Is it permissible to sell points from games played over the internet and participate in games of chance by paying a fee?

The Answer

Dear Brother / Sister,

Islam has made halal all kinds of sports, games and entertainment that do not involve haram. However, it prohibits them from being used as gambling tools. The following is stated in the Holy Quran:

“O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination, - of Satan’s handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper. Satan’s plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: will ye not then abstain?” (al-Maida, 5/90-91)

The following is stated in another verse:

“That man can have nothing but what he strives for.” (an-Najm, 53/39)

Thus, it is emphasized that a Muslim’s earnings should not depend on luck and coincidence, but should be the product of his effort and sweat of his brow.

In this respect, any bet that benefits one of the parties falls within the scope of gambling prohibited by the Holy Quran.

In our religion, money obtained from all kinds of games of chance such as lottery, football tools and lotto is haram. As for prize competition programs broadcast through mass media such as radio and television and games played over the internet, whether the prize won from them is haram or halal depends on whether it contains luck or not, whether it encourages people to laziness, dreams and luxury and whether it is necessary to buy tickets, pay landline phone fee, etc. for the participation in the competition.

Accordingly, it is not permissible to participate in competitions that contains luck, encourage people to laziness, dreams and luxury, and that require financial obligations by making people buy tickets, pay landline phone fee or pay for the game, etc., for the participation in the competition; and the prizes won from such a competition are not halal.

The decree about a person’s participating in such a game, selling the game in question to another player for money and using that money is the same. Such earnings must be disposed of by being given to the poor or charities, without any thawab expectation.

Questions on Islam

Was this answer helpful?
Author:
Questions on Islam
Subject Categories:
Read 17 times
In order to make a comment, please login or register