Competition Without Wagering, and the Mosque Debt Nobody May Pay With It

All forms of qimār are absolutely ḥarām; the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) does, however, allow competition without betting. Two horses may race against each other — who is going to win, who is going to make it to the other end — without this being gambling, because no money and no benefit is involved, and this kind of competition is in fact encouraged in the dīn. Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that there is no wagered competition except in racing horses, in riding camels, and in archery — because in that time, a person skilled in riding and racing would make a good soldier for jihād, and this training was needed. What makes a contest ḥarām is only the introduction of money.

Some people approach tazlato with what they consider a very pure intention: as soon as nine numbers come up, or twelve, they will pay off a mosque debt of a hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars in one go. Ḥalāl, they tell themselves, ḥalāl. But ḥarām cannot be turned into ḥalāl this way; whatever the intention behind it, it remains a form of chance of gain, qimār, and it is not permissible.