Ruling on Giving the Cup That Is Awarded in Competitions
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Honorable Shaykh! Some schools hold competitions, and the prize for these competitions is a cup. What is the ruling on the cup?The Shaykh: A cup of what?The questioner: It is an iron cup, Shaykh! The Shaykh: Is this cup made of glass or clay?The questioner: No, Shaykh! It is iron. Sometimes it is gold-colored, but in schools, the cup is usually made of iron.
The Shaykh: There is nothing wrong with that, but why not make it something useful? Because this cup could be a plastic cup, which is better than it. Why not make it something beneficial, such as a watch, a pen, or a book? That would be better.
The questioner: Shaykh, this cup is given to the entire class. They give every student a tangible prize, either a cassette tape or a book, and then they give the whole class a cup to be placed in the classroom.
The Shaykh: I say: The origin of this cup appears to be taken from non-Muslims. That is what I understand. The cup you are talking about is not a cup used for drinking.
The questioner: It is not used, Shaykh, for eating or drinking or anything else.
The Shaykh: It is not used and is not suitable for use?The questioner: It is only for decoration.
The Shaykh: For decoration. Instead of this, we should bring something other than this cup. That is what I see.
The questioner: Is it permissible, Shaykh?The Shaykh: I do not say it is permissible. Prohibition is difficult to establish, but I see that something beneficial should be given.
The Shaykh: There is nothing wrong with that, but why not make it something useful? Because this cup could be a plastic cup, which is better than it. Why not make it something beneficial, such as a watch, a pen, or a book? That would be better.
The questioner: Shaykh, this cup is given to the entire class. They give every student a tangible prize, either a cassette tape or a book, and then they give the whole class a cup to be placed in the classroom.
The Shaykh: I say: The origin of this cup appears to be taken from non-Muslims. That is what I understand. The cup you are talking about is not a cup used for drinking.
The questioner: It is not used, Shaykh, for eating or drinking or anything else.
The Shaykh: It is not used and is not suitable for use?The questioner: It is only for decoration.
The Shaykh: For decoration. Instead of this, we should bring something other than this cup. That is what I see.
The questioner: Is it permissible, Shaykh?The Shaykh: I do not say it is permissible. Prohibition is difficult to establish, but I see that something beneficial should be given.