Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

ASSALAM MUWALAIKUM,

HI I JUST WANTED TO FIND OUT IS IT A SIN TO PLAY & WIN THE LOTTERY? PLEASE ADVICE, I HAVE BEEN TEMPTED 2 PLAY THIS. BUT IF IT IS AGAINST THEN I SHAN`T PLAY IT, I DID HAVE HOPES OF GIVING TO NEEDY PEOPLE BACK HOME, GIVING THEM A GOOD START 2 LIFE.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Playing lottery

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verses 90-91: O you who have believed! ‘Khamr’ (all types of intoxicants), games of chance (or gambling), idols, and divining arrows are all abominable works of Shaitaan; therefore, stay (far) away from these so that you may attain success. Indeed, Shaitaan seeks to sow enmity and hatred among you by means of ‘khamr’ (intoxicants) and gambling, and to prevent you from the Remembrance of Allah and from Salaah. Will you not, then, abstain from these things?

The scholars of Islam are unanimous in their opinion that lottery is a form of gambling and a game of chance; and thus absolutely prohibited and forbidden in Islam.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 2214 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘O people, Allah is Good (and Pure) and He, therefore, accepts only that which is good (and pure).’

Haraam earnings do not become halaal, just because a portion of the haraam earnings are spent in good causes! It would just be like if a thief stole some property, and spend a part of it in good causes to justify his deeds! If the fundamental act is haraam in its essence, spending a part of this haraam wealth in good causes, would not make the act permissible or acceptable in the sight of Shariah. It would be best if you abstain from doing anything which is declared ‘haraam’ by Allah and His Messenger (saws), and seek your reward in the Presence of Allah Subhanah on that Inevitable Day.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan