Carnival Games

September 4, 2010

898

Question
We are trying to arrange a Carnival with different games to collect funds to build a new masjid, Inshallah. Is it Islamically permissable to have:

1. a raffle for prizes?
2. play ‘bingo’?
3. play ‘wheel of fortune’?

Answered by: Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf

Assalaamu alaykum

In the name of Allah. the Inspirer of truth.

Any game that involves paying something upfront to buy a ticket and then only one person wins is not permissible. It seems like the activities you have mentioned fall into this category.

Besides the fact that these games should not be promoted, the children taking part do not take them to be lawful elsewhere either.

On the other hand, if there is an entrance fee to such an event and each person is given a ticket, then there is a lucky number drawn out at the end and the person with the winning number is handed a prize, this can not be considered completely unlawful, since they are paying to take part in the program. However, the intention of the individual will play a big part here.

There are many other ways to do raise funds. You could have various items that for sale at increased prices. For instance, there were some people selling cookie tins worth a dollar for $5.00. People were buying them knowing that that the money is for the masjid.

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam
Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf

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Dr. Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf

Dr. Shaykh Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera is a British Muslim scholar educated in both the Islamic and Western traditions. He memorised the Qur’an by heart and graduated from the Darul Uloom seminary Bury, UK, and later earned a specialised licence to issue fatwa (legal responses) at Mazahir ‘Ulum Saharanpur, India. He earned his BA from the University of Johannesburg and completed his MA and PhD in Islamic Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He holds an honorary fellowship at The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Amman, Jordan. Shaykh Abdur-Rahman has the unique experience of serving as an imam in Muslim communities on both sides of the Atlantic, eight years in Southern California and over five in the great city of London—and his continued work as an international speaker and lecturer enables him to address and offer pertinent advice on current challenges that face Muslims in the West. He is the founder of Whitethread Institute, a post-graduate insititute for Islamic scholars. He is an avid traveller and continues to teach hadith and work on scholarly publications through White Thread Press (www.whitethreadpress.com). Many of his lectures are available on www.zamzamacademy.com and his courses through Rayyan Institute (www.rayyaninstitute.com).