Fatwaa ID: 196

Question:

we want to do an online raffle for a shoe that we have in order to increase traffic and make a name for ourselves. So I want to know the ruling if this method would be permissible from an Islamic perspective. We want to do $1 entry for every entry and the winner will get to buy the product for retail instead of pay resell value. If it is not permissible, can you advise with an alternative along that line?

Would it be permissible if the money being entered goes to donation?

Answer:

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The procedure of the online raffle as explained by you is gambling which is expressly prohibited in the Qur’aan[i]. As an alternative, you may sell a shoe and offer free entry into the competition to win a shoe. You may explore other halaal ways to promote your business.

And Allaah Ta’aala Knows Best

Muajul I. Chowdhury
Student, Darul Iftaa
Astoria, New York, USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

[i]  سورة البقرة (219)

يسألونك عن الخمر والميسر قل فيهما إثم كبير ومنافع للناس وإثمهمآ أكبر من نفعهما

سورة المائدة (90-91)

يا أيها الذين آمنوا إنما الخمر والميسر والأنصاب والأزلام رجس من عمل الشيطان فاجتنبوه لعلكم تفلحون (90) إنما يريد الشيطان أن يوقع بينكم العداوة والبغضاء في الخمر والميسر ويصدكم عن ذكر الله وعن الصلاة فهل أنتم منتهون (91)

المحيط البرهاني (8 /14)

والقمار حرام بالإجماع وبنص التنزيل

رد المحتار (6/ 403)

لِأَنَّ الْقِمَارَ مِنْ الْقَمَرِ الَّذِي يَزْدَادُ تَارَةً وَيَنْقُصُ أُخْرَى، وَسُمِّيَ الْقِمَارُ قِمَارًا لِأَنَّ كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْ الْمُقَامِرَيْنِ مِمَّنْ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ مَالُهُ إلَى صَاحِبِهِ، وَيَجُوزُ أَنْ يَسْتَفِيدَ مَالَ صَاحِبِهِ وَهُوَ حَرَامٌ بِالنَّصِّ، وَلَا كَذَلِكَ إذَا شُرِطَ مِنْ جَانِبٍ وَاحِدٍ لِأَنَّ الزِّيَادَةَ وَالنُّقْصَانَ لَا تُمْكِنُ فِيهِمَا بَلْ فِي أَحَدِهِمَا تُمْكِنُ الزِّيَادَةُ

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