In brief
Maysir is gambling: everyone stakes something, and one wins what the others lose, with no real exchange. The Qur’an forbids it together with wine and stone altars (al-Ma’idah 5:90-91). Lotteries, bets and games with a stake fall under it; the risk of a real business activity, by contrast, is permitted.
What the Qur’an says
Surah al-Baqarah (2:219) says of wine and maysir that there is great sin in them and some benefit, and that the sin is greater. Surah al-Ma’idah (5:90-91) declares them a defilement, the work of Satan, to be avoided, and says that through them Satan wants to sow enmity and hatred and to turn people away from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer.
Maysir and business risk
In maysir, wealth passes from one player to another by chance, with no goods or services exchanged: one person’s gain is exactly the other’s loss. A trader, by contrast, takes a risk by producing or selling something useful; his gain rewards that risk and that work. This is why Islamic finance forbids gambling but requires risk to be shared.
Modern forms
- Lotteries, sports betting, gambling: Diyanet points out that all games in which one wins what the other loses are forbidden gambling, even when the proceeds fund good causes (decision 2020/33).
- Paid competition entries by coupon or text message: when the entry fees fund the prizes, it is a form of maysir; betting on someone else’s result is forbidden (International Islamic Fiqh Academy, resolution 127 (1/14), 2003).
- Prize bonds (such as British Premium Bonds): the Academy prohibits them, as loans carrying a benefit and because they resemble gambling (resolution 60 (11/6)): see Premium Bonds and lotteries.
- Selling stock market indices: the Academy describes it as “pure gambling” (resolution 63 (1/7)). Options and contracts settled without delivery are also prohibited: see options and trading.
Permitted competitions
A competition with prizes remains permitted if the prize does not come from the participants as a whole, if its purpose and means are lawful, and if it does not cause anyone to neglect an obligation (resolution 127 (1/14)). A trader may offer gifts to promote his products, provided he does not charge for taking part.
The verses
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْخَمْرُ وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ وَٱلْأَنصَابُ وَٱلْأَزْلَٰمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ٩٠ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْعَدَٰوَةَ وَٱلْبَغْضَآءَ فِى ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَعَنِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّنتَهُونَ ٩١
90 O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allāh], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.
91 Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allāh and from prayer. So will you not desist?
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ ٱلْعَفْوَ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ ٢١٩
They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they should spend. Say, "The excess [beyond needs]." Thus Allāh makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought
Frequently asked questions
Is day trading maysir?
Actually buying and selling compliant shares is not gambling in itself. Scholars do, however, criticise speculation with no intention of investing, and the International Islamic Fiqh Academy prohibits the instruments that are its pure form: options, contracts without delivery, selling indices. See day trading.
What should I do with lottery winnings I have already received?
Diyanet asks the person to repent and to give the winnings to the poor without expecting any reward (decision 2020/33).