Confiscation of gambling funds and their deposit into the public treasury
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Fatwa No. ( 8361 )
Q: In order to prevent the exploitation of the humanitarian role that the postal service plays for the international family in the field of personal and official correspondence, and based on the principle of preserving our noble religion, the administration of this region, in accordance with the regulations and postal instructions, confiscated certain incoming letters from schools in India and England after it became clear that they were issued by
institutions working to promote riba (usury or interest) and gambling under the name of what is called "abundant luck." These institutions managed to take advantage of some people of weak character, who began dealing with them, forgetting or disregarding that this practice is religiously forbidden and prohibited within this Kingdom, which follows the path of the noble Book of Allah and the pure Sunnah. We have found checks, numbering (61) in total, bearing amounts representing the proceeds of the profits of what is called "abundant luck," and with each check is a letter from the organization running the gambling, congratulating the winner and asking him to help with some of the money he received from the gambling profits to rebuild the churches. These checks are in the names of individuals residing in the Kingdom, and they are currently held by us. We believe they should be confiscated and deposited into the state treasury, as they were originally obtained within the Kingdom through unlawful means. The matter is referred to your eminence to clarify the religious ruling regarding them, so that we may proceed accordingly with the confiscation of the funds and their deposit into the treasury, or not.
A: If the situation is as described, then your view to confiscate these funds and deposit them in the Bayt al-Mal (public treasury) of the Muslims, to be spent on acts of charity and public interests, is correct. This is because it involves forbidding what is wrong, disciplining those who commit it, deterring them from it, discouraging others like them, and eliminating the use of money for evil purposes.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: In order to prevent the exploitation of the humanitarian role that the postal service plays for the international family in the field of personal and official correspondence, and based on the principle of preserving our noble religion, the administration of this region, in accordance with the regulations and postal instructions, confiscated certain incoming letters from schools in India and England after it became clear that they were issued by
institutions working to promote riba (usury or interest) and gambling under the name of what is called "abundant luck." These institutions managed to take advantage of some people of weak character, who began dealing with them, forgetting or disregarding that this practice is religiously forbidden and prohibited within this Kingdom, which follows the path of the noble Book of Allah and the pure Sunnah. We have found checks, numbering (61) in total, bearing amounts representing the proceeds of the profits of what is called "abundant luck," and with each check is a letter from the organization running the gambling, congratulating the winner and asking him to help with some of the money he received from the gambling profits to rebuild the churches. These checks are in the names of individuals residing in the Kingdom, and they are currently held by us. We believe they should be confiscated and deposited into the state treasury, as they were originally obtained within the Kingdom through unlawful means. The matter is referred to your eminence to clarify the religious ruling regarding them, so that we may proceed accordingly with the confiscation of the funds and their deposit into the treasury, or not.
A: If the situation is as described, then your view to confiscate these funds and deposit them in the Bayt al-Mal (public treasury) of the Muslims, to be spent on acts of charity and public interests, is correct. This is because it involves forbidding what is wrong, disciplining those who commit it, deterring them from it, discouraging others like them, and eliminating the use of money for evil purposes.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.