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 | Subject: Beware Many Forms of Gambling in Our Daily Life that You May Be Unaware of  Fri Jul 08, 2011 12:41 pm | |
| Beware Many Forms of Gambling in Our Daily Life that You May Be Unaware of
Every transaction in which gain and loss is obscure is known as Qimaar' and 'Maisar'. Gambling has unfortunately become an acceptable practise in Muslim Society due to its wide scale promotion by the media. A large number of good Muslims are also caught in the web, not realising that they are gambling and that the earnings from the gambling are haraam.
All societies have different forms of gambling, in accordance with the prevailing customs, resources and useful articles they have. These are all grouped together in Islam under the heading maysir, which we translate as “games of chance”, where the result depends on chance or luck, rather than any skill the players have. The types that the Arabs practiced before Islam are clearly mentioned so that they would serve as examples for others practiced by other communities, which naturally have the same Islamic verdict of prohibition
Every transaction in which gain and loss is obscure is known as Qimaar' and 'Maisar' in the Shar'iah terminology, and as 'Juwa' in the Urdu language. For instance, if two people compete in a race with the following conditions, that if you surpass me, then I will give you a thousand pounds and if I surpass you then you will have to give me a thousand pounds. Or if someone says, 'If it rains today you will have to give me a thousand pounds and if it does not rain then I will give you a thousand pounds.'
Likewise if some packed boxes are being sold for a fixed price, for example four pounds per box and some of the boxes have contents with a value of five pounds with others containing a value of two pounds, then the purchase of these boxes will be Qimaar. Because of the obscurity of the gain and loss. There are numerous methods of gambling and in every age and region, gambling has been played in different forms and methods.
There was a certain procedure amongst the Arabs for gambling. There would be ten arrows, each with a special name, all having different shares allocated to them, for example, one share, two shares, three shares, etc. There would also be some without a share at all. They would then jumble the arrows and ask someone to pick an arrow for each person. Whichever arrow was picked out for a person, that would be his allocated share and thereafter would be considered the owner of it. On the other hand, whosoever happened to acquire a share-less arrow he would receive nothing at all. The custom, which went hand in hand with this, was that a camel would be slaughtered and distributed according to the shares entitled to them by the arrows. A person who was unlucky would not only be deprived of the camel meat but he would also have to pay for that camel. This kind of gambling has been labelled Maisar and Azlaam by the Qur'aan. Maisar is that particular camel which is slaughtered and distributed because of gambling and Azlaam are the arrows that are used to define the amount of the shares in gambling. Apart from this, gambling was prevalent in trade in different forms. They were known as Mulamasa and Munabaza, etc., the prohibition of which is present in the Ahaadith of the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam.
Before the advent of Islam, gambling was not only customary but also taken to be a cause of pride, nobility and honour. For excessive show of pride, these people would distribute their share of the winnings amongst the poor.
http://www.inter-islam.org/Prohibitions/gambling.html
Origin and Meaning of the Word
Maisir (gambling) means a game of haphazard in all matters-particularly a game of chance by means of divinatory arrows. Maisir is of various categories. Some of these types of Maisir are seeking omen or fortune by divinatory arrows, back-gammous, chess, lottery etc.
The word Masir (game of chance) is derived from the root:
(1) Yasara: To become gentle to draw lots by arrows; or
(2) Yasar : Affluence because Maisir brings about profit ; or
(3) Yusr: Convenience ; ease : Maisir is so termed because it is a means of earning without toil and exertion ; or
(4) Yasr: Dividing a thing into a number of shares and distributing them among
themselves. Gambling is called Maisir because those who partake in the game of chance
divide the meat of sacrificial animal among themselves.
All the above cannotations are vividly found in the word Maisir. Imam Malik (Allah be pleased with him) says that gambling is of two categories : a game of chance that is partaken in with a view of sport(fun) and the game of chance which involves gambling. Gambling means all dealings in which people are required to mane a bet and every dealing which involves some aspect of gambling is Maisir.
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said : “Whosoever says to his Companion, "Come let us play a game of haphazard, should give alms(as an atonement)." (Bukhari and Muslim)
It connotes that a mere invitation to gambling is such a serious sin as to warrant atonement thereof by charity. Then just imagine the position of a man who indulges in gambling. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) further said : “Whosoever plays backgammon is as if he dyes his hands with the flesh of swine and its blood.” (Muslim)
Ibn Abi Al-Dunya has reported Yahya b. Kathir as saying : “Allah’s Messenger(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) passed by people playing back-gammon. He said, “Their hearts ar preoccupied in sport, their hands are ill and (their) tongues make absurd utterances. Every game which involves gambling or mischief, is a game of chance (Maisir).”
