Answered by: Mufti Javed ibn Nazir Kachhalia
Question
Assalamu Alaikum.
I hope you are in the best of health and Imaan. I would really appreciate it if you could answer the following question ASAP.
We are having a charity auction at a fundraising event. A certain business donated a £120 voucher to the auction (rather than an actual item, so that the winner can choose an item of his own liking). The voucher can only be used at that specific store for any item(s) and cannot be redeemed for cash.
Would it be permissible for us to auction such vouchers?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
In regards to your query and question;
Selling the voucher or auctioning it for either less or more value than the actual value of the voucher, will be not permissible and will fall in the category of gambling.
The definition of gambling, as explained by many jurists (fuqaha), is to place one’s wealth at stake actually or effectively, in that this wealth may bring more wealth with it or it may be lost completely.
This is the reason why all prevalent forms of conventional insurance are unlawful, for the premiums are paid for certain, but the return is uncertain. The various types of lotteries, raffles, and sweepstakes have been declared unlawful for this very reason. (Darul Ifta, Leicester)
Imam Abu Bakr al-Jassas mentions the companion Sayyiduna Abd Allah ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) defining “gambling” in the following words: “Placing one’s wealth at stake (Mukhatara) is gambling.” (Ahkam Al-Quran, Vol 2, Pg 11, Darul Haya, Beirut)
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Mufti Javed ibn Nazir Kachhalia
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham