Bismillahir Rahmaanir
Raheem
LETTER
THIRTEEN
Winning the lottery?
Question
As-Salaamu ‘alaikum wa Rahmatullah
I am very tired of my
circumstances. My family is very poor and there is much difficulty. Sir, will
you please help me to win the lottery? I know it is Haraam but my situation is
a very desperate one. If you were in my situation, you would understand.
Reply
Bismihi
Ta’ala
Sister in Islam,
Wa-alaykumus Salaam wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatuhu
1.) We should understand that life in this world is a test – and that Allah
Ta’ala will test us in respect to various conditions such as fear, hunger, loss
in wealth and life, sickness, and so forth. However, Allah Ta’ala also gives
glad tidings to those who bear these difficulties with patience.
You should always keep in
mind that Allah Ta’ala does not burden a servant more than His servant can
bear: Allah Ta’ala mentions this as well: "On
no soul does Allah place a burden
greater than it can bear…" (2:286)
2.) Winning the lottery is no solution to a Muslim’s problems. Haraam will
only bring more problems and very severe Azaab (punishment) from Allah Ta’ala.
3.) Read the extract, on gambling, taken from one of my books, which I will
include at the end of the letter. Insha-Allah, this will give an understanding
of how grave the sin is.
4.) You and your family will have to check your lives and see if it is in
conformity with Deen. Are all the family members punctual with Salaah five
times a day? Is there abstinence from sins, such as music, television viewing,
etc?
If
not, you have to understand that problems must arise and they will increase,
unless we resort to sincere repentance (Taubah) and become obedient to Allah
Ta’ala and Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam). On obedience, Allah Ta’ala promises all kinds of blessings –
in health, wealth and life.
5.) Make sincere Taubah, turn to Allah Ta’ala, beg of Him – Insha-Allah,
conditions will become favourable.
6.) Are you in such dire and desperate circumstances where you do not have
food at home, shelter, cannot pay for water and electricity, etc? If so, you
should go to one of the Muslim welfare organizations in your area and ask for
financial assistance and the members of the family should make some effort to
obtain Halaal earnings. Home industry is a thriving business. The ladies in the
family can sew, cook, bake or make something and sell from home. But poverty is
no justification for the lottery.
7.) Allah Ta’ala mentions that after every difficulty there is ease. May
Allah Ta’ala open doors of Halaal Rizq (sustenance) and grant ease and aafiyah,
prosperity and plenty of happiness.
Was-Salaamu alaykum wa-Rahmatullahi
wa-Barakaatuhu
Yunus Patel (Maulana)
GAMBLING…[1]
…There are those
who, on reading of some person winning 6 million Rands in the lottery, desire
to also buy a lottery ticket. And this desire increases in intensity when
reflecting over so many digits in a winning. Once more, the command of Jihad is
declared against the nafs.
I always say that a
Muslim should consider every Haraam Rand, Dollar or Pound won in a lottery or
in gambling or coming in any Haraam way (interest, fraud, theft, insurance,
etc.) as one pig.
If we do not consider every Haraam Rand as a pig, then there
is a weakness in our Imaan. If a person wins 6 million or 13 million Rands,
Dollars or Pounds, we should consider that the person has won 6 million or 13
million pigs.
If a Muslim is told
that he has won 6 million pigs, which are accommodated on a very large farm,
then immediately that Muslim will say : ‘La haula wa la quwata illah
Billlah’[2] –
whereas, just as that pig is filth and Haraam, so too are the winnings of the
National Lotto or any other form of gambling.
May Allah Ta’ala
grant us the understanding.
