Date : 19-05-2009

Question :

What is the ruling of Sharia on the contest conducted by commercial companies, shops, and marketplaces where they announce that whoever buys goods for a total of ten JDs and more receives a coupon for prize draw, which is (200) Omrah trips to Makkah? It is worth pointing out the following: 1- The customer isn`t required to pay any amount to enter the draw. 2- The price of the goods purchased by the customer is the regular market price or less. 3- There is no other condition than purchasing goods for a total of ten JDs and more where the customer receives a coupon for each ten JDs purchase.

The Answer :

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


 


These prizes are gifts offered by commercial companies, shops and marketplaces, by means of a draw, as incentive for their customers and without burdening them with any additional amount of money. This doesn`t resemble gambling nor has anything to do with it, so it is permissible according to Sharia Law. Upon discussing the conditions for permissible prizes, Resolution No.(47) (pp.99) of the Jordanian Iftaa` Board stated: "The price of the draw coupon  shouldn`t exceed the original price of the purchased goods to make sure that no additional amount is paid against entering the draw."


 


Moreover, Resolution No.(127)(14/1) issued by the International Islamic Fiqh Academy of the Islamic Conference Organization stated: "It is permissible for the companies or shops offering  the prizes to benefit only from promoting their commodities- without any additional financial benefit-through lawful contests. However, this is provided that the value of the prizes or part of it isn`t paid by the contesters and that the promotion involves no cheating or deception for the customers." And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.