Taking part in gambling is not just a major sin, but it also leads to other evils such as lust and avarice. It also pushes people away from prayer and the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala.
Gambling is an addictive activity, where the loser becomes obsessed with trying to recoup his losses, and the winner becomes obsessed with accumulating more. This is why Islam has made gambling haram.
It is a form of gambling
Gambling is any form of bet that involves putting something at risk in order to win something else of value. It can be a game of cards, casino games, raffle tickets, sports betting or even personal bets. This can be a minor or major risk and it is considered a sin according to Islam. Many Muslims become involved in this activity carelessly or unknowingly and they end up committing this sin.
The Quran clearly explains that gambling is forbidden. It says: “Satan intends to excite enmity and hatred among you through intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and prayer; but he cannot do so except with those who are unjust.” (Quran 5:91). It also states that it is haram to purchase lottery tickets if the money is not refundable. Also, if you buy a ticket in the name of charity and only a few people win the prize, it is considered a form of gambling and a sin.
Another form of gambling is buying or selling goods at a fixed price with the hope of receiving more than you paid for them in the future. This is called riba and it is also prohibited in Islam. It can be a serious sin and may result in a loss of your faith. It also discourages honest labour and promotes greed, materialism and a desire to be rich quickly. It can also lead to poverty and deprivation and create a vicious cycle of poverty and wealth. Moreover, it can affect the health and morals of people, cause stress and depression and even lead to insanity and suicide. It is a serious sin that should be avoided at all costs. It is better to work hard and earn your own money rather than spend it on things that are forbidden in Islam. This will make you feel much happier and it will save you from a lot of trouble in the future.
It is a form of entertainment
Gambling involves transferring something of value for the chance to gain a greater amount of money. It can include games such as poker, sports betting, and raffle tickets. It is haram for Muslims to participate in these activities and to be involved in gambling businesses. Those who do so are engaging in a sinful activity that brings a lot of harm to society. It is important to know that gambling can cause many financial and psychological complexities for the players and the people around them.
Moreover, a person who engages in gambling is dependant on luck and empty wishes which can easily lead to addiction. This leads to an unhealthy lifestyle that affects the entire family. It also causes the individual to neglect his duties towards Allah. For example, he may postpone his prayers or even abandon them altogether. This shows that he does not have the ability to control his baser passions, such as lust and avarice.
Another reason why gambling is haram is that it takes the individual away from honest labour and serious work. It becomes a form of entertainment that is more appealing to the heart than hard work or productive effort. This causes the Muslim to lose respect for the laws of caution that Allah has established for him and he becomes a slave to his own desires. In addition, it leads to a great deal of financial loss for the gambler and often results in losing his living and even his family.
Furthermore, a gambler sees his opponent as a real-life enemy whom he needs to defeat and this can cause feelings of hatred and enmity. This is what Satan wants as he aims to cast enmity and hatred in the hearts of his followers. The Quran teaches us that wine, gambling and idol worship are satanic works and involving oneself with them will deprive a person of success in this world and in the Hereafter.
