All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

 

Thank you for taking care of the voluntary societies in Jordan, which support the poor and the centers for the disabled.

 

The so-called "Charity Lottery" is forbidden because it rests on gambling, which Allah Has Forbidden in the Noble Quran where He Said (What means): "ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan’s handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper." {Al-Mai`dah, 90}. Lottery is part of gambling and spending its proceeds on charities and the poor doesn`t make it lawful since the end doesn`t justify the means. Moreover, the person buys the lottery ticket with the intention of winning the prize, but the fact that he/she may win or lose makes this an act of gambling, which is forbidden.

There is a lawful alternative for the "Charity Lottery" and agrees with the objective of the General Union of Voluntary Societies of Jordan and entitles a person to receiving a reward from Allah. This alternative rests on circulating tickets in the market with the value of one JD for each to be bought by the people as an act of donation seeking the pleasure of Allah and no worldly profit. They can be an alternative for lottery tickets, and Jordanians are inclined to do good deeds and help the poor and needy. Allah the Almighty Says (what means): "Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancour: fear Allah. for Allah is strict in punishment. {Al-Mai`dah, 2}. Moreover, Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “If anyone relieves a Muslim believer from one of the hardships of this worldly life, Allah will relieve him of one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection. If anyone makes it easy for the one who is indebted to him (while finding it difficult to repay), Allah will make it easy for him in this worldly life and in the Hereafter, and if anyone conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah Helps His slave as long as he helps his brother.” {Related by Muslim}. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.