What is the ruling on a pledge, or in other words, a right, which occurs between two people when narrating a story or disagreeing about other matters, such as when one says to the other:
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The questioner : What is the ruling on a pledge, or in other words, a right, which occurs between two people when narrating a story or disagreeing about other matters, such as when one says to the other: "If what I am telling you is true, then you must pay a sum of money, such as a sacrificial animal or something else. And if it is not true, I am prepared to pay what was mentioned." We ask for clarification of this? And we ask Allah, the Mighty and Capable, to guide us and you to the truth and the right path?
The Shaykh : This is a wager, gambling, and maysir (gambling), and it is not a right. Calling it a right by some of the common people does not make it a right, just as calling khamr (intoxicants) "spiritual drink" by those who call it that does not make it halal (lawful) and good. So this wagering or competing for this compensation is batil (invalid), and calling it a right is not permissible (la yajuz) either, because that means dressing up the batil (invalid) in the clothing of the truth, and this is turning facts upside down and naming a thing by a name that is not its name. And this path, or this competing, is muharram (forbidden) and not permissible (la yajuz), because it is from maysir (gambling), and maysir (gambling) is muharram (forbidden) due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Ma'idah 5:90] And in the hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1700Hasan (Darussalam) And al-sabaq is the compensation taken for the competition. And based on this, this practice, which is widespread among many people, is not permissible (la yajuz), except that some of the scholars of knowledge said: Competing on issues of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) for a compensation is not a problem (la bas), because that is from jihad (struggle in the path of Allah). Indeed, the religion was established through knowledge and through fighting. If it was established through knowledge and through fighting so that the word of Allah is the highest, then it indicates that competing on issues of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) for a compensation is permissible (ja'iz) and not a problem (la bas). But this is on the condition that the intention of each of the competitors is to reach the truth, not that their intention is only to overcome the other. Because seeking knowledge for the sake of competition is among the things that are prohibited.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : The last message we received for this meeting is from Ali Musa Muhammad al-Zahrani, who says:
The Shaykh : This is a wager, gambling, and maysir (gambling), and it is not a right. Calling it a right by some of the common people does not make it a right, just as calling khamr (intoxicants) "spiritual drink" by those who call it that does not make it halal (lawful) and good. So this wagering or competing for this compensation is batil (invalid), and calling it a right is not permissible (la yajuz) either, because that means dressing up the batil (invalid) in the clothing of the truth, and this is turning facts upside down and naming a thing by a name that is not its name. And this path, or this competing, is muharram (forbidden) and not permissible (la yajuz), because it is from maysir (gambling), and maysir (gambling) is muharram (forbidden) due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:
O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءامَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالأَنصَابُ وَالأَزْلامُ رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُNo stake is acceptable except in archery, racing a camel, and racing a horse.
لا سبق إلا في نصل أو خف أو حافرThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : The last message we received for this meeting is from Ali Musa Muhammad al-Zahrani, who says: