Prizes for Competitors
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Fatwa No. ( 3219 )
Q: There is a horse racing club sponsored by the National Guard Headquarters, and an idea has occurred to the officials of the aforementioned club, which is: to establish prizes for those who visit this club, as follows: when tickets are sold, some of them include prizes that the buyer is not aware of; rather, during the race or after the end of the heat, the holder of ticket number such-and-such is called and given, for example,
a watch or less or more. So we ask: Is this permissible in the Shari'ah? The goal is to encourage people in horsemanship and to make them love it. We request that a fatwa be issued on this, and on other types of races. May Allah protect you and preserve you.
A: The question contains some ambiguity, and therefore we mention in the answer forms of racing and the ruling on each of them: First: Racing on horses, camels, weapons, and the like is part of the means of jihad; such as airplanes and tanks for training on them. Acquiring horsemanship is obligatory or recommended according to what the need of the Muslims in jihad requires; in defense of their territory, in support of their religion, and in facilitating the spread of Islam. For whoever does this or assists in it with his thought, or his skill in it, or with his wealth, there is reward and recompense. Second: Taking the prizes that are given to the winner among the competitors in the race is permissible if they are from the general ruler or his deputy, or if they are a donation from non-competitors. And for whoever gives the prizes from among the non-competitors, there is reward and recompense if he intends the Face of Allah. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Anfal 8:60]
And because of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Bulugh al-Maram 11:61 It was narrated by Ahmad , Abu Dawud , al-Nasa'i , and al-Tirmidhi , who graded it as hasan, and it was authenticated by Ibn al-Qattan and Ibn Hibban . If the prizes are from one of the racers, given willingly so that the winner may take them, then that is permissible because there is no gambling in it. However, if the prizes are for some of those who bought tickets, among those who attended solely to watch the race, then it is not permissible, because it is a form of gambling among those who attended to watch the racers. But if the one in authority or one of the benefactors volunteers the value of the prizes, and the tickets are given to those who attend to watch the race without any payment from them, then there is no harm in that, provided that the objective of the race and its viewing is achieved, and that it is religiously permissible.
Q: There is a horse racing club sponsored by the National Guard Headquarters, and an idea has occurred to the officials of the aforementioned club, which is: to establish prizes for those who visit this club, as follows: when tickets are sold, some of them include prizes that the buyer is not aware of; rather, during the race or after the end of the heat, the holder of ticket number such-and-such is called and given, for example,
a watch or less or more. So we ask: Is this permissible in the Shari'ah? The goal is to encourage people in horsemanship and to make them love it. We request that a fatwa be issued on this, and on other types of races. May Allah protect you and preserve you.
A: The question contains some ambiguity, and therefore we mention in the answer forms of racing and the ruling on each of them: First: Racing on horses, camels, weapons, and the like is part of the means of jihad; such as airplanes and tanks for training on them. Acquiring horsemanship is obligatory or recommended according to what the need of the Muslims in jihad requires; in defense of their territory, in support of their religion, and in facilitating the spread of Islam. For whoever does this or assists in it with his thought, or his skill in it, or with his wealth, there is reward and recompense. Second: Taking the prizes that are given to the winner among the competitors in the race is permissible if they are from the general ruler or his deputy, or if they are a donation from non-competitors. And for whoever gives the prizes from among the non-competitors, there is reward and recompense if he intends the Face of Allah. Allah the Exalted said:
And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allah knows. And whatever you spend in the cause of Allah will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.
وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُمْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ وَمِنْ رِبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ وَآخَرِينَ مِنْ دُونِهِمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ شَيْءٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لاَ تُظْلَمُونَAnd because of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
Prize money is allowed only for racing camels, shooting arrows or racing horses.
لا سبق إلا في خف أو نصل أو حافر
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.