What is the ruling on earning money from a competition based on luck, and is it permissible for the winner to take it, knowing that the competition relies on predicting the winner's name?
The doctrine of the four Imams is the prohibition of prizes in competitions other than horse racing, camel racing, and archery, and what is similar in meaning that aids in jihad. Those who permitted it stipulated that the goals, means, and fields of the competition must be permissible, that the prize must come from a source other than all the contestants, that the competition serves a legitimate purpose, and that it does not lead to neglecting an obligation or committing a forbidden act. If the prize is offered by someone other than the contestants, it is closer to a permissible جعالة (reward for a service) in any permissible act. If the competition is permissible, participating in it is not deemed prohibited. However, it is preferable and more scrupulous to refrain from participating and profiting from it as long as it does not contribute to elevating the status of Muslims.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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