What is your opinion regarding the fatwa of the Council of Senior Scholars prohibiting the Rocket Dollar competition, stating that it is gambling and consuming people's wealth unjustly, and what do you advise one who has dealt with them and obtained some amounts, having acquired them only through his activity in selling the forms?
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The questioner : A questioner says: May the Shaykh be respected, May the Shaykh be respected, a fatwa has been issued by the Council of Senior Scholars prohibiting the Rocket Dollar competition, stating that it is gambling because this competition includes consuming people's wealth unjustly, as every participant pays a sum of money as a risk, and he does not know whether he will receive a return or not, and it is like gambling, and because of the manipulation of people's minds, deceiving them, and misleading them, and all these competitions are gambling, which is forbidden by Islamic law. This is what was stated in the fatwa which I have attached for you. I inform you that every participant can obtain a return as well as a profit, but on the condition that he sells four forms, as is clear, recorded, and known among those who deal with this competition?
The Shaykh : Yes, I saw it, but may Allah protect us and you from the evil of rockets. I say: I agree with His EminenceThe Shaykh : 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Baz that it is forbidden, because of the manipulation, uncertainty, and also usury or interest, because one person pays forty and takes twenty-five thousand riyals, for example, and all of this is manipulation of people. So my opinion is as the Shaykh (may Allah preserve him) sees it, that it is forbidden, and we ask Allah the Exalted to empower the rulers to prevent such manipulation.
The questioner : The rest of the question: What do you advise one who deals with them and has obtained some amounts, having acquired them only through his activity in selling the forms?
The Shaykh : I say: Allah the Exalted said regarding usury or interest:[Al-Baqarah 2:275] If he is not in need, it is better for him to put it in the way of good, such as building mosques, or helping the poor, or paying off the debt of debtors, or the like of that. And if he is in need, then what he obtained before he knew of the prohibition is his.
The questioner : The brother has a desire to meet with you after the question.
The Shaykh : He is reading the Shaykh's answer now.
The questioner : He says: The Rocket Dollar is gambling and is forbidden by Islamic law. This is the newspaper's statement - the headline - it says: His Eminence Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Baz, the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the President of the Council of Senior Scholars and the Administration of Scientific Research and Ifta, said: Many inquiries reach the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta regarding the competition known as the Rocket Dollar system, whose coupons people are circulating recently. It contains exciting phrases that mislead people and encourage them to participate in this competition in exchange for paying a specific amount from each participant. His Eminence clarified that the Council of Senior Scholars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had previously issued a decision with number: 162 and date 1410/2/26, ruling on the prohibition of this competition and its like, because it is gambling, which is forbidden by Islamic law. His Eminence wished to remind people of this decision, and below is its text: "Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon His servant and messenger, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions. After that: The Council of Senior Scholars, in its thirty-fourth session held in Ta'if from 1410/2/16 to 1410/2/26, reviewed the letter of His Excellency the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, number 16 and date 5/1409, addressed to His Eminence the President General of the Administration of Scientific Research and Ifta and Da'wah and Guidance, and referred by him to the Council. It was stated in His Excellency's letter: I wish to inform Your Eminity that one of the brothers who are zealous for the religion expressed an observation regarding the competitions organized by some companies under the concept of: the forbidden lottery. And since I have attached to Your Eminity the competition coupon that was sent to us, which is named: J.S.B.A International Competition, and is promoted by Al-Uqayli International Trading Company in Jeddah, I request your kindness in taking what you see appropriate to issue a fatwa on the subject to guide our Muslim brothers from falling into the traps of those companies that promote forbidden earnings. The Council reviewed the attached competition coupon in His Excellency's letter, and among what was stated in it: J.S.B.A International Competition, win one of the most famous cars in the world worth twenty-five thousand dollars without any financial obligation on your part within three months. Here: the profit has become a reality by participating in J.S.B.A International Competition coupons, which were affected by the inducements stated therein that encourage every person to take the initiative to participate in this competition in exchange for paying sixty-five dollars. The Council also reviewed the coupon of the competition known as the Rocket Dollar system, and among what was stated in it: Relax and become rich. Gambling is costly, but there is a recipe for success. Through this recipe, you can win a capital of: twenty-five thousand US dollars without any financial obligations on your part within four to six weeks.
The Shaykh : Yes, I saw it, but may Allah protect us and you from the evil of rockets. I say: I agree with His EminenceThe Shaykh : 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Baz that it is forbidden, because of the manipulation, uncertainty, and also usury or interest, because one person pays forty and takes twenty-five thousand riyals, for example, and all of this is manipulation of people. So my opinion is as the Shaykh (may Allah preserve him) sees it, that it is forbidden, and we ask Allah the Exalted to empower the rulers to prevent such manipulation.
The questioner : The rest of the question: What do you advise one who deals with them and has obtained some amounts, having acquired them only through his activity in selling the forms?
The Shaykh : I say: Allah the Exalted said regarding usury or interest:
So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allah
فمَنْ جَاءَهُ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ فَانْتَهَى فَلَهُ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِThe questioner : The brother has a desire to meet with you after the question.
The Shaykh : He is reading the Shaykh's answer now.
The questioner : He says: The Rocket Dollar is gambling and is forbidden by Islamic law. This is the newspaper's statement - the headline - it says: His Eminence Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Baz, the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the President of the Council of Senior Scholars and the Administration of Scientific Research and Ifta, said: Many inquiries reach the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta regarding the competition known as the Rocket Dollar system, whose coupons people are circulating recently. It contains exciting phrases that mislead people and encourage them to participate in this competition in exchange for paying a specific amount from each participant. His Eminence clarified that the Council of Senior Scholars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had previously issued a decision with number: 162 and date 1410/2/26, ruling on the prohibition of this competition and its like, because it is gambling, which is forbidden by Islamic law. His Eminence wished to remind people of this decision, and below is its text: "Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon His servant and messenger, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions. After that: The Council of Senior Scholars, in its thirty-fourth session held in Ta'if from 1410/2/16 to 1410/2/26, reviewed the letter of His Excellency the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, number 16 and date 5/1409, addressed to His Eminence the President General of the Administration of Scientific Research and Ifta and Da'wah and Guidance, and referred by him to the Council. It was stated in His Excellency's letter: I wish to inform Your Eminity that one of the brothers who are zealous for the religion expressed an observation regarding the competitions organized by some companies under the concept of: the forbidden lottery. And since I have attached to Your Eminity the competition coupon that was sent to us, which is named: J.S.B.A International Competition, and is promoted by Al-Uqayli International Trading Company in Jeddah, I request your kindness in taking what you see appropriate to issue a fatwa on the subject to guide our Muslim brothers from falling into the traps of those companies that promote forbidden earnings. The Council reviewed the attached competition coupon in His Excellency's letter, and among what was stated in it: J.S.B.A International Competition, win one of the most famous cars in the world worth twenty-five thousand dollars without any financial obligation on your part within three months. Here: the profit has become a reality by participating in J.S.B.A International Competition coupons, which were affected by the inducements stated therein that encourage every person to take the initiative to participate in this competition in exchange for paying sixty-five dollars. The Council also reviewed the coupon of the competition known as the Rocket Dollar system, and among what was stated in it: Relax and become rich. Gambling is costly, but there is a recipe for success. Through this recipe, you can win a capital of: twenty-five thousand US dollars without any financial obligations on your part within four to six weeks.