Its Various Forms

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Islaarnic Da'awah Academy

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Publication No 6
1st Edition Sha'baan 1415/January 1995
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Gambling 6 its Various Forms
INTRODUCTION
Allah ta'aalaa has blessed us with innumerous gifts
and favours, one of which is wealth. The Ahaadeeth
of Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam encourage a
Muslim to earn this favour of wealth through Halaal
means and spend it in causes which bring the Pleasure
of Allah. If Halaal wealth is a source of blessings, mercy,
comfort, peace and tranquillity, then Haraam wealth
will bring calamities, misfortunes and harm from all
four sides.
Wealth acquired through gambling is unlawful and
the Qur'aan and Ahaadeeth have condemned the act
of gambling which brings loss, not only in the life
Hereafter, but also in this very world. It is explicitly
clear from the verses of the Qur'aan and the Ahaadeeth
of Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam that:
1. Gambling is a major sin,
2. All forms of gambling are prohibited,
3. The harms of gambling are far more greater than
its paltry benefits,
4. It is from Shaytaan's work,
5. It creates hatred and enmity amongst gamblers,
6. It prevents the gambler from the remembrance of
Allah and Salaat,
7. Success lies in abstaining from this evil.
Gambling & its Various Forms
In this materialistic western society, where material
gains and achievements play a vital role in each
individual's life, the commands of Allah regarding
Halaal and Haraam are being neglected. Earning Halaal
livelihood and protecting one's self from Haraam has
become one of the most difficult tasks, even for those
who are considered religious. Greed for wealth is
dictating everyone's life and each person very easily
becomes the victim of the nafs and Shaytaan. The latest
example is the evil of the National Lottery which has
attracted the attention of all, old and young alike.
The startling figures of Muslims indulging in this
great sin led me to make a firm resolution to expose
the harms and evil of this great sin verbally and in
writing. Some articles, along with bayaans on various
occasions in different parts of the country, were
published in Riyaadh ul Jannah. However, there was
,stilla need to publish a leaflet or booklet on this subject
for free distribution throughout the UK. I was in the
process of collecting material from authentic sources
on this subject when my friend Maulana Ismail Pate1
presented to me a copy of a scholarly article by the late
Mufti Muhammad Shafee Saheb rahmatullahi alayh on
this subject, translated by Jamiatul Ulama (Natal). It
would have been definitely difficult, if not impossible
to prepare or find such a comprehensiveandunique work
on this particular subject.
Gambling & its Various Forms
I appeal to my Muslim Brothers and Sisters to read
this book with great care and attention and abstain
from this great evil. Remember! Wealth is a gift from
, Allah; it is a trust regarding which we will be
questioned on the Day of Qiyaarnah as to how it
was earned and where it was spent.
It is not wealth that brings happiness; instead it is
the Pleasure of Allah that guarantees peace, happiness,
success, tranquillity and contentment of the heart.
Whosoever desires the transit0y things of this
world, We will readily give him therein that
which We will for whom We please. And
afterwards We have appointed Hell for him; he
will burn therein, disgraced, rejected.
And whosoever desires the Hereafer and strives
for it with the effort necessary, being a believer,
for such their effort will find favour (with their
Lord). (1 7:18-19)
Muhammad Sdeem Dhorat,
Leicester, England
Sha'baan 1415/January 1995
Gambling 6 its Various Forms
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent,
the Most Merciful
The negligence and carelessness regarding the
Aqaa'id (beliefs), Ibaadaat (acts of worship) and
Mu'aamalaat (business transactions) of Muslims has
reached its peak. If Muslims were recopised strictly
accordingto the proper Islaamic definition of a Muslim,
then only a small number from among the 1.2 billion
Muslims of the world would be regarded as true
Muslims. This will be even more evident when it
concerns business deals and financial transactions they
would not be regarded as true Muslims since most of
their dealings and transactions are, today, very far from
the noble standards of Islaam.
Generally, people are regarded as pious and God-
fearing Muslims due to their appearance and frequent
attendance at the masaajid. Yet sadly in their shops,
factories and offices, they are far away from Islaam
and its pure teachings. In their business transactions,
they too are involved in all those activities that the
non-Muslims and rejectors of Islaam are involved in.
Furthermore, there are many people who engage
themselves in devotions, lead lives of abstinence and
piety and may be regarded as leaders, yet they fail to
conduct their dealings and transactions in the correct
Gambling & its Various Forms
manner, though the earning of Halaal (lawful)
sustenance is the soul of every action.
