will be a winner or a loser is gambling and is all haraam. Indeed, it is one of the major sins
" O who you believe! Intoxicants (e.g. alcohol, beer) and gambling and idols and (lottery by) arrows are an abomination of Satan's work, so avoid them so that you may get salvation. Satan's only desire is to create among you enmity and hatred by means of intoxicants and gambling and stop you from praying and remembering Allah. Will you not then stop? (Surah Maidah:90-91)
Despite the clear prohibition in Islaam, we make light of it and still find excuses for ourselves to continue in this abomination.
Excuse #1:
But I am only selling the tickets, not buying them for myself
Answer:
Everything which it is forbidden to do or to use, is also forbidden to sell, because the Prophet (pbuh) said
"When Allaah forbids a thing He also forbids its price." (Ahmad,Abu Dawood; saheeh by al-Albaani)
Excuse #2:
I only sell them to non-Muslims
Answer:
Whatever is haraam for us is also haraam for them and whatever is Halaal for us is also Halaal for them even if they dont follow it or believe in it because Allaah's Laws apply to everyone, not just to Muslims. And Islaam, anyway, abrogates and corrects any laws that came before it.
Also, this is a kind of cooperating in sin and transgression, and Allaah says:
"Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression" [al-Maa'idah 5:2]
Excuse #3:
I only play the Lotto occasionally.
Answer:
You mean to say that it is okay if you commit adultery occasionally, eat pork occasionally steal occasionally, or lie occasionally? Just because you commit a haraam deed some of the time mean that it is Halaal and not a sin any more? And one is not exposed to the wrath of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Taaala ?
How do you know that this rare action of yours will not develop into something that is done more frequently, until it becomes a habit? We should fear Allaah and completely stay away from that which Allaah has forbidden to us.
Excuse #4:
But, many Muslim countries promote lottery tickets.
Answer:
A Muslim does not decide on what is Halaal or Haraam on the basis of what happens in 'Muslim' countries.
Our right or wrong comes directly from the Quraan and the Sunnah. "Or have they partners with Allaah (false gods) who have instituted for them a religion which Allaah has not ordained?" [al-Shooraa 42:21] Excuse #5: But the Quraan says that there are some benefits in it
Answer:
You quote the ayah of the Quraan:
"They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin, and some benefits, for men; but the sin is greater than their benefit ...." (Al Baqarah 2:219)
But, whatever benefits may be hoped for from gambling pale into insignificance beside the harm that it causes.
Think about this aayah, where benefits are mentioned in the plural, and sin is mentioned in the singular. Allaah did not say, "In it are many sins and (some) benefits for men", rather He said: "a great sin". This is an indication that the benefits, no matter how numerous they may be, are insignificant when compared with this great sin; the great sin far outweighs them. So its sin is greater than its benefits, no matter what they are." (Fataawa Islamiyyah)
Excuse #6:
But, I have to feed my family
Answer:
Remember, it is not you that feeds your family. It is Allaah that is our Provider and our Sustainer. It is He that feeds you and your children.
"We provide sustenance for you and for them" [al-An'aam 6:151]
So that is NOT an excuse for us to continue in haraam deeds that will be a source of grief on the Day we all will have to stand in front of Him and answer for all our deeds, whether we like it or not.
The believer should realize that whoever gives up something for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will compensate him with something better than that. If a person puts his trust in his Lord, He will grant him the means of provision, as Allaah says:
"And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure for all things" [al-Talaaq 65:2-3]
Excuse #7:
But, I will donate whatever I win for Islam
Answer:
The rule of FIQH states "that which leads to haram is itself haram." and "the ends do not justify the means". Would you sell drugs to finance the building of a masjid ? Would you rob or steal to go for Hajj ?
"Verily, Allaah accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqoon (pious)." (Maa'idah:27]
And, the Prophet (pbuh) said:
"Allaah is Good and only accepts that which is good." (Muslim).
Excuse #8:
Didnt the Prophet (pbuh) draw lots too?
Answer:
The word lottery literally means "the drawing of lots." There are basically two types of lotteries. The lotteries in which a number of tickets are sold and one or more of these tickets draw prizes (eg. Lotto) is forbidden in Islam, because many people put their money and only few receive the prize. Others lose their money and receive nothing for it.
The other type of lottery that the Prophet (pbuh) allowed is called "Qurah" and does not involve any payment. Here the lots are drawn in order to choose between various groups of people or things. It is a choice between various equal options, a kind of random selection without depriving anyone of his/her rightful due.
Excuse #9:
I'm hardly a practicing Muslim anyway: I do not pray or fast. One more sin will not harm me!
Answer:
You cannot be more wrong. Anyone committing a sin irrespective of how sinful he already IS harming himself. Every sin and every good deed will be accounted for on the Day of Judgment. The more sins you stop committing the greater you win the battle for your soul. It IS WRONG FOR ANY MUSLIM to ever feel that he is too much of a sinful person for Allah to ever forgive him. Don't you know that Allaah says:
" Were the son of Adam to come to me with sins reaching up to the sky I would still forgive him"
Make that change from this moment. Ask for Allah's forgiveness and start practicing.
How to repent from Being involved in Lottery and other forms of gambling
Give up ALL FORMS of gambling straight away, be it playing the Lotto, selling the tickets, or any of the things mentioned above.
Regret what has happened in the past, and resolve NEVER to repeat it.
Conclusion
As Muslims, we must believe that Allaah Subhaanahu wa Taaala does not forbid anything in Islam except that which is harmful and corrupt, whether we understand this rationally or not. All we do is say, "We hear and we obey". "And no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission." (al-Nisaa 4:65) As-Salaam Walekum
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