Common Forms of Gambling
CROSSWORD PUZZLES
Nowadays, just like the epidemic of plague, the art of gambling too has now become so common that it has become virtually a means of trade and commerce. Under such headlines as "Solve this Puzzle", or "Win this Lottery" of innumerable newspapers and monthly journals that are on an ever-increase. They offer prizes for solving puzzles subject to the submitting of a fee. The participants are lured into false belief that they can win substantial sums of money. Some organisers fix huge prizes for the winners due to which the poor public think that the fees is only a small amount and will not bring no harm and therefore enter trying to win a substantial amount.
Because people have fallen prey to this disease, thousands of individuals are entering the lottery.
It is crystal clear that when a person enters into playing this game he submits his fee on the understanding that he either loses a small amount or wins a fortune; according to the divine law of Islam this act is classified as 'gambling'.
In some monthly magazines this form of gambling has expanded very widely and the income runs into millions from which the businesspersons gain overall benefit. Even if the company tries not to indulge in any form of cheating, and distributes the prize money justly, a substantial amount of money is left over which is the blood and sweat of the poor people.
The outcome of all this, is that it is the public who ends up in poverty whilst the organisers benefit from the expenses of the poor. In confirmation of the prohibition of gambling, the above mentioned evidence is sufficient; the democratic rules and curriculum of lslam and its fundamental principles forebears the public money to go in the possession of few individuals. Gambling in the form of crosswords which are prevalent today, are to be reprimanded furthermore severely since they are an aggregation of vices and sins.
The sole reason for this is that the public is being urged and exhorted to go against the commandments of Allah Ta'ala and His disobedience and the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam'.
Each and every person that takes part in this vice is disobeying the commandments which are stated by Allah Ta'ala very clearly in the Holy Qur'aan. The participator becomes a doer of major sins, most of which falls upon the organisers. The people who help them in any form also become guilty of this particular major vice.
Likewise, thousands and millions of Muslim brethren openly go against the clear order of Allah Ta'ala and his Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam. In addition, thousands and millions of Muslims become involved in this act of gambling with the result that it becomes an unending and everlasting vice. May Allah Ta'ala bestow the entire mankind with salvation and freedom from this disease, Aameen.
THE PRIZE WINNING TICKETS OF (CAR) SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS
It has been observed throughout the years in Karachi, Lahore and many other places that various types of tickets are being sold to enter exhibitions. The organisers issue tickets with lucky numbers and then prizes are allocated to the lucky persons whose numbers appear.
This form is not regarded as open gambling because the ticket owner receives the returns by entering the exhibition but now it is all depending on the intention. The person who purchases this ticket on the basis of winning a prize will be indulging in gambling. On the other hand if his intention is solely to enter the exhibition with no desire of winning a prize, and wins the prize then it will not be classified as gambling according to the rules pertaining to gambling.
HORSE RACING
The present day horse racing where one stakes a certain amount on a particular horse is in fact gambling. It is exactly that form where loss and gain is based on something indistinct, where one person loses his initial amount and the other wins a substantial amount.
LOTTERY
In this present day each and every kind of lottery is included within gambling and is prohibited. It is found in bazaars and factories and out of which, a few well-known forms are mentioned.
The lottery business of this category has now reached an international level. The purchaser of this ticket does not buy the ticket solely with the intention of just buying it but he buys it on the basis of it being a possible winning dice by which he can win the amount of money he has aimed for. That is the reason why this is not merely trade or business venture but rather it is an act of sin to buy these or even to sell them. Because he is not merely committing a sin and transgressing but is also promoting it.
Islam gives peace to the mind, body and soul, keeping the human in perfect harmony. Every iota balanced and scaled to perfection. A serene picture of bliss and joy but when a shattering and destructive vice strikes through the heart it leaves it in a weak and downtrodden state. The National Lottery, a new religion, has hit Britain. A moneymaking, exciting, nail-biting game of chance, preying on the human soul and wealth.
This modern lottery system of gambling came from the crusades. The crusaders during a siege of the Islamic citadel of Azhar were forced to pass their time by developing new pass-times. One of those was called hazard and today this is the usual French word used for games of chance.
Hazard developed into a state enterprise and since then it has been upgraded and reformed constantly, without any feeling of guilt. Now it has, ultimately, hit Britain with a vengeance. It seems it is here to stay for a long time to come.