Some people enquired from I m a m Muhammad
Ibne Hasan Shaybaani, the most renowned student of
Imaam-e-Aazam, Imaam Aboo Haneefah rahmattlllahi
alayh, that despite having written many books, "You
have not written even one book on Tasawwuf
(Mysticism)." He replied, "I have already written it -
The Book of Business and the Book of Transactions.
The entire field of Tasawwuf is dependant on one's
sustenancebeing lawful and Halaal, and this knowledge
can only be gained through these books."
Every transaction that is based on one party's gain
and another's loss, or if the transaction is obscure, is
called 'gambling' in the terminology of the Sharee'ah.
In Arabic, it is referred to as Qimaar and Maysir. Take
the case of two persons competing in a race on the
condition that the loser pays the winner l100; or that
a person says, "If it rains today, I will give you LIOO,
and if it does not rain, you will have to give me L100."
Since one party gains and the other loses, it falls under
the definition of gambling. Another example is that of
sealed boxes that are sold for a specific price while the
contents are unknown - i.e. the sealed boxes are sold
forf;5 each, while the value of the contents of each box
Gambling I3 its Various Forms
may vary from i 1 to i1O. As a result, the purchase of
these boxes revolves around one's gain or loss being
obscure (hidden) is also considered as gambling.
Gambling, therefore, can take countless different
forms. In every era and every different land gambling
is practiced in a variety of different ways.
A special way of gambling existed among the Arabs.
There would be ten (10) people who would each have
an arrow. Some arrows had a sum specified for it while
others had no sum specified. The arrows were put
together and one person picked up the arrows one at
a time while calling out one of the names of the ten
(10) people for each arrow. The person whose arrow
had no amount specified was completely deprived. It
was also a custom to slaughter one camel and distribute
it according to the specified amounts of the arrow.
The person who was allocated an arrow without a
sum specified, was deprived of the meat of the camel,
and was made to pay for the camel. This particular
method of gambling has been referred to in the Holy
Qur'aan as Maysir and Azlaam. Maysir meant that
camel that was slaughtered and Azlaam meant those
arrows which were used for gambling. Besides this,
other forms of gambling in business were also present
such as BayCulMulaamasah, and Bay6ulMunaabazah,
etc. Bay'ul Mulaamasah meant that whatever the buyer
Gambling I3 its Various Forms.
touched was his for a particular sum paid before
'
touching. Bay'ul Munaabazah meant that the buyer
throws a pebble and on whatever the pebble falls, he
t
becomes its owner, provided a specified amount was
paid before throwing the pebble. All these forms of
gambling were expressedly forbidden i n the
Ahaadeeth.
Before the advent of Islaam, gambling was regarded
as great honour and means of gaining respect. To
increase their honour and respect the money earned
through gambling would be donated to charity.
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.
Consequently, gambling was declared unlawful.
The consideration by this vast and all-embracing
religion of Islaam of the human instinct and feelings is
Gambling & its Various Forms
admirable and worthy of a hundred thanks. Gambling
and alcohol which had become a second nature of
man, were not prohibited at once. First its evils were
made known and after a period when the evil of
gambling and alcohol were recognised in the heart,
the order of prohibition was revealed.
In the beginning of Islaam when the Holy
Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was asked about
alcohol and gambling, this verse was revealed,
They ask thee concerning wine andgambling.
Say: In them is a great sin and some benefit
for men. The sin is greater than the benefit.
(2:219)
This verse is indistinct regarding the lawfulness
and unlawfulness of wine and gambling. Some high-
ranking Sahaabah radhiyallahu anhum understood
from this verse that these things are undesirable and
detestable. They began abstaining from these things
immediately. Generally, the people participated in
gambling and wine drinking, since a clear ruling
declaring the unlawful and Haraam was not revealed
and since there had been no definite decision from
the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Then
this verse of Soorah Maa'idah was revealed,
0you who belieue! Intoxicants and gambling,
(dedication of) stones and arrows are
Gambling b its Various Forms
abomination of Shaytaan's handiwork:Abstain
from it so that you mayprosper. Shaytaan'splan
is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between
@ you, with intoxicantsandgambling, and hinder
you from the remembrance of Allah, and from
prayer: Will you not then abstain? (5:91)
The prohibition of alcohol (intoxicants) and
gambling is clearly and openly mentioned in this verse.
