The Evils of Gambling

INTRODUCTION
Gambling has unfortunately become anacceptable practise in Muslim
Society due to its wide scale promotion by the media. A large number
of good Muslims are also caught in the web, not realising that they
are gambling and that the earnings from the gambling are haraam.
The following is a translation of a scholarly article by the late
Mufti Muhammad Shafi rahmatullahi alaihe which is being published to
make Muslims aware of the different forms of transactions and other
items which are classifiedin Shar'iah as gambling.
THE DEFINITION OF GAMBLING
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. For instance, if two people compete in a race with the
following conditions, that if you surpass me, then I will give you a
thousand pounds and if I surpass you then you will have togive me a
thousand pounds. Or if someone says, 'If it rains today you will have
to give me a thousand pounds and if it does not rain then I will give
you a thousand pounds.'
Likewise if some packed boxes are being sold for a fixed price, for
examplefour pounds per box and some of the boxes have contents with a
value of five pounds with others containing a value of twopounds, then
the purchase of these boxes will be Qimaar. Because of the obscurity
of the gain and loss. There are numerous methods of gambling and in
every age and region, gambling has been played in different forms and
methods.
There was a certain procedure amongst the Arabs for gambling. There
would be ten arrows, each with a special name, all having different
shares allocatedto them, for example, one share, two shares, three
shares, etc. There would also be some without a share at all. They
would then jumble the arrows and ask someone to pick an arrow for each
person. Whichever arrow was picked out for a person, that would be his
allocated share and thereafter would be considered the owner of it. On
the other hand, whosoever happened to acquire a share-less arrow he
would receive nothing at all. The custom, which went hand in hand with
this, was that a camel would be slaughtered and distributed according
to the shares entitled to them by the arrows. A person who was unlucky
would not only be deprived of the camel meat but he would also have to
pay for that camel. This kind of gambling has been labelled Maisar and
Azlaam by the Qur'aan. Maisar is that particular camel which is
slaughtered and distributed because of gambling and Azlaam arethe
arrows that are used to define the amount of the shares in gambling.
Apart from this, gamblingwas prevalent in trade in different forms.
They were known as Mulamasa and Munabaza,etc., the prohibition of
which is present in the Ahaadith of the Prophet sallallahu alaihe
wasallam.
Before the advent of Islam, gambling was not only customary but also
taken to be a cause of pride, nobility and honour. For excessive show
of pride, these people would distribute their share of the winnings
amongst the poor.
(Tafseer-ul-Kabeer Lir-Razi vol 2 p231)
THE PROHIBITION OF GAMBLING
As Islam plays a moderaterole in worship, similarly it plays a role in
economics and social orders. How can Islam, the moderate way of
life,cope with a state where one can take possession of somebody
else's property without any valid reason, due to which, the latter
gets poorer and his state diminishes and the former, without
working,gathers the wealth equivalent to that of Qaroon (Korah, a
kaafir whom Allah bestowed with great wealth at the time of Musa
alaihis salaam)? Alternatively, without any religious excuse, a great
amount of wealth is taken from the poor people's pocket and a single
person is made to own it. Therefore, it was vital forIslam to prohibit
these unfair ways of taking possessions. For this reason the open
mindedness of the all-encompassing religion, Islam, took consideration
and concern of the human passions. When alcoholic drinks and gambling
were intended to be banned, their prohibitionwas not revealed
immediately, but firstly all the disadvantages concerning them were
made clear. Once these were totally engraved into their hearts, then
the laws of prohibition were revealed.
In the early days of Islam the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam was
questioned regarding the permissibility of gambling and alcohol. The
first verse that was revealed regarding this, is in Surah Baqarah
which is as follows:
"They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say, 'In them isgreat sin
and some benefit for men; but the sin is greater than the benefit."
(Qur'aan 2:19)
In the above aayah, the permissibility and non-permissibility of wine
and gambling is notclarified. Soon after understanding the tone of
discountenance in the verse, the highly ranked companions of the Holy
Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam abstained from them. On the other
hand, Muslims in general were still involved in them and the Prophet
sallallahu alaihe wasallam had not said anything that indicated their
prohibition, until Allah revealed the following verse:
"O believers! Intoxicants and gambling, worshipping stones and
divination by arrows are impure, of shaytan's handiwork: refrain from
such abomination that yemay prosper. "
(Qur'aan 5:90)
In this verse, the total prohibition of alcoholic drinks and gambling
has been clearly revealed. Its prohibition has been mentioned with
such assurance that Imaam Razi rahmatullahi alaihe states as follows:
"Firstly, the Arabic word 'innama' has been placedin the beginning of
the verse. In Arabic, this creates emphasis on what is mentioned
afterwards. Secondly, these prohibited things have been classified as
being 'rijs' (impure), from which natural disposition abstains.
Thirdly, they have been branded as satanic acts. Fourthly, their
severity has been categorised in the same level as idol worshipping
(shirk) in the sense that they all arelinks of a single chain."
After mentioning that these all are 'rijs' (impure), Allah Ta'ala orders:
"Keep away from them."
