Fatwa ID: 06884

 

Answered by: Muftiyah Habiba Akhtar

 

Question:

 

I am 17 years old and am so passionate about doing beneficial things which improve my skills, but I am also trying to be a good Muslim.

 

So I need a clarification.

 

Scenario 1: There are many beneficial competitions in our country. For example, science olympiads, debating competitions, quiz completions, Islamic competitions etc.

 

Many of the organisers of these competitions take a registration fee (sometimes 0.5$ or 1$) and there are sponsors also who sponsor the prize money or trophy.

 

But we do not know always whether only the sponsors are paying or a portion of our fees is also used to give us the prize money.

 

In this case, will they be considered to be gambling?

 

Scenario 2: If the organisers take the registration fee to organise the tournament and then give a trophy to the winning team with the rest of the money from the registration fee, will it be permissible?

 

 

 

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

 

Answer:

 

If the members pay a fee to enter a competition and that fee is used as a part of the prize, this is similar to gambling as you are paying to enter something to win in return. (1)

 

This will be impermissible. The registration fee takes the form of buying a ticket to a potential prize and this is gambling.

 

Therefore, in response to your query, when participating in these competitions, you need to investigate and see where the registration money goes and whether you have any contribution to the prize.

 

 

Only Allah knows best

Written by Muftiyah Habiba Akhtar

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 

 

 

 

 

Jawahir Fiqh, volume 4, page 567, Darul Ulum Karachi

یہ صورت صریح قمار سے نکل جاتی ہے، کیونکہ ٹکٹ خریدنے والے کو اس ٹکٹ کا معاوضہ بصورت داخلہ نمائش مل جاتا ہے، لیکن اب مدار نیت پر رہ جاتا ہے، جو شخص موہوم انعام کی غرض سے یہ ٹکٹ خریدتا ہے وہ ایک گونہ قمار کا ارتکاب کر رہا ہے۔