Gambling in Recent Times: In Islamic perspective.
In pre-Islamic Arab, People of Jahiliyah(Ignorance) used to play a lot of gambling. The most famous form of it was that ten people participated equally in a camel and then arrows were thrown and this is a kind of drawing of lots. then seven persons would take different portions which were known to them and the remaining three persons would get nothing. Many forms of gambling are prevalent in our time, some are as follows:
The type is what is called Bansib(Lucky) and it has many forms, the most famous of which is that some Numbers are bought for money and drawn in a lottery, the first place gets a prize and the second place gets a prize. The comer is also rewarded thus different rewards are given sequentially. So it is Haram(Forbidden) in Islam even if it has been named as reward scheme etc.
When a person buys something, some unknown thing comes out of it (pin, coupon etc.) or the buyer is given a number on which a lottery is drawn and various prizes are given. (These are reward schemes of Cold drink suppliers like Pepsi, reward schemes of cigarette suppliers etc). All of these are form of gambling and are definitely forbidden and there is no doubt about their sanctity.
One of the worst forms of gambling in our times is the Insurance of Life, Carriage, Goods, Trade and Factories, etc. Even some people have insured their voice. Whatever be it, Insurance of any type is a Gambling and Haram(Forbidden).
Remember! Every act in which different people participate by investing the same amount, but later some get it, some don’t get it, or some get less and some get more, is gambling and Haram(Forbidden). For example Suppose that I bought a bottle for Rs-8 and You also bought the same bottle for Rs-8 but I got a prize and you did not get the same prize . This is definitely gambling and it is forbidden. This is what happening in recent times with cashback schemes. For every purchase you get something indefinite in cashback.
In present times, there are dedicated shops, halls and games zones for gambling like Snooker clubs, Cricket matches, Football matches, Cards and Flippers etc. Also the Bidding committees, prized bonds war puzzle, corporate prize schemes, children’s lotteries at grocery stores, betting and knife twisting etc. are all forms of gambling and are prohibited.
Yes ! There are three types of competitive advantage or Gamesmanship, that has a purpose in Shariah. For example, Archery and Horse riding competition etc. It is permissible to include the incentive of a reward in this kind of competitions. Competition of memorizing the Holy Qur’an and Shariah sciences are also included in it.
Competing in activities that are Mubah ( neither permitted nor prohibited by Sharia) like Racing and patrolling etc are permissible when there is no nudity in it and no loss of prayer etc.
The competition and contests of those activities that are forbidden per se like beauty contests, slapstick contests, bird or animal fighting( chicken, ram etc). These types of contests be it with or without a prize, both cases are forbidden and impermissible.
