Question:
Is participating in this charity hoping to win the house halal or gambling? Answer: Wa alaikum Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu, If one has to pay in order for one to be included in a prize-draw, then that is, without doubt, gambling, hence unlawful. Gambling is defined as “Ownership of wealth with a risk of loss (tamlik al-mal alal mukhatarah)” (Ahkam al-Qur’an, 2/11), hence, paying for a ticket or in this case, being obligated to pay some amount of money to a charity and entering a prize-draw (the house in question) is undoubtedly unlawful and sinful. However, if entry into the prize-draw is free and no money is demanded, then that would not constitute gambling, hence permitted. The reason for this is that one is not placing any wealth at stake in order to obtain a prize or award. And Allah knows best Mufti Umer Farooq Saleem
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