That’s what i heard, it’s haram and i personally believe it is haram.
I don’t play lottery and there is no reason why i should.
But the other day i went out with some of my friends and while coming back home they decided to buy lottery tickets and forced me to buy one too. First i said no but than eventually they all forced me to buy it jus for fun, so i bought one and when i scratched i won £65 out of it but i didnt feel like claiming the money, i decided to tear apart the ticket becuase as i said i dont like playing lotteries and i consider it haram.
But than this thought came to my mind, why not claim the prize and give the money to poor people in pak? Better than wasting it for no reason! So i claimed it and the money is still in my draw right now and i am planning to give it to someone in pak who is in need.
My question is simple. Lottery is haram because it’s like gambling but what if you give the money to the poor people if you win any prize? I mean you don’t keep the money for yourself but instead give it to the poor people? Is it still haram and do you still get Gunnah? I am a bit confused over it…
I asked one of my mate and he said “I think it’s still haram and you are likely to get gunnah because the money was never yours, you never earned it but you won it while gambling so yeah it is…”
The following verse clearly mentions that you must have earned the money by halal means to give zakat from ....
And His statement: O you who believe! Spend from the good things which you have (legally) earned, and of that which We have produced from the earth for you. (2:267)
If we let the money come from haram means but give it charity , it wont discourage us from haram means of earning money ,would it... therefore its important that we earn the money in halal ways and then give it to charity and inshallah Allah will give us lots and lots of sawaab ...
My own opinion on this is that if you intend the charity to be an act that you perform for the sake of God, then it should be paid through pure and legitimate sources of wealth, and lottery winnings don’t characterize this.
I have also read fatwas that proclaim that it is permissible to give monetary winnings from gambling as a charity, but you shouldn’t expect to be rewarded for this act… which I suppose sort of goes along with what I stated above.
^ Yes. Well i'm not sure if it's classed same as "lottery" but it's definately frowned upon. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) warned against indulging in interest and all dealings that include it. Today we live through the times which were describe in a hadith that goes something like "There will come a time when even if you stay away from dealing in Interest, its' cloud will cover you just as the dirt covers a clean cloth". The entire system of capitalism is based upon and revolves around interest in one way or another, but that doesn't mean we cannot try and avoid it. It's just very difficult, but not impossible. :)
Can't tell you how hard it is not to play, when the team at work gets together, pitches in $5 a piece and dream of winning big. I am the only one not playing, and of course they bug me, but i just laugh it off. It was really bad when a company near me, that we know some folks who work there, they won huge! They were in the newspaper n everything, i think $14 million each...i forget....
We can go on and on, and argue about everything in Islam all our lives and still not come up with a sufficient solution. It's very disheartening.
For things as simple as giving charity to poor, we are made to think of the source it came from... although the source was your hard earned dollar/pound that "produced" "earned" you more.
Sometimes I overlook religion and do what feels right. I know Allah is the MOST MERCIFUL and he will forgive my "good" sins.
