Question: Is buying a lottery ticket from a non-Muslim haram or halal, please give a brief explanation.
Answer: Buying a lottery ticket is forbidden, as it is gambling, irrespective of whether it is purchased from a Muslim or a non-Muslim. Allah (s.w.t.) says in the Qur’an:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالأَنصَابُ وَالأَزْلاَمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
O you who believe! Wine, gambling, idols, and the game of arrows are impure – the works of Satan, therefore avoid them so that you may prosper. (Surah Ma’idah, verse 90).
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) forbade transactions determined by throwing a stone and transactions which involved some uncertainty.” (Sahih Muslim).
Another Hadith says,”whosoever says to his friend ‘come on let’s gamble’ then he should give sadaqa” (Mishkat)
This means that the amount (Eg £10) with which he wanted to gamble should immediately be given in sadaqa.
Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam has mentioned the cure for someone who is addicted to gambling and he wants to give up but he can’t. If he does this a few times, the urge for gambling will fade away and he will be cured,
May Allah give us the understanding, hidayat and the ability to put in practice. Ameen.