Is it permissible to pray for winning the lottery (gambling) with the intention of distributing half of the money to the poor, and is the money acquired therefrom considered an abomination if the motive for resorting to it is necessity?

It is not permissible to supplicate for profit in a gambling competition, as it is a forbidden transgression, based on the Almighty's saying: "Call upon your Lord humbly and privately; He does not like transgressors." Transgression in supplication occurs by asking for what is impermissible, such as assistance in prohibited acts, or asking for what Allah does not do. Gambling money is forbidden and impure, and donating half of it does not justify supplicating for it, because Allah is good and accepts only what is good. One must resort to lawful means to alleviate necessity.