Question:
Q1-Is it permissible for poor people to take lottery money, like some organizations give poor people lottery money to help them for there basic needs?
Answer:
It is permissible for poor people to take lottery money which is donated to them so long as they do not know the true source of the money. If they are aware of the fact that the source of the money given to them is the lottery, then it will not be permissible for them to accept the money.
The donor should not make an intention of receiving reward as the money which he is donating is Haraam and he must repent for engaging in this wrongful act of gambling.
(Fataawaa Mahmoodiyah, Vol. 5, Page 88, Raddul Muhtaar, Vol. 3, Page 219)
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Ebrahim bin Zainul Abedeen Backus
Attested to as correct by:
Mufti Muhammad Ashraf
Darul Iftaa
Jameah Mahmoodiyah
Springs
13 April 2004
22 Safar 1425