What is the ruling on a race with a stake from each of the racers, if each of the two racers says, “I will put in one hundred riyals; if I win, I will take your two hundred and your hundred”?
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The questioner : May Allah forgive us and you, O Shaykh. In response to the first question regarding the race, if, for example, each of the racers says, “I will put in one hundred riyals; if you win, you take my two hundred along with your hundred, and if I win, I take the same.”
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : This, O Shaykh, means one is either a loser and a winner, or a loser and safe, or a winner and safe. That is, his hundred will be gone if he loses, or he will take a hundred.
The Shaykh : This is forbidden.
The questioner : Even if it is included within [a permissible context].
The Shaykh : Except for the three in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted it. The three in which he permitted it, he said: So they are permissible.
This is because there is benefit in racing with these three, as they are instruments of jihad and they assist in jihad. Therefore, racing with them for a stake is permissible due to the benefit that results from this.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : This, O Shaykh, means one is either a loser and a winner, or a loser and safe, or a winner and safe. That is, his hundred will be gone if he loses, or he will take a hundred.
The Shaykh : This is forbidden.
The questioner : Even if it is included within [a permissible context].
The Shaykh : Except for the three in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted it. The three in which he permitted it, he said:
There is no racing except in three: a spear, a shoe, or a hoof.
لا سَبَق إلا في ثلاث : نصل أو خف أو حافرThis is because there is benefit in racing with these three, as they are instruments of jihad and they assist in jihad. Therefore, racing with them for a stake is permissible due to the benefit that results from this.