It is declared unlawful with great emphasis according
to Imaam Raazi rahrnatullahi alayh. Firstly, the verse
commences with the word 'Innamaa' which in the
Arabic language stands for special emphasis. Secondly,
the things mentioned in this verse are regarded as
'rijsun', meaning filth or dirt, which every sensible
person will refrain from. Thirdly, they are referred to
as Shaytaan's handiwork. Fourthly, it's evil is expressed
even more when it is associatedwith idol-worshipping,
meaning that all these acts are rings of the same chain.
After mentioning all this, the order of abstinence is
given. Further, the adverse and spiritually evil effects
are mentioned. Shaytaan wishes t o destroy you
religiously and as far as your worldly matters are
concerned, he will create enmity between you, the
effect of which will be long-lasting and this habit will
stop you from the remembrance of Allah and Salaat.
May Almighty Allah save all Muslims from its evil.
Aameen.
Gambling & its Various Forms
THENOBLE SAHAABAH'S
SPIRIT
OF OBEDIENCE
AFTER
THE ORDER
OF PROHIBITION
Generally, old customs and habits gradually become
part and parcel of a person's temperament and they
become almost second nature. The prohibition of that
which was part of their lives and a means of pride for
them was a great trial and tribulation for them. This
period was very vital in Islaam. As the consideration
of the human feelings and instincts by the Divine
Religion is praiseworthy, the spirit of obedience and
total submission of the Muslim Ummah, after the
prohibition, is also a living and outstanding example
unparalleled in history.
After the prohibition was revealed, the Holy
Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam sent out a caller,
who proclaimed in the streets of Madeenah: "Beware
intoxicants (alcohol) have been prohibited." This
proclamation and message went straight to the hearts
and changed the spirits of the people. Intoxicants,
which a few minutes ago were the most beloved thing
of the Arabs and pan of their lives, became detestable
in their sight after hearing the order of prohibition.
Whoever had glasses
- of intoxicants in their hands threw
them to the ground; whoever had alcohol in their
mouths spat i t out. The sound of breaking glasses and
Gambling & its Various Forms
drinking vessels was heard from every home. Liquor
flowed in the streets of Madeenah like torrents of rain.
A very illustrious Companion of the Holy Prophet
1 sallallahu alayhi warallam, Hadhrat Anas Ibne Maalik
radhiyallahu anhu, reports that at that time a group of
Sahaabahwere assembled at the house of Hadhrat Aboo
Talhah radhiyallahu anhu. Among them were
prominent Sahaabah like Hadhrat Aboo 'Ubaydah
Ibne Jarraah, Hadhrat Aboo Dujaanah, Hadhrat
Mu'aaz Ibne Jabal and Hadhrat Suhayl Ibne Baydhaa
radhiyallahu anhum. He says, "I was the cup-bearer in
this gathering. Suddenly I heard the sound of the caller
and all present heard it also. None of us present thought
it necessary to go outside and investigate, but instead
all the glasses were thrown to the ground. Large earthen
pots and containers were broken and destroyed. All
the alcohol was thrown into the gutters and down
pipes. We all made ghusl and wudhoo, and proceeded
t o the masjid, where we found the Holy Prophet
sallallahu akayhi wasaltam reciting the verse which
contained the order of prohibition."
Hadhrat Buraydah ra&iyallahKanh was also in a
gathering engaged in drinking alcohol A d giving others
t o drink. The voice of the caller was heard and
I immediately, the alcohol in the glasses was thrown to
Gambling & its Various Forms
the ground, the alcohol in the mouths was spat out,
and the alcohol in huge containers was destroyed.
Hadhrat Jaabir radhiyallahu anhu reports that a
Companion's business was liquor. He used to bring
liquor from Khaybar and sell it in Madeenah.
Incidentally, at the time intoxicants were declared
Haraam, he had gone to Khaybar to purchase alcohol.
Upon entering Madeenah one Sahaabi informed him
that liquor had been declared Haraam. Hearing this,
he stopped where he was and did not move further
with the liquor. He left all the liquor on one hill-top
and proceeded to the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi
wasallam arid asked him if the news of the prohibition
was true. The Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam
verified this. He enquired further, 'Will I be permitted
to give it back to the person I brought it from ?'
