My friends at Mahlah School play

Fatwa no. 2900 The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' reviewed the question submitted to His Excellency the president. Following is the wording of the questioner: Please, advise me regarding my question, may Allah guide us to the truth, Excellent is He as a protector, and Excellent is He as a Guider. I participated in the competition announced in the attached paper and (Part No. 15; Page No. 175) won its prize which was a car. I sold this car and kept its price until I ask the Muftys (Islamic scholars qualified to issue legal opinions) in Egypt regarding this matter. However, the Muftys held different views regarding the prize. Some Muftys maintain that the prize is Halal (lawful) as it is a gift while others view that this competition is forbidden and therefore the prize is forbidden and consider the competition a sort of gambling. We have submitted our question to Your Eminence, hoping that Allah will guide you to issue a Fatwa (legal opinion issued by a qualified Muslim scholar) supported by evidence from the Qur'an, the Sunnah of the Messenger, and Shari`ah rulings.

After viewing the attached paper of the competition entitled, "Shave and win", the Committee replied: This competition is a kind of gambling that Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) forbade the believers to participate in by saying, O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and gambling, and Al-Ansâb, and Al-Azlâm (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitan’s (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful. The prize is considered unlawful because of the risk it entails, and wronging others as the people will abandon similar goods for the sake of the commodities which include prizes. It is not permissible for you to participate in such competitions or receive its prizes. However, as long as you have participated (Part No. 15; Page No. 176) in this competition and received the prize without being aware of the ruling, you do not have to return the prize to the company. You can give the price of the car in Sadaqah (voluntary charity), or any of the charitable acts and do not participate again in such competitions. May Allah pardon what you have done. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.