Fatwaa ID: 1714

Question:
Santa clarita, CA

As salam u alaikum

Can you please help me understand if the following scenarios are permissible or akin to gambling?

1) raffles with entry fee where the money is pooled as a prize for raffle winner?

2) raffle ticket received as a bonus I attending a banquet or fundraiser

3) raffle ticket purchased with proceeds given to charity, not sure how the organization purchases the prize (or in a 50/50 raffle, half of all proceeds go to charities and half go to raffle winner)

4) organization encourages donations and uses list of donors in raffle to select a winner to receive a prize such as a hajj or umrah trip

5) many local masjids have fair or eid festival and incorporate raffle into the event

6) paying a fee to enter a tournament (i.e. basketball or something) where there is a prize for winners in 1st and possibly 2nd/3rd place.

7) I understand sports betting prohibited, but are fantasy leagues the same? Is it allowed if there is no money involved, just bragging rights between friends?

Some sports betting companies lure folks in by “giving” free bets/credit

Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

1. A raffle with an entry fee is impermissible as this is a form of gambling. Each participant pays to enter in hope of winning the prize. He may or may not win. That is haraam.
2. This is permissible as the raffle ticket is voluntarily given to him and it is not paid for by the participant.
3. Purchasing a raffle ticket is always a form of gambling, irrespective of where the proceeds are going and how the prize is purchased. A person buys the ticket with a possibility of winning or losing.
4. This is permissible as the donations are voluntary and so is the incentive. One is not contingent to the other.
5. If it is paid, then that is haraam. If it is not paid but rather free, then that is permissible. Just because a masjid is hosting or doing something, it does not make it permissible by default. Unfortunately, most masjids are managed by unfit individuals who are ignorant in regards to the laws of the Shari’ah. The imaam generally has no say in such matters.
6. If the prize is from the entrance fee, then that will not be permissible. If the prize is from someone or somewhere else, then that is permissible.
7. Fantasy leagues are impermissible. Bragging rights are also contrary to Islamic values. See the following fatwaa: https://askimam.org/public/question_detail/43063.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/

02/15/1445 AH – 09/01/2023 CE | AMG1-3404

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

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