What is the ruling on an online competition whose entry card is purchased for $25, which depends on answering 30 questions, and in which the prize is awarded based on the number of correct answers without a draw or lottery, with the prize calculated for every 10 questions as a "stage"?

The aforementioned competition is a form of prohibited gambling (maysir), as gambling is defined as any activity in which a participant is either a gainer or a loser, and this is true of this competition. Another reason for its prohibition is the Hadith of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "There is no prize money except for arrows, or hoofs, or camels" (meaning in races with horses or camels), which are activities that aid in jihad and the propagation of the religion. Some scholars have analogized to these, competitions in Quran, Hadith, and Fiqh. Therefore, it is not permissible to pay subscription fees in a competition to win a prize except in what has been explicitly stated by the Sharia.