What is the ruling on a competition with questions taken from a tape, on the condition of purchasing that tape?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. What is the ruling, O Shaykh, on holding a question competition based on a tape or booklet, for example in a school, and then offering this competition on the condition of purchasing this tape or booklet at a nominal price, which might be the value of the tape or less?
The Shaykh : And how, I mean, how?
The questioner : A specific tape, for example a lecture, O Shaykh, which I transcribe and then place questions on this lecture, written on, say, ten pages?
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The questioner : Then I offer this competition for free, but on the condition of purchasing this tape at cost price or less?
The Shaykh : Who is the tape for?
The questioner : The competitors, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Those who entered the competition.
The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Okay, is success guaranteed?
The questioner : It may succeed, or it may not.
The Shaykh : Okay, if it does not succeed, is the value of the tape given?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible.
The questioner : But he will benefit from this tape, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Not necessarily. It is possible that without the competition he would never have bought it, or he would have bought it for half the price. Based on this, it is said: whoever wins the race, it is his; and whoever does not win, the price of the tape is refunded to him and we take the tape from him, and if he wishes, its value remains.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : And how, I mean, how?
The questioner : A specific tape, for example a lecture, O Shaykh, which I transcribe and then place questions on this lecture, written on, say, ten pages?
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The questioner : Then I offer this competition for free, but on the condition of purchasing this tape at cost price or less?
The Shaykh : Who is the tape for?
The questioner : The competitors, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Those who entered the competition.
The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Okay, is success guaranteed?
The questioner : It may succeed, or it may not.
The Shaykh : Okay, if it does not succeed, is the value of the tape given?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible.
The questioner : But he will benefit from this tape, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Not necessarily. It is possible that without the competition he would never have bought it, or he would have bought it for half the price. Based on this, it is said: whoever wins the race, it is his; and whoever does not win, the price of the tape is refunded to him and we take the tape from him, and if he wishes, its value remains.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.