The saddening thing however is that from the constant onslaught of the Modernity on Islam, the National Lottery will contribute a great deal towards their ultimate goal, the total assimilation of the Muslims into the British society.
Coming towards the main aspect of our argument that in no manner can it be justified that it is permissible to play the lottery or to take part in any form of gambling whatsoever will follow. Gambling developed and turned into a money-maker, all in the name of charity. The Qur'aan has commanded the prohibition and total ban of any form of gambling and in no way whatsoever can it be proven permissible. Thus, any person who denies the prohibition of any form of gambling such as lottery etc. will be committing an act of kufr.
Gambling is prohibited with absolute proof as the Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur'aan, "O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds ofalcoholic drinks), gambling, Al-Ansab, and Al-Azlam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination ofsatan, handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful."
(Qur'aan 5:90)
When the Sahaabahs received the order to refrain from gambling they did not hesitate to fulfil. This is because the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam had said, "Whosoever invites a person towards gambling should give some amount of charity to the poor."
http://www.inter-islam.org/Prohibitions/gambling.html
Wisdom behind the Prohibition on Gambling
What is the Wisdom behind the Islamic Prohibition on Gambling?
Praise be to Allaah
Gambling is haraam because Allaah has forbidden it, and He rules as He wills. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, al-Ansaab [sacrifices for idols, etc.] and al-Azlaam [arrows for seeking luck or decision] are an abomination of Shaytaan’s handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful.
Satan wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drink) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allaah and from al-salaat (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain?”[al-Maa’idah 5-91]
With regard to the wisdom behind this prohibition, any wise person will see that there are many reasons for it, including the following:
Gambling makes a person rely on accidents, luck and wishful thinking for his earnings, instead of hard work, the sweat of his brow and paying respect to the ways prescribed by Allaah.
Gambling destroys families and causes the loss of wealth through haraam means. It makes rich families poor and humiliates proud souls.
Gambling results in enmity and hatred among the players, because they are consuming one another’s wealth unlawfully and getting wealth unlawfully.
Gambling turns people away from the remembrance of Allaah and from prayer, and pushes the players to have the worst of attitudes and habits.
Gambling is a sinful hobby that wastes time and effort, and makes people get used to laziness and idleness. It stops the ummah from working and producing.
Gambling pushes people to commit crimes because the one who is penniless wants to get hold of money in any way he can, even if he has to steal it or take it by force, or through accepting bribes and cheating.
Gambling causes stress, illness and nervous breakdowns. It breeds hatred and in most cases leads to crime, suicide, insanity and chronic illness.
Gambling pushes the gambler to bad behaviour such as drinking alcohol and taking drugs. The atmosphere in which gambling takes place is dimly lit and filled with cigarette smoke; people talk in hushed voices and whispers, and sneak in and out as if they are up to no good. They come in hesitantly, filled with suspicion, and gather around the green table, breathing uneasily and with their hearts pounding. They are supposed to be friends playing a game, but in reality they are enemies, each of them lying in wait for the other and trying to make gains at the expense of the other and his children. The owner of the place tries to numb the feelings of all participants by offering dreamy music, fallen women, all kinds of drinks and cigarettes. The green table is surrounded with cheating and deception. The waiters and girls may tell one player about another player’s cards, helping one player to beat another by means of nods and whispers. Sometimes they achieve a kind of balance to make sure the game carries on and people stay for longer. No doubt everyone loses in the end, they lose the money they spend on drinks and cigarettes, the money they give to the waiters, the money they spend on drinks for the girls, and all kinds of other losses. Even the one who wins all or most of the games loses all or most of his winnings, and the loser loses everything. And at the end of the night, they all sneak away, showing the signs of depression and humiliation, and the loser warns the winner to look out the next day. (Ahmad Shalabi, al-Hayaat al-Ijtimaa’iyyah fi’l-Tafkeer al-Islami, p. 241)
How many families have become poor because of gambling? How many mouths have gone hungry, how many bodies have become naked or been clothed in nothing but rags? How many marriages have failed, how many jobs have been lost, because of a person who stole money to support his gambling habit? How many men have sold their religion and honour at the gambling table? Gambling destroys everything, even when the aim is money. It includes wine, smoking, bad company, darkness, confusion, cheating, hatred, watching for opportunities to take advantage of others, deception and all other kinds of evil.(Qadaayaa al-Lahw wa’l-Tarfeeh, p. 388)
We ask Allaah to keep us safe and sound.
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajid
http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/4013 | |
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