Q.1. It is well known that Islam forbids gambling, lottery, raffle draws, and similar ways of gaining instant income. What is the Islamic view on the large variety of prizes, such as scratch and win, offered by different promoters?
Q.2. Is it appropriate for a person engaged in his prayer to raise his hand to stop someone who inadvertently tries to cross in front of him?
Q.3. Is it acceptable for a fasting person to undergo a blood test?
Q.4. Can a Muslim man marry a non-Muslim who has not yet converted to Islam? Can she continue to use her maiden name after her marriage to him?
Q.5. What sort of reward a person who offers the pilgrimage many times expects, as compared to one who offers it once only?
M.A.J. Samath, Alkhobar
A.1. The reason for prohibiting gambling, lottery and similar methods is that they involve taking away someone else’s money without earning it. In most of these methods, an amount of money is raised by those who participate in a game or a draw, and the prize is thus contributed by them all. Then the winner takes the prize without any particular effort on his part. Take the case of horseracing. People bet on which horse will win, and the winner gets the prize for nothing more than guessing the winner. In lottery, millions of pounds or dollars are paid to the one whose card matches the result of a draw done by a machine or a person. All such methods generate ill feelings between the participants. Hence the prohibition.
The speed by which a person gets his income is immaterial, provided that the method followed is legitimate. A businessman may buy a large quantity of a certain commodity today and it is shipped to him from abroad. By the time he receives it, the price of that commodity has risen sharply and there is much demand for it. He sells the entire shipment within a week or a few days, making large profits. This is perfectly legitimate, because there is no cheating, deception or exploitation involved.
When prizes are offered freely, without contributions from the participants or the public, these are normally symbolic. They may be given to promote a certain commodity or to publicize a particular business. Since they are offered by a promoter who asks nothing in return, they are acceptable.
Having said that, I should perhaps add a word of warning. Such prizes should never be taken very seriously. The chances of winning anything through them are negligible. Most people realize this. If they are taken in a casual way, they are harmless.
On the other hand, some of these prize draws are only used as a means to attract prospective customers. The method of attracting them could differ, but it always relies on lowering before them the prospect of winning a large prize, when this is by no means easy. Hence, they involve an element of deception, for which the promoter is answerable.
A.2. When a person prays, he is recommended to place a mark in front of him, just beyond the point where he prostrates himself. When such an object marking his place of prayer is clear, people must not cross in between the worshipper and the object marking his space. If anyone tries to cross, the worshipper should stop him with an indication by his hand. He should raise his hand and prevent that person from crossing.
A.3. A blood test and donating blood have no effect on fasting. A fasting person may undertake either without any harm. Similarly, taking any medication by injection, whether inter-muscular or intravenous, is perfectly acceptable. It has no negative effect on fasting. What is forbidden during the hours of fasting are eating, drinking and sex. A blood test or an injection has no semblance to any of these.
A.4. A Muslim man may marry a Christian or a Jewish woman, and she may retain her religion. Indeed, her Muslim husband must not try to force her to convert to Islam. Such conversion should come only as a result of personal conviction. He may explain Islam to her and tell her that Islam is the final version of God’s message to mankind, but he must not subject her to any pressure in order to change her religion.
Under Islam, a woman does not adopt her husband’s surname when she gets married. She retains her own family name. This applies to all women. As such, when a Christian or a Jewish woman marries a Muslim man, she retains her own family name, or maiden name. Nor is she called upon to change her name or surname if she adopts Islam. When the Prophet’s companions adopted Islam, they retained their names. The Prophet did not change their names, except for a few cases where the name has negative associations, or is indicative of a belief contrary to Islam, or claims some unjustified distinction.
A.5. The pilgrimage is a great duty that applies to all Muslims, provided that they are able to undertake it. The condition of ability applies to all people, and it includes both physical and financial ability, in addition to compliance with the applicable rules and regulations. Like all worship duties, it has an obligatory part which is one pilgrimage in one’s lifetime, and a voluntary aspect which has no minimum or maximum number. Thus, a person may offer the pilgrimage every year if he so wishes. However, with the great congestion that we see every year, it is advisable that a person should not offer the pilgrimage very frequently.
A pilgrimage offered with due care, making clear efforts to avoid all sins and to avoid quarrelling with anyone is rewarded with forgiveness of all past sins. If one has not committed many sins, then his reward adds to his good deeds and ensures for him a better position in heaven.
Investment Without Interest
Q. On the recommendation of my bank manager I invested my savings in the Saudi Equity Fund, which he classified as high risk but involves no payment of interest. When the returns of my investment were paid, I was once again assured by the bank manager that no interest is involved. I am seeking reassurance from you that it is permissible to take such returns.
M. Marrof
A. Once you have been assured by your bank manager that the method of investment you are taking does not involve interest payment, you need go no further. This is sufficient reassurance. If the bank manager is less than open with you, or if he hides certain facts from you, he will have to account to God Almighty for this, while you will remain blameless. In such matters, it is perfectly acceptable that one should base his actions on the integrity of others, unless he has evidence to suggest that they are not reliable. In your case, the second question you put to the bank manager was unnecessary.
When you ask me for further reassurance, I am relying on the bank manager’s statement and I unhesitatingly say that your investment is perfectly acceptable and the returns you receive from it are legitimate earnings. The only thing I would say against such type of investment is the fact that it is high risk. It is better and wiser to invest in a medium or low risk funds.