Distribution to charity from lotto proceeds : help to charity from a government that runs lotteries

Fatawa Question

Salam Shaikh I have recently set up a charitable organization to cater for the need of the Muslim youth in Scotland. I am currently seeking funding from funding bodies. I am faced with a dilemma that most of these bodies are either subsidiaries or affiliated with the National Lottery. The national lottery is a governmental organization. The revenue is generated from gambling. The profits are distributed to various projects including charitable causes. A fatwa was asked many years go to Mufti Ismail Bismillah Saheb (Grand Mufti of India) that if two people (a Muslim and a non-Muslim) are receiving entire earnings from Haram means, can we accept donation for a cause ? His answer was that it is not permissible to take the money from Muslim but permissible to take from non Muslim as far as he is concerned, it is not Haram for him. Does this imply that the funds coming from a non-Muslim body are permitted? Would the ruling change if I considered myself living in Darul-Harb and used these means to weaken the enemy. Since the lottery is a governmental organization, if I were to take the example of Abu Baseer(ra) and attack the enemy without the allegiance of a ruler. I have also heard that according to Abu Hanifah (ra) that in a state of Darul Harb interest is not classified interest, hence permitted to receive and give. Is this true ? can I then use the bank as a private sponsor for my projects ? I would appreciate a reply with evidences from the Qur’an and Sunnah. Jazakallah Khair Faizel

Fatwa

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Publication Date

2003-02-26

Main Subjects

Financial and Accounting Sciences
Islamic Studies

Topics

• Islamic jurisprudence
• Financing
• Profits

No. of Pages

2

Data Type

Fatawa

Language

English

Record ID

BIM-725254

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