🎲 The Prohibition of Gambling (Maisir & Qimār): Islamic Perspectives and Teachings
Comprehensive Definition
Gambling in Islam encompasses all forms of betting and wagering, generally referred to through the terms maisir (ميسر) and qimār (قمار). Maisir broadly denotes all types of gambling, while qimār usually references betting in the classical sense.
Etymology
- Maisir (ميسر): Literally translating to “easiness,” derived from the root word yasara (يسر), indicating obtaining something with ease.
- Qimār (قمار): Etymologically rooted in the verb qamara (قمر), suggesting risk and wager.
Background
The prohibition of gambling finds its basis in the Qur’an and Hadith (Prophetic traditions). The Qur’an explicitly mentions gambling along with intoxicants as actions that lead to social disorder and distance people from God’s remembrance.
Qur’anic Verses
- Sūrah Al-Baqarah (2:219): “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.’”
- Sūrah Al-Ma’idah (5:90-91): “O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist?”
Cultural Differences and Similarities
Gambling is perceived differently across various Islamic cultures. While it is strictly prohibited in most Islamic countries, occasional cultural variations may occur in its enforcement. Comparatively, Islamic views on gambling starkly contrast with western perspectives where gambling may be regulated but not forbidden.
Synonyms, Antonyms, and Related Terms
Synonyms:
- Betting
- Wagering
Antonyms:
- Prudence
- Abstinence
Related Terms:
- Ribā (ربا): Interest or usury, which is also prohibited.
- Ṣadaqah (صدقة): Voluntary charity, encouraged as an opposite to gambling.
- Halāl (حلال): Permissible actions, as gambling is harām (forbidden).
Exciting Facts
- Early Islamic jurisprudence considered a gambler’s testimony unreliable in court.
- The Qur’an not only admonishes the physical act of gambling but also emphasizes the moral and social implications.
Quotations
- Imam Al-Ghazali: “Games of risk disrupt social relations and sow discord in the community.”
References and Suggested Literature
- “The Qur’an” by Abdullah Yusuf Ali
- “Encyclopedia of Islamic Jurisprudence” by Mohammad Hashim Kamali
- “Al-Ghazali’s Moderation in Belief” by Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali
- “Interpretation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur’an” by Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Thought-Provoking Farewell
May our understanding and practice be guided by wisdom and divine guidance, avoiding actions that distance us from righteousness and harmony.
- Hassan Al-Bashir, 2023-10-10.