Allah Ta'ala does not terminate the subject here, but He carries on
mentioning their religious and worldly harm in the following aayah.
Allah, the Almightystates conclusively that shaytaan wants to ruin our
worldly life and the life of the Hereafter. These forbidden things,
(alcohol and gambling), lay the seeds of hatred and hostility between
human beings. These evil outcomes are innumerable. Their habit
distracts a man from obligatory duties such as salaah and the
remembrance of Allah.
May Allah protect all the Muslims from their evil.
THE NOBLE SAHAABAH'S SPIRIT OF OBEDIENCE AFTERTHE ORDER OF PROHIBITION
Generally, habits and old customs that become part of a person's
temperament are almost second to human nature. This was a time of
great trial when, up to now, these sinful acts were part of their life
and nobility, but today, they became expressly prohibited. This period
is of a great importance forthe Muslim Ummah in Islamic history.
It is amazing that, on onehand, there was the concern of human
feelings and habits in theShari'ah, and on the other hand, there was a
great desire in the Ummah to obey the revealed commandments.
After the revelation of the above mentioned verse, Rasoolullah
sallallahu alaihe wasallam sent out a callerto proclaim:
"Behold, alcoholic drinks (intoxicants) have been made haraam."
It was the cry of the calleror perhaps a lightning which immediately
changed their habits and feelings.
Intoxicants were very popular among the Arabs. They were manufactured
and imbedded almost in every home and to drink had, so to speak,
become a mark of advancement in culture. As soon as the announcement
was made, the people who were greatly addicted to it and who regarded
it a virtue and sign of social and cultural eminence and who would
spend lavishly in the state of drunkenness from which the poor and
needy profited. These very samepeople now in a short span of time were
ready to forsake and sever any ties they may have had inregards to
alcohol which had, for years played a major role in their lives. Those
who held goblets in their hands immediately threw them on the ground.
Many others who were in the act of drinking, spat the contents out.
Sounds of pitchers and jars being smashed up were soon audible from
neighbouring houses. Wine was running to such an extent that the
streets of Madinah were overflowing.
Hazrat Anas radiyallahu anhu, an eminent companion of the Prophet
sallallahu alaihe wasallam narrates that some friends including Abu
Ubayda ibn Jarrah, Abu Dujahna, Mu'az ibn Jabal and Sahl ibn
Bayzahradiyallahu anhum had gathered at the house of Abu Talha.
Alcohol was flowing and I was acting as the cup-bearer when suddenly
the cry of the announcer reached our ears. None of us considered it
necessary to go out and investigatethe matter. Instead, the containers
and jars were smashed to the ground and the wine thrown onto the
streets of Madinah. After performing wudhu and ghusl we proceeded
towards the Masjid where upon our arrival we found the blessed Prophet
sallallahu alaihe wasallam reciting the aforesaid verse.
Hazrat Buraidah radiyallahu anhu also narrates a similar account
wherein a groupof Sahaabah were busy consuming liquor when the
announcement was made. The words no sooner reached their earsthat the
cups were thrown to the ground. Others who were about to swallow the
alcohol immediately spat it out, numerous barrels were also destroyed
in the process.
(Ibn Kathir vol2 p95)
This is not the occasion for a lengthy discussion regarding the
prohibition of alcohol, nonetheless, due to the fact that the
prohibition was revealed at the sametime to that of gambling, it was
necessary to give an example of the Sahaabah's habitual obedience,
courage and passion. From these incidents it can be imagined just how
difficult the situation hadbecome for the Sahaabah. Likewise it canbe
conceived as to how much hardship they musthave endured when the
prohibition of gambling was also revealed. Therefore, history itself
isa witness that after the revelation of the aayah, the Companions
refrained from associating with anything that was even minutely
related to gambling. In an authentic hadith of Bukhari the Prophet
sallallahu alaihe wasallam is reported to have said, "If one person
says to another, 'Come lets gamble.' (regardless of whether he acts
upon it or not) then he shall beliable of committing a sin; and the
compensation for that sinwill be to give Sadaqah."
It is a disgrace that today's Muslims, despite the fact that severe
and grave warnings have been given in the Qur'aan and Ahaadith
relating to gambling and alcohol, lead a life of complete ignorance
and unconcern. It seems that they no longer have faithin the Qur'aan
and Ahaadith, Allah save us! Itis not only the illiterate who are
involved, but the sad fact is that those who hold lofty positions in
society and who are regarded as religious, because they perform their
fasts and salaah, have also fallen prey to its evil clutches. Hence
forthe benefit of those who are unaware or not acquainted, a few forms
of gambling are being mentioned that are currently prevalent.
CROSSWORD PUZZLES
Nowadays, just like the epidemic of plague, the art of gambling too
has now become so common that it has become virtually a means of
tradeand commerce. Under such headlines as "Solve this Puzzle", or
"Win this Lottery" of innumerable newspapers and monthlyjournals that
are on an ever-increase. They offer prizes for solving puzzles subject
to the submitting of a fee. The participants are lured into false
belief that they can win substantial sums of money. Some organisers
fix huge prizes for the winners due to which thepoor public think that
the fees is only a small amount and will not bring no harm and
therefore enter trying to win a substantial amount.
