Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Who wants to be a sinner. |
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| BroHanif |
| 07/26/01 at 04:10:47 |
A.W.W. Has the Muslim world gone mad. ? Legalised gambling ....dear oh dear Salaams ------------------------------------------------------------------- The Sheikh of Cairo's Al-Azhar University - the highest authority in Sunni Islam - has ruled that game shows offering big cash prizes are legitimate. The decision contradicts a earlier ruling by another religious authority, Egypt's Grand Mufti, that shows modelled on the British show Who Wants to be a Millionaire? were un-Islamic. These competitions address a series of useful cultural questions and their goal is to spread knowledge Sheikh of Al-Azhar In a statement, the Sheikh of Al-Azhar - the religious institution revered by Sunni Muslims throughout the world - said there was no objection to such shows since they spread general knowledge. The verdict will come as a relief to Egypt's television chiefs - and to the Saudi-owned broadcaster, Middle East Broadcasting Company (MBC), which makes the programme. The original ruling was a big setback to the Egyptian broadcasting authorities, who appealed to the Sheikh to intervene in the thorny issue. Their show, Who will Win the Million? - with its Lebanese (Christian) presenter George Kurdahi and prize of one million Saudi riyals (about $270,000) - is hugely popular with Arab viewers. 'Useful questions' The fatwa - a religious edict - provoked a fierce debate by ruling that game shows offering big cash prizes were a form of gambling, and therefore contrary to Islamic law. Winners can receive a million Saudi riyals ($270,000) In his fatwa, the Grand Mufti said such programmes were "forbidden by Islamic law" But a statement from the Al-Azhar committee said: "These competitions address a series of useful religious, historical, cultural and scientific questions and their goal is to spread knowledge among the public". Game shows boost the revenues not only of TV companies but of mobile phone operators, since many viewers take part in the show by calling in on their mobile phones. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_1457000/1457145.stm |
| Re: Who wants to be a sinner. |
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| BrKhalid |
| 07/26/01 at 04:40:15 |
| Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) [quote]The fatwa - a religious edict - provoked a fierce debate by ruling that game shows offering big cash prizes were a form of gambling, and therefore contrary to Islamic law. Winners can receive a million Saudi riyals ($270,000) In his fatwa, the Grand Mufti said such programmes were "forbidden by Islamic law" [/quote] You mean I can't post in my application to next year's Survivor? ;) May be we should have our own version of Madina Big Brother ;-) Of course we'd have to have a Madina Big Sister too! :-) |
| Re: Who wants to be a sinner. |
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| Haniff |
| 07/26/01 at 06:10:21 |
| Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh [quote]May be we should have our own version of Madina Big Brother Of course we'd have to have a Madina Big Sister too![/quote] With 2 million dollars as prizes, Khalid? I do not think Madina Board is rich enough to contribute this much of money :) Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh Haniff (with 2 f's) |
| Re: Who wants to be a sinner. |
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| jannah |
| 07/26/01 at 08:39:06 |
| but at least our show 'who wants to be a mu'min' is ok.. phew ;) |
| Who is the weakest link? |
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| bhaloo |
| 07/26/01 at 14:29:00 |
| slm Why was this show considered gambling? There is no money that the individual puts up and based on her/his skill can earn more money. |
| Re: Who wants to be a sinner. |
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| Ayla_A |
| 07/26/01 at 17:44:02 |
| [slm] Plus the people are not paying to be on the show....hmmmm strange indeed.... [wlm] Ayla |
| Re: Who wants to be a sinner. |
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| BrKhalid |
| 07/27/01 at 05:05:43 |
| Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) [quote] Why was this show considered gambling? There is no money that the individual puts up and based on her/his skill can earn more money [/quote] Egypt issues 'Millionaire' fatwa Egypt's highest religious authority has condemned the local equivalent of the popular British game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' The Supreme Mufti's office in Cairo has issued a fatwa, or religious edict, calling the game show sinful and a form of gambling. The fatwa quotes from a verse in the Holy Koran which calls on all Muslims to avoid gambling as an abomination and Satan's handiwork. The show - known in Egypt as Who will Win a Million? - is one of several phone-in programmes now running on prime time Egyptian Television. Sinful gambling A trailer shows the presenter standing in front of the pyramids at Giza while men carry suitcases of money around in the background. Dial up a number, answer the right questions and you could be one of the lucky contestants and win a million Egyptian pounds. That translates into about $250,000, but for the religious authorities the figures are irrelevant. [color=Blue]As far as they are concerned, it's all sinful gambling because competitors have to spend money on phone calls without knowing if they will win or not. [/color] Gambling is forbidden in Islam, and although Cairo's smarter hotels have their own casinos only non-Egyptians can use them. [url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_1418000/1418258.stm[/url] |
| Re: Who wants to be a sinner. |
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| bhaloo |
| 07/27/01 at 07:50:15 |
| slm Ahhhh, thanks for the clarification, makes sense now (the phone calls that they pay for). |
| Re: Who wants to be a sinner. |
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| kiwi25 |
| 07/27/01 at 12:08:23 |
| salam, subhannalah i never knew that, i was once, Only once an addict of that show, but thanks for clearing things up :) wasalam nouha:) |
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| bhaloo |
| 07/27/01 at 13:56:29 |
| slm As far as I know, out here in the states they don't charge for the phone calls. |
| Re: Who wants to be a sinner. |
