Answered by Shaykh Ilyas Patel
I have a question. Someone told me that the following arrangement is permissible, while I always assumed it was Haram:
1) If two (or more people) play a video game (not a game of chance) or some other game which requires skill, and each puts an equal of amount of money into the “pot”, and the winner takes all, or, 1st place gets a certain amount and 2nd place gets a certain amount and so on… is this gambling?
2) Same scenario as above, except that there are only 2 players and there is no pot, just that if one loses he pays the other (for example) $5. Is this gambling?
I have always considered this to be Haram , but my friend sees nothing wrong with it (as you have control over the game and there is supposedly no element of chance or luck, although I would disagree with the latter). Please advise.
Jazakum Allahu Khayran
In the name of Allah Most Compassionate Merciful
A.1
Gambling is to gain something of value by risking the loss of something of value as a matter of chance.
In the first scenario where money is put at stake from everyone and the gaining of money is depends upon winning the game which is uncertain with the possibility of occurring and not occurring are present. In the second scenario, again money is put at stake by everyone and the money is depended on an uncertain outcome though there is some money is return more or less to each person. Thus, in both scenarios it will be considered gambling.
A2.
In this scenario, though no one is obliged to pay any amount in certain but one has to the other, upon the uncertain event of one losing. So the payment of money depends on winning and losing.
And Allah alone knows best