Because people have fallen prey to this disease, thousands of
individuals are entering the lottery.
It is crystal clear that when a person enters into playing this game
hesubmits his fee on the understanding that he either loses a small
amount or wins a fortune; according to the divine law of Islam this
act is classified as 'gambling'.
In some monthly magazines this form of gambling has expanded very
widely and the income runs into millionsfrom which the businesspersons
gain overall benefit. Even if the company tries not to indulge in any
form of cheating, and distributes the prize money justly, a
substantial amount of money is left over which is the blood and sweat
ofthe poor people.
The outcome of all this, isthat it is the public who ends up in
poverty whilstthe organisers benefit from the expenses of the poor. In
confirmation of the prohibition of gambling, the above mentioned
evidence is sufficient; the democraticrules and curriculum of lslam
and its fundamentalprinciples forebears the public money to go in
thepossession of few individuals. Gambling in the form of crosswords
which are prevalent today, are to be reprimanded furthermore severely
since they are an aggregation of vices and sins.
The sole reason for this isthat the public is being urged and exhorted
to go against the commandments of Allah Ta'ala and His disobedience
and the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam'.
Each and every person that takes part in this vice is disobeying the
commandments which are stated by Allah Ta'ala very clearly in the Holy
Qur'aan. The participator becomes a doer of major sins, most of which
falls upon the organisers. The people who help them in any form also
become guilty of this particular major vice.
Likewise, thousands and millions of Muslim brethren openly go against
the clear order ofAllah Ta'ala and his Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe
wasallam. In addition, thousands and millions ofMuslims become
involvedin this act of gambling with the result that it becomes an
unending and everlasting vice. May Allah Ta'ala bestow the entire
mankind with salvation and freedom from this disease, Aameen.
THE PRIZE WINNING TICKETS OF (CAR) SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS
It has been observed throughout the years in Karachi, Lahore and many
other places that various types of tickets are being sold to enter
exhibitions. The organisers issue tickets with lucky numbers and then
prizes are allocated to the lucky persons whose numbers appear.
This form is not regardedas open gambling because the ticket
ownerreceives the returns by entering the exhibition but now it is all
depending on the intention. The person who purchases this ticketon the
basis of winning aprize will be indulging in gambling. On the other
hand if his intention is solely to enter the exhibition with no
desireof winning a prize, and wins the prize then it willnot be
classified as gambling according to the rules pertaining to 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.
LOTTERY
In this present day each and every kind of lottery is included within
gambling and is prohibited. It is found in bazaars and factories
andout of which, a few well-known forms are mentioned.
The lottery business of this category has now reached an international
level. The purchaser of this ticket does not buy the ticket solely
with the intention of just buying itbut he buys it on the basis of it
being a possible winning dice by which he can win the amount of money
he has aimed for. That is the reason why this is not merely trade or
business venture but rather it is anact of sin to buy these or even to
sell them. Because he is not merely committing a sin and transgressing
but is also promoting it.
Islam gives peace to the mind, body and soul, keeping the human in
perfect harmony. Every iota balanced and scaled to perfection. A
serene picture of bliss and joy but when a shattering and destructive
vice strikes through the heart it leaves it in a weak and downtrodden
state. The National Lottery, a new religion, has hit Britain.
Amoneymaking, exciting, nail-biting game of chance, preying on the
human soul and wealth.
This modern lottery system of gambling camefrom the crusades. The
crusaders during a siege of the Islamic citadel of Azhar were forced
to pass their time by developing new pass-times. One of those was
called hazard and today this is the usual French word used for games
of chance.
Christians developed hazard into a state enterprise and since thenit
has been upgraded and reformed constantly, without any feeling of
guilt. Now it has, ultimately, hit Britain with a vengeance. It seems
it is here to stay for a long time to come.
The saddening thing however is that from the constant onslaught of
theWest on Islam, the National Lottery will contribute a great deal
towards their ultimate goal, the total assimilation of the Muslims
into the British society.
Coming towards the mainaspect of our argument that in no manner can it
be justified that it is permissible to play the lottery or to take
part in any form of gambling whatsoever will follow. The Christians,
developedit and turned it into a money-maker, all in the name of
charity. The Qur'aan has commanded the prohibition and total ban of
any form of gambling and in no way whatsoever can it be proven
permissible. Thus,any person who denies the prohibition of any form of
gambling such aslottery etc. will be committing an act of kufr.
Gambling is prohibited with absolute proof as the Allah Almighty says
in the Holy Qur'aan, "O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds
ofalcoholic drinks), gambling, Al-Ansab, and Al-Azlam (arrows for
seeking luck or decision) are an abomination ofsatan, handiwork. So
avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be
successful."
(Qur'aan 5:90)
When the Sahaabahs received the order to refrain from gambling they
did not hesitate to fulfil. This is because the Holy Prophet
sallallahu alaihe wasallam had said,"Whosoever invites a person
towards gambling should give some amount of charity to the poor."
(Bukhari)