The Holy Prophet sallallahu aluyhi wasallam
replied, 'No, now to return it is not permissible for
you.' 'Can I give it to some non-Muslim, who has
done me some favour?' The Prophet sallallahu alayhi
wasallam replied, 'No.' He then said, 'I have utilised
the wealth of some orphans who are in my care, in
buying this liquor. What should I do?' The Prophet
sallallahu alayhi wasallam told him when the goods of
Bahrain come to them, at that time, the compensation
of the rights of the orphans will be given from the
Gambling & its Various Forms
Baytul Maal. This Companion went back to where he
had left the liquor and poured all the liquor on to the
ground. Liquor was flowing in large quantities like
rain water.
This is not the occasion to accumulate incidents
concerning liquor, but since liquor and gamblingwere
prohibited together in the same verse at the same time,
a few incidents to reflect the spirit of obedience of the
Sahaabah radhiyallahu anhum are mentioned here.
When this was the spirit of obedience in liquor, the
total abstinence of which is very difficult, one can
imagine their submission and obedience in gambling.
History bears testimony to the fact that after the
revelation of the prohibition of gambling,the Sahaabah
abstained from everything that seemed doubtful to
them. In Saheeh Bukhaari, the Hadeeth of the Holy
Prophet sullalluhu alayhi wasallam, is mentioned that
whoever tells his companion, 'Come let's gamble,' he
should give charity as a compensation for merely
talking about such an evil deed.
Alas, how sorrowful to note, that intoxicants and
gambling, which have been very strongly prohibited
in the Qur'aan and the very mentioning of gambling
is termed in the Hadeeth as a sin, are regarded as
completely lawful and permissible by the Muslims of
today, as if the prohibition of these things does not
Gambling & its Various Forms
even exist in the Qur'aan and Hadeeth, or (Allah forbid)
they have no faith in the Qur'aan and Hadeeth. What
is more regretful is that those people who are regarded
as pious and religious, due to their acts of worship
(Salaat and Fasting), are also involved in these sins.
SOME FORMS OF GAMBLING
Hadhrat Ali radhiyallahu anhu says that chess is
gambling. He also says that the betting by children on
walnuts is gambling. Hadhrat Raashid Ibne Sa'ad and
Hadhrat Hamzah Ibne Habeeb are also of the view
that the games of betting little children play with sticks,
walnuts, eggs, etc. is also regarded as gambling.
From the definition of gambling and from the
explanation of Sahaabah radhiyallahu anhum and
Taabi'een, it becomes evident that the undermentioned
games of today are also forms of gambling and falls
under the severe warnings mentioned in the Qur'aan
regarding gambling.
Horse Racing
The present-day horse racing where one stakes a
certain amount on a particular horse is in fact gambling.
It is exactly that form, where loss and gain is based on
something indistinct, where one person loses his initial
amount and the other wins a substantial amount.
Gambling & its Various Forms
All lotteries are also gambling and not allowed.
Gambling has taken hundreds of forms, which are
present in businesses and market places. The viewpoint
and some common types are mentioned here.
Crossword Puzzle
This form of gambling has become more like an
epidemic nowadays. It is a big business f o r
newspapers and monthly magazines. Various types
and forms of crosswords are published and it is
advertised that whoever solves them correctly and
encloses a certain amount, when posting it t o the
company concerned, stands a chance of winning a
certain amount of money or a certain prize if, he is
the lucky one at the time of the draw. Some
companies fix substantial amounts of cash as the
prize money. As a result, the poor masses, seeing
that the entry fee is so small and negligible and there
is a chance of winning a substantial amount, enter
by the thousands. This is open gambling where a
person stakes an amount in this indistinct way that
either he loses that amount or wins a substantial
amount. This in Sharee'ah is known as gambling. In
some monthly magazines this form of gambling has
expanded very widely and the income runs into
millions. Even if the company does not indulge in
any form of cheating, and distributes the prize
Gambling & its Various Forms
money justly, thousands of pounds are left over which
is t h e blood and sweat of t h e poor classes.
Consequently, the poor become poorer and the rich
become richer. In the Islaamic economic system,
basically, it has been very severely opposed that the
wealth of the masses be owned by a handful of people.
This reason is sufficient for the prohibition of gambling.
This gambling in the form of crosswords is a very
detrimental form, and acollection of thousands of sins.
This form openly invites the general public to
participate in it and go against the commands of Allah
and His Rasool sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Every
Muslim who participates in this is defying the Qur'aan
and is guilty of committing a major sin.
The burden of this sin is placed on the shoulders
of the people responsible for organising this. Any
person who renders any form of assistarice to such
a business will also be a partner in sin. In this manner
thousands of Muslims at one time openly indulge in
that which is undoubtedly Haraam and against the
clear command of the Qur'aan. There are hundreds
of Muslims who indulge in this Haraam act. The
unending chain of evil and sin continues.
