What is the ruling on competitions involving goods and placing prizes on them?
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The questioner : O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : I have a book titled *Lectures and Fatwas in the Makkah Haram*.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : *Lectures and Fatwas in the Makkah Haram* by your Excellency.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : It contains a question addressed to you: What is your Excellency’s opinion regarding what some merchants do by distributing cards with their displayed goods?
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : They distribute cards with their displayed goods such that whoever buys a certain amount receives a specific prize, or they are in the form of fragmented stickers, so whoever obtains all the parts gets the image contained in them.
At the end of your answer, there was a third image that was not mentioned.The questioner : For example, if the seller says: “Whoever buys an amount of one thousand riyals, I will hold a lottery between him and others for a prize of, say, fifty riyals,” then there is no doubt in its prohibition, and it is not permissible. This was in your answer.
And I have heard from more than one person that you permitted some shops in Unaizah, such as al-Aziziyah markets, to place cars as prizes and hold a lottery for the buyers, so whoever it is destined for takes it. What is the difference between this and that?
The Shaykh : The difference between them is that if the buyer buys at the usual price without an increase and nothing is taken from him, then he is either safe or a winner. In the example we mentioned, he pays, he pays.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, but he pays something before participating. So if he pays something, he is either a loser or a winner. The principle is that any transaction in which the transactor is either a winner or a loser is gambling, so it is not permissible.
The questioner : ... a person buys for one hundred riyals.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : And he takes a card.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : After the lottery ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, but he buys at the normal value, meaning nothing is added to it and nothing is taken from him.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Various items, but the value is the same, there is nothing extra. Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, yes, this is permissible.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Read, read, read the book.
The questioner : For example, if the seller says: “Whoever buys an amount of one thousand riyals, I will hold a lottery between him and others for a prize of, say, fifty riyals,” then there is no doubt in its prohibition, and it is not permissible.
The Shaykh : No, no, there cannot be an error. The mistake is that this is permissible.
The questioner : A man draws near to Allah with a sacrifice, but not during the time of the 'Id sacrifice, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : It is well known that drawing near to Allah with a sacrifice outside the time of the 'Id sacrifice does not earn the reward of the 'Id sacrifice. But if he gives the meat in charity, he has the reward of charity. As for taking the reward of the 'Id sacrifice, no. Did you understand?
And at that point, we tell him: Do not draw near by slaughtering. Do not draw near by slaughtering except with the intention that you want to draw near through charity.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : I have a book titled *Lectures and Fatwas in the Makkah Haram*.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : *Lectures and Fatwas in the Makkah Haram* by your Excellency.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : It contains a question addressed to you: What is your Excellency’s opinion regarding what some merchants do by distributing cards with their displayed goods?
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : They distribute cards with their displayed goods such that whoever buys a certain amount receives a specific prize, or they are in the form of fragmented stickers, so whoever obtains all the parts gets the image contained in them.
At the end of your answer, there was a third image that was not mentioned.The questioner : For example, if the seller says: “Whoever buys an amount of one thousand riyals, I will hold a lottery between him and others for a prize of, say, fifty riyals,” then there is no doubt in its prohibition, and it is not permissible. This was in your answer.
And I have heard from more than one person that you permitted some shops in Unaizah, such as al-Aziziyah markets, to place cars as prizes and hold a lottery for the buyers, so whoever it is destined for takes it. What is the difference between this and that?
The Shaykh : The difference between them is that if the buyer buys at the usual price without an increase and nothing is taken from him, then he is either safe or a winner. In the example we mentioned, he pays, he pays.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, but he pays something before participating. So if he pays something, he is either a loser or a winner. The principle is that any transaction in which the transactor is either a winner or a loser is gambling, so it is not permissible.
The questioner : ... a person buys for one hundred riyals.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : And he takes a card.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : After the lottery ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, but he buys at the normal value, meaning nothing is added to it and nothing is taken from him.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Various items, but the value is the same, there is nothing extra. Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, yes, this is permissible.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Read, read, read the book.
The questioner : For example, if the seller says: “Whoever buys an amount of one thousand riyals, I will hold a lottery between him and others for a prize of, say, fifty riyals,” then there is no doubt in its prohibition, and it is not permissible.
The Shaykh : No, no, there cannot be an error. The mistake is that this is permissible.
The questioner : A man draws near to Allah with a sacrifice, but not during the time of the 'Id sacrifice, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : It is well known that drawing near to Allah with a sacrifice outside the time of the 'Id sacrifice does not earn the reward of the 'Id sacrifice. But if he gives the meat in charity, he has the reward of charity. As for taking the reward of the 'Id sacrifice, no. Did you understand?
And at that point, we tell him: Do not draw near by slaughtering. Do not draw near by slaughtering except with the intention that you want to draw near through charity.