Ruling on Participating in Contests That Require Attaching Coupons
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The brother S. M. K. from Amman, Jordan, says in his question:
Some Islamic and non-Islamic magazines and newspapers publish purposeful contests that include various questions and require correct answers from the readers. They arrange prizes and rewards for the winners, who are selected by lottery. However, they condition participation on attaching the answers to a special coupon or ticket that is cut out from the magazine or newspaper itself. This compels the participant to buy the magazine to obtain this coupon or ticket, and he may win the prize or lose.
What is the religious ruling on participating in such contests, which are based on the condition of attaching the coupon with the answers, necessitating the purchase of the magazine for that very purpose, namely the possibility of winning the prize? Is this considered gambling, the lottery, and betting, or something else? And may Allah reward you with much good.
I ask that the answer be supported with evidence and discussion. Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
Answer: This transaction is gambling; it is betting; because the participant in it may lose and not win. And Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: :[Al-Ma'idah 5:90] Indeed, Satan only wants to cause between you hostility and hatred through intoxicants and gambling, and to turn you away from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not stop? [Al-Ma'idah: 90-91]. May Allah guide the Muslims to act in accordance with His Shari'ah and to be cautious of everything He has forbidden; He is the All-Hearing, the Near.
Some Islamic and non-Islamic magazines and newspapers publish purposeful contests that include various questions and require correct answers from the readers. They arrange prizes and rewards for the winners, who are selected by lottery. However, they condition participation on attaching the answers to a special coupon or ticket that is cut out from the magazine or newspaper itself. This compels the participant to buy the magazine to obtain this coupon or ticket, and he may win the prize or lose.
What is the religious ruling on participating in such contests, which are based on the condition of attaching the coupon with the answers, necessitating the purchase of the magazine for that very purpose, namely the possibility of winning the prize? Is this considered gambling, the lottery, and betting, or something else? And may Allah reward you with much good.
I ask that the answer be supported with evidence and discussion. Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
Answer: This transaction is gambling; it is betting; because the participant in it may lose and not win. And Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: :
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 that you may be successful.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالأَنصَابُ وَالأَزْلاَمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.