May Allah Most High save all Muslims from this
crime and misfortune
Gambling & its Various Forms
The transaction of sealed boxes of unknown
value
Sealed boxes are bought and sold in market places and
fun fares. Some contain goods worth more than its price
and some are even empty. People normally buy these
boxes on the pretext of trying their luck. This is not
permitted and is a form of gambling.
Various games of children
In some towns little children bet and gamble with
almonds, walnuts, marbles, etc.; this is all Haraam and
unlawful. In some places pebbles andstones are thrown
and bets of money are taken; this is all prohibited and
included in gambling.
All those games of chance where betting takes place
are regarded as gambling. Any form of assistance to it
is also Haraam.
Pigeon flying and lute flying are not permissible
nor is betting permissible in them.
Insurance
Great efforts are made to legalise insurance by
naming it 'financial assistance'. But since the current
forms are all based on interest and gambling, none of
them are permitted.
Gambling & its Various Forms
The prize winning tickets of shows and
exhibitions
Recently, the organisers of exhibitions and shows
have invented a new formula to attract more people
by issuing entrance tickets with lucky numbers. An
announcement is made that at the end of the show or
exhibition, there will be a draw and the lucky person
will be given a prize. This is not regarded as open
gambling, because the ticket holder has paid for entry
to the show, that was granted t o him, and he has
received the returns for his money. The intention in
this situation plays a very important pan. Any person
buying an entrance ticket with the intention of winning
the prize will be indulging in a form of gambling. O n
the other hand, if a person buys the entrance ticket to
see the show and has no intention or desire of winning
the prize and wins the prize then this will not be
regarded as gambling.
Gambling 6.' its Various Forms
NATIONAL LOTTERY IS HARAAM
Q The National Lottery starts next month. Can you
please state the Shar'ee position of gambling supported
by Qur'aan and Hadeeth, so that Muslim brothers
and sisters may become aware of the consequences of
this sin?
A Gambling falls within the category of major sins.
Verses were sent down touching upon the subject of
gambling and in each of them it was condemned until
finally it was completely forbidden by the following
verse of Soorah Maa'idah:
0 you who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, and
idols and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination
of shaytaan's work, so avoid them, so that you may
get salvation. Shaytaan's only desire is to precipitate
enmity and hatred between you b y means of
intoxicant and gambling and bar you from the
remembrance ofAllah and from prayer. Will you
then not abstain? (90-91)
It is clear from this verse that gambling has in it the
following evils:
1. It creates hatred and enmity amongst gamblers.
Generally the loser will hold grudge and hatred in his
heart for the winner who has deprived him of his
wealth, which will result in feuds, killing, murder,
etc. This is the material and worldly loss.
2. It prevents the gambler from remembrance of Allah
ta'aalaa and he becomes heedless of devotion to Allah
ta'aalaa. This is a spiritual and religious loss.
Gambling & its Various Forms
If gambling consists of both internal and external
harms, a Mu'min will definitely abstain from it.
Allaamah Zahabi rahmatullahi alayh states, "It
(gambling) is a form of devouring people's wealth
unlawfully which Allah ta'aalaa has prohibited in the
following verse: And do not eat up the property of
one another amongst yourselves wrongfully. (2 : 188)
And it falls within the Hadeeth of Nabee sallallahtr Riyaadh ul Jannah
A MONTHLY JOURNAL
alayhi wasallam, "Indeed those men who interfere in
the property of Allah (i.e. property of other people) A Monthly publication
without right, for them is Jahannam." And in in English promoting a
Bukhaari, the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam
said, "Whoever says to his companion, come let us greater understanding and
gamble, then he should give sadaqah." If only the awareness of the teachings of
statement (of gambling) establishes the giving of the Qur'aan & Sunnah.
sadaqah, then what about the gravity of the act (of
gambling). (Kitaabul Kabaa'ir Page 88-89) A MUST FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD
The Arabs in the days of ignorance had different forms AVAILABLE ON SUBSCRIPTION
of gambling. In modern times too, there are dozens
of types of gambling of which a very common form sf-
is lottery. It is therefore of utmost importance to 186 Melbourne Road, Leicester
abstain from such a grave sin. May Allah save us all England, LE2 ODT
from those things which brings His displeasure.
Muhammad Saleeem Dhorat
Extracted from Questions & Answers column
published in Riyaadh ul Jannah (Vol4 No 1)