If someone enrolled in a competition and they were a non-Muslim at this point, then they accepted Islam and they won 10 free lottery tickets, so they paid nothing, no risks or anything. Are they allowed to use these tickets?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

No, it is not permissible to use these lottery tickets even if they are free.

If they are free, then one has been protected from 1 aspect of why they are forbidden which is gambling one’s own money. However, the prize money has been gained by combining the money of all the remaining people who gambled and gave their money. If one has won any amount of money from such a lottery, they should give it in charity to the poor without the intention of reward.¹

Only Allah knows best

Written by Mufti Mohammed Haroon Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

1 قَالَ بَعْضُ مَشَايِخِنَا: كَسْبُ الْمُغَنِّيَةِ كَالْمَغْصُوبِ لَمْ يَحِلَّ أَخْذُهُ، وَعَلَى هَذَا قَالُوا لَوْ مَاتَ الرَّجُلُ وَكَسْبُهُ مِنْ بَيْعِ الْبَاذَقِ أَوْ الظُّلْمِ أَوْ أَخْذِ الرِّشْوَةِ يَتَوَرَّعُ الْوَرَثَةُ، وَلَا يَأْخُذُونَ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا وَهُوَ أَوْلَى بِهِمْ وَيَرُدُّونَهَا عَلَى أَرْبَابِهَا إنْ عَرَفُوهُمْ، وَإِلَّا تَصَدَّقُوا بِهَا لِأَنَّ سَبِيلَ الْكَسْبِ الْخَبِيثِ التَّصَدُّقُ إذَا تَعَذَّرَ الرَّدُّ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ اهـ

ص6 – رد المحتار – فصل في البيع – جلد 10 – دار الحديث القاهرة