Buying and selling lottery cards and coupons

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

   What do the noble scholars say about this matter:

   1. Some shopkeepers sell a specific type of lottery card whose details are as follows.  Each card comprises of many coupons. The customer pays 5 rupees to scratch the card.  On some occasions, a specific amount of additional money is won which the shopkeeper pays, and sometimes the coupon is empty and the shopkeeper retains the customer’s money. When all the coupons on one card have been sold, the shopkeeper makes approximately 150 rupees profit. Those customers whose coupons turned out empty lose their money. Is it permitted to buy and sell such lottery cards and coupons?

   2. If selling such lottery cards and coupons is not permissible, what is the legal ruling for the shopkeepers who sold them and the customers who purchased them?

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

   1.The scenario of lottery asked about is impermissible (haram) according to Islamic law because it is a form of gambling.

   The detailed explanation of this is that in this scenario, either the 5 rupees of the one who scratched the coupon will be lost or he will win additional money from the shopkeeper. In this way, either the shopkeeper will gain the customer’s 5 rupees or he will have to pay out additional money from himself.  This is gambling, which the Quran and Sunnah unequivocally proscribe.

   2.It is necessary for the shopkeepers who sold such lottery cards and coupons and the customers who bought them that they sincerely repent. Whichever customers’ coupons turned out empty and the shopkeeper kept their money, he must return it to them, and if they are no longer alive, he must pay their living heirs. If he cannot identify them or their heirs, he should give it in charity on their behalf.  Those customers who were paid out by the shopkeeper should return their winnings to him.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم