What is the ruling on drawing near to Allah the Exalted with a sacrifice at a time other than the time of the 'Id sacrifices?
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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 eminence.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : It contains a question addressed to you: What is your eminence's opinion regarding what some merchants do in distributing cards with their merchandise?
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : Distributing cards with their merchandise 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 receives what is in them, such as an image. At the end of your answer, you mentioned a third image which you did not specify.The questioner : For example, if the seller says: "Whoever buys an amount of one thousand riyals, he will hold a lottery between himself and others for a prize of, say, fifty riyals." 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 have a lottery for the buyers, so whoever it is his share 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, 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 rule is that any transaction in which the transactor is either a winner or a loser is gambling (maysir), so it is not permissible.
The questioner : ... a person buys for one hundred riyals.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : And 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 : Different 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, he will hold a lottery between himself and others for a prize of, say, fifty riyals." There is no doubt in its prohibition, and it is not permissible.
The Shaykh : No, no, there cannot be an error. The mistake is... this is permissible.
The questioner : A man draws near to Allah with a sacrifice, but at a time other than the time of the 'Id sacrifice, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : It is well known that drawing near to Allah with a sacrifice at a time other than the time of the 'Id sacrifice does not earn the reward of the 'Id sacrifice. But if he gives charity with its meat, he has the reward of charity. As for taking the reward of the 'Id sacrifice, I do not know. And when that is the case, 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 by giving charity with its meat. Yes. The second question after you, if you stand up, yes.
The questioner : Your eminence, may Allah forgive you, what is your opinion, O Shaykh, regarding what is called?
The Shaykh : It is not your question.
The questioner : No, I have not asked yet.
The Shaykh : Yes.
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 eminence.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : It contains a question addressed to you: What is your eminence's opinion regarding what some merchants do in distributing cards with their merchandise?
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : Distributing cards with their merchandise 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 receives what is in them, such as an image. At the end of your answer, you mentioned a third image which you did not specify.The questioner : For example, if the seller says: "Whoever buys an amount of one thousand riyals, he will hold a lottery between himself and others for a prize of, say, fifty riyals." 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 have a lottery for the buyers, so whoever it is his share 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, 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 rule is that any transaction in which the transactor is either a winner or a loser is gambling (maysir), so it is not permissible.
The questioner : ... a person buys for one hundred riyals.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : And 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 : Different 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, he will hold a lottery between himself and others for a prize of, say, fifty riyals." There is no doubt in its prohibition, and it is not permissible.
The Shaykh : No, no, there cannot be an error. The mistake is... this is permissible.
The questioner : A man draws near to Allah with a sacrifice, but at a time other than the time of the 'Id sacrifice, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : It is well known that drawing near to Allah with a sacrifice at a time other than the time of the 'Id sacrifice does not earn the reward of the 'Id sacrifice. But if he gives charity with its meat, he has the reward of charity. As for taking the reward of the 'Id sacrifice, I do not know. And when that is the case, 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 by giving charity with its meat. Yes. The second question after you, if you stand up, yes.
The questioner : Your eminence, may Allah forgive you, what is your opinion, O Shaykh, regarding what is called?
The Shaykh : It is not your question.
The questioner : No, I have not asked yet.
The Shaykh : Yes.