The ruling on Prizes that are given by Places of Business

All praise is due to Allâh and may prayers of peace and blessing be upon the Messenger of Allâh, his family and his Companions. To proceed: Indeed it has been noticed that some of the institutions and places of business have begun spreading advertisements in the newspapers and other places concerning the giving of prizes to whoever buys some of their displayed merchandise. This is from that which tempts some of the people into buying from this place instead of buying somewhere else or buying products that the person has no need for, in hopes that he will get one of these prizes. Since this is a type of forbidden gambling Islamically and it leads to devouring the wealth of the people in falsehood, and due to what it contains of temptation, and causing the promotion of the merchant's product and the depreciation in the sale of a similar product of others who do not practice this form of gambling as he does - for this reason I wanted to inform the Muslims that this act is forbidden and the prize that is won by this method is forbidden, as it is from the forbidden games of chance Islamically, which is gambling. Thus, it is obligatory upon the owners of the business to avoid this gambling and that they suffice themselves with what suffices the people. Indeed Allâh said:
"O you who believe! Do not devour your wealth among yourselves unjustly except that it be a trade among you, by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allâh is Most Merciful to you. And whoever commits that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into the Fire, and that is easy for Allâh."

This gambling is not from the business that is allowed by mutual consent. Rather, it is a game of chance that Allâh has forbidden due to what it contains of devouring the wealth of the people in falsehood and causing hatred and enmity among the people.

This is as Allâh said:
"O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, Al-Ansab (stone-altars for sacrificing animals to false deities, and idols) and Al-Azlam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaytan's (Satan's) handiwork.

So, avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful. Shaytan (Satan) only wants to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from As-Salah (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain?"

And Allâh is the One Who is asked to give all of the Muslims and us success in doing what contains His Pleasure and rectification of the affairs of His servants, and that He protect all of us from every action that opposes His Law. Verily, He is Most Generous and Most Noble. May Allâh send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Companions.

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