The Fine Line Between Education and Gambling: Understanding the Islamic Perspective

Is Offering a Prize for a Course Considered Gambling? A Closer Look

Question: I read one of your writings summarizing that participating in a prize online quiz competition by paying a fee is considered gambling. When this is mentioned to those conducting educational courses, they respond by saying that the prize is not dependent on the fee, but the prize is predetermined. How is this considered gambling then? Also, when hardworking individuals or educators charge a fee, and a reward is given to those who achieve good marks as encouragement, how is this considered gambling?

Answer: There is no harm in charging a fee for conducting a course. However, the real issue here is using a prize to lure people. Worldwide, religious institutions, madrasas, centers, schools, and colleges operate, and most of them conduct courses for a fee and provide education. But you would not see any institution offering a reward as a lure along with the fee. So why has this trend of offering prizes along with fees for even minor courses started?

The reason is that people with little knowledge are trying to make as much money as possible by offering insignificant courses and using the lure of a prize, which is a form of gambling. A sincere educator can charge a fee for their efforts, but they will not lure people by offering a prize. Without the prize, people would not pay attention to these minor courses offered by less knowledgeable individuals, which is why they offer a reward, and in reality, this is akin to gambling and lottery.

A legitimate way of offering a prize is when someone sincerely provides religious education or conducts an educational course and charges a fee without announcing a reward. After the course, if they wish to give a prize to a hardworking student or someone who scores well, they may do so without any harm. To understand this by analogy: if someone lends money to another, and at the time of lending, they say that more money must be returned or more must be given back, this is considered interest. However, if no such condition was agreed upon at the time of lending, and the borrower willingly gives more at the time of repayment, there is no harm in it.

Respondent: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi Hafizahullah 

Jeddah Dawah Center, Saudi Arabia  

Interpreter: Hasan Fuzail