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| Arsalan |
| 07/28/01 at 19:28:32 |
| [slm] I still don't see what's wrong with the fatwa of the shaikh from al-Azhar. Let me get this straight. If they held a Qur'an memorization (or recitation) contest up in Chicago, and I go there to participate in it. At the end they award prizes to the winners. Is this gambling? Afterall, I would have to pay for the airline ticket. Or let's say the MSA-texas organizes a basketball tournament in Houston, and charges a $5 fee per person to participate. If we form a team from here and travel down and play hard and win, and get the prizes (t-shirts, trophies, books, cash, whatever), is that also considered gambling? We paid for the registration, the gas, the rental cars perhaps, etc. What do you think? What am I missing here? |
| Re: Who wants to be a sinner. |
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| bhaloo |
| 07/28/01 at 20:52:58 |
| slm Alhumdullilah that's a good point Arsalan about the basketball tournament. Like you mentioned teams pay an entrance fee, like $5, and then the winning team gets a trophy and maybe some cash prize or lunch. I don't know what the ruling is on that. I see your point that if it is not considered gambling, then the phone thing/who wants to be a millionaire might fall in the same category. That would be something interesting to learn what the ruling is. |
| Re: Who wants to be a sinner. |
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| abc |
| 07/29/01 at 04:40:36 |
| Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah I have never seen this program Alhumdulillah but I've had a few glimpses of the indian version. Whether permissible or not, I think muslims should stay away from such things, coz these kind of programs feed on a basic human trait: greed They're not there to spread knowledge (the kind of questions i heard on KBC could be answered by a 5th grader) or provide entertainment, its just a money making machine. Wassalam |
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| eleanor |
| 07/29/01 at 13:18:15 |
| slm I never viewed this show as "gambling". I think what Arsalan had to say was very valid. Just because you try to enter the show doesn't mean you have gambled. And if you manage to answer the fifteen questions then it's a prize when you win the money. Gambling is when you ,ahem, gamble some money or property in the hope of increasing your wealth. If you win, you get loads and if you lose then you lose something of your own too. In this case all you lose is the train fare and the cost of a phone call. I would however have doubts about the halalness of the money in that it hasn't been earned. By work. If you know what I mean. I always thought money was only halal if it was earned through your job. And I know here in Germany only two people have won the million so far. The questions are *really* hard. wasalaam eleanor |
| Re: Who wants to be a sinner. |
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| BrKhalid |
| 07/29/01 at 18:17:45 |
| Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) This is one opinion from Islam Q&A [hr] Question What is your opinion on holding soccer tournaments where each team pays a sum of money as a subscription, and this money is spent on buying prizes which will be given to the winners and referees? Answer Praise be to Allaah. [color=Blue]What we think is that there are some reservations about giving prizes for games. These games are permissible so long as there is nothing haraam involved in them, such as uncovering ‘awraat, distracting people from their salaah, or players swearing at one another, all of which is haraam. If there is nothing haraam involved, then they are permissible and there is nothing wrong with them. But this taking contributions from all participants and giving it to the winner is not permissible, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “There should not be any prizes except for archery, camel-racing or horse-racing.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, no 2574; al-Tirmidhi, no. 1700; al-Nisaa’i, no 3586, 3587; Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 7498). An exception is made for these three activities because they help in jihaad for the sake of Allaah. Taking prizes in any other kind of contest is haraam, but some scholars such as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said that there is nothing wrong with betting in matters of shar’i knowledge, because shar’i knowledge is a kind of jihaad for the sake of Allaah. Jihaad for the sake of Allaah includes jihaad with weapons and jihaad with knowledge. But we think that what is mentioned in the question is not permissible. And Allaah knows best.[/color] [url]http://65.193.50.117/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=1749&dgn=2[/url] |
| Re: Who wants to be a sinner. |
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| Kathy |
| 07/29/01 at 20:46:56 |
| slm Would getting a green belt in Karate be a prize. You have to pay to test, whether you pass or fail. So if a kid competes in baseball, football,or tennis he is not allowed to accept a trophy? Do the contestents or ABC on wwtbam pay for the phone call? "As far as they are concerned, it's all sinful gambling because competitors have to spend money on phone calls without knowing if they will win or not." Stocks? Also WWTBAM has had Islamic questions on it! |
| Re: Who wants to be a sinner. |
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| BrKhalid |
| 07/30/01 at 05:30:59 |
| Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) Some more opinions from Ask The Imam [hr] I want to enter a competition, but you have to pay postage to post the entry form. Is this permissible? [color=Blue]If there is no entry fee, then the competition will not be regarded as gambling. and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best[/color] Is it permissible to join a basketball competition where you pay fees to play and if you win, you get a trophy or money? [color=Blue]Kindly clarify the following: Is the fees for administration or will it be part of the prize in any way. PS. The above clarification can be considered only if there is nothing un-Islamic in the competition. For example, nudity, music, intermingling of sexes, etc. and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best [/color] [url]http://islam.tc/ask-imam/view.php?q=666[/url] [url]http://islam.tc/ask-imam/view.php?q=3366[/url] |
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