Soccer tournaments with a prize for the winning team
Question
An organization has arranged a soccer tournament where each player is required to pay a certain amount of money to participate. The winning team will win a prize. Is it permissible to participate in such a game? Does this fall in the category of gambling? Can we assist such organizations with our charity funds?
Answer
1. It is not permissible for Muslims to participate in Kuffar sports. This is a futile activity that yields no benefit whatsoever, neither in the world, nor in the hereafter. Each player will be wasting and squandering his valuable money, whilst millions are starving in our very own country. We should use the very same funds to buy bread and milk for the innumerable poor people that are without food, and who eat of the garbage bags on the street.
2. Yes, this is actual gambling which is Haraam.
3. It is not permissible to assist in acts of sin and transgression as mentioned in Verse two of Surah Maa’idah. We should contribute our funds directly to the poor. By doing so, we will be satisfied that our charity has been discharged correctly. By handing our funds over to organizations, we cannot be certain that our funds have reached the correct recipients, as a great deal of funds are used for administration purposes or projects that are not even permitted in the Shariah.
- Answered by
- Mufti Mohammed Desai
Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.
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Source: Darul Ifta Ibn Masood — https://fataawa.co.za/soccer-tournaments-with-a-prize-for-the-winning-team/
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/ibnmasood-21338
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