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Category: Fiqh

The Fiqh of Gambling, Betting and Competitions in Islam

The Fiqh of Gambling, Betting and Competitions in Islam

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Gambling is a major sin in Islam, however it is not always apparent whether certain games and competitions constitute gambling. This article will examine the Islamic perspective on gambling.

If we take a closer look at the word used for gambling in these verses, ٱلْمَيْسِرُ, it literally means ‘games of chance.’ This is akin to the English word ‘gamble’. In the hadith, when the Prophet ﷺ speaks of gambling, the word al-Qimaar used. AbdAllāh ibn Umar says: “al-Maysir is the al-Qimar.” The same has been narrated from Mujahid, Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib, Hasan al-Basri, Muhammad ibn Sirin, Ata’ ibn Abi Rabah and others (Tafsir Ibn Jarir, 2/358).

Ibn Abbas defined gambling as “The risk of losing on both sides (or putting something at stake from both sides) (mukhatarah) is gambling.” He also says in the commentary of verse 219 of Surah al-Baqarah: “al-Maysir is al-Qimar. In the days of ignorance (jahiliyyah), an individual would stake/risk his wife and wealth whilst gambling with another person. Then whosoever defeated his opponent would take away his (the defeated person’s) wife and wealth.” (See: Tafsir Ibn Jarir, 2/358).

Investments, Trading and Gambling

Investments, Trading and Gambling

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In the context of risks, trading and gambling are both regarded as speculative risks. In both trading and gambling, one can profit or lose. However, there are key differences which make gambling and trading inherently different. Some of the differences from a Shariah perspective are: 1) Gambling is considered to be the staking of wealth by two or more parties where the winner wins all and the loser loses all. In other words, gambling is winning at the expense of another’s loss. Whereas…

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Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC)

Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC)

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HMC was established to help ensure that all Muslims could be confident that the meat and products they consume are ‘genuinely Halal’. The HMC organisation is an independent, not for profit, registered charity which monitors, inspects and certifies Halal products for the benefit of the Muslim community.

This article highlights one of the biggest halal certification bodies in the UK.

Halal Food Authority (HFA)

Halal Food Authority (HFA)

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The Halal Food Authority (HFA) is an independent non-profit organisation involved in the supervision, inspection, audit, certification, and compliance of halal principles and practices in the UK food and beverages industry.

This article explores what principles the HFA follow.

Alcohol in Perfume and Deodorant

Alcohol in Perfume and Deodorant

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Alcohol is present in many deodorants and perfumes as a solvent or carrier. You can read the detailed post on the Fiqh of Ethanol. When it comes to perfume, each ingredient has scent molecules of their own particular weight, for example, citrus oils have light molecules that are quite volatile and fade quickly, but heavier base oils like sandalwood and amber are heavier and don’t disperse much. In other words, you’ll only really smell them very close to the skin….

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The Fiqh of Ethanol in Islam

The Fiqh of Ethanol in Islam

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Many of us have come across ethanol or ethyl-alcohol, or just alcohol in products. In this post, we will consider the Islamic Stance of these substances. We must first remind you that Alcohol is a very complex topic and still debated by scholars. We will present a number of views, however, our overarching view is the Hanafi position. If you want to skip the evidence and just want an answer, click here.

The rules and symbols of stopping in the Quran (Waqf)

The rules and symbols of stopping in the Quran (Waqf)

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The Quranic verses contain various punctuation, some necessary stops and pause signs and others optional. Waqf means to stop in Arabic.
The rules come from the Sunnah and they have been recorded as places where the Prophet stopped, or definitely stopped or sometimes paused. Part of the reason is to be able to reflect and comprehend the verse.

The Islamic Ruling of First Cousin Marriages

The Islamic Ruling of First Cousin Marriages

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My question relates to marrying first cousins. Although it’s permissible in Islam, I was wondering as regards to arguments against this as many people cite health issues and high rates of disabilities among children.

I’m struggling to get my head around a ruling in Islam that potentially puts people or children at risk. I am in no way saying the Islamic ruling is wrong as I would never oppose anything in Islam but rather I would like clarification so as to have a better understanding as non-Muslims often ask why we would have this ruling and always cite particular studies.

Is Squid halal?

Is Squid halal?

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Squid are not from the fish species. According to Britannica.com, “Mollusks are soft-bodied invertebrates of the phylum Mollusca, usually wholly or partly enclosed in a calcium carbonate shell secreted by a soft mantle covering the body.”

What parts of a Halal animal are impermissible to eat?

What parts of a Halal animal are impermissible to eat?

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According to the Hanafi School of Islamic law, seven things from a Halal and lawfully-slaughtered animal cannot be eaten. The first of these seven items has been emphatically forbidden by a decisive text of the Qur’an, hence it is unlawful (haram) to consume it; whereas consuming the other six items is considered prohibitively disliked (makruh tahrim), because there is no decisive text regarding their prohibition although their prohibitive dislike is proven through non decisive texts. (See: Bada’i al-Sana’i 5/61)

Halal and Haram List: Hanafi School

Halal and Haram List: Hanafi School

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Here we consider the basic principles of permissibility and impermissibility in the Hanafi School with regards to animal consumption, as mentioned in the classical books of Hanafi jurisprudence. (Culled from: al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, 5/289-291, Bada’i al-Sana’i, 5/35-39 and Radd al-Muhtar, 304-308)

Are Sharks and Whales Halal?

Are Sharks and Whales Halal?

We can also conclude that:

If a non-fish sea creature was considered as a fish by the early Arabs, then we will consider it as a fish, e.g. a Whale.

If a non-fish sea creature was unknown or never mentioned by the early Arab community then we will either use Analogy or we will use a modern biologically definition, i.e. we will say it is not a fish biologically therefore haram.

If the sea creature is a fish, regardless of size or predatory nature, it will be halal.

Is Octopus halal?

Is Octopus halal?

Octopuses are not from the fish species.

This includes Clams, Mussels, Oysters, Scallops, Octopus and Squid.

Considering Octopus is not a fish they will be considered haram under the Hanafi School.