QUESTION:
A person is negotiating buying a petrol station, and part of the contract is that he has to sell Lotto tickets. If he is unable to remove this condition from the contract, what steps can be taken in going ahead with the purchase while keeping in adherence with Shariah?
ANSWER:
It is impermissible for a Muslim to assist in the disobedience of Allah Ta’ala. The Quraan Sharif states:
وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ [المائدة: 2]
And do not assist each other in acts of sin and transgression.
Selling lotto tickets is tantamount to assisting in the disobedience of Allah Ta’ala, hence impermissible. You should, therefore, exempt yourself from selling Lotto tickets. If there is no way of exempting yourself, then you may purchase the garage with the machine, but you should refrain from selling tickets to customers. In other words, the service will no longer be available to customers.
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Maulana Abdul Kader Fazlani
Date: – 26 Rabi ul Awwal 1445 / 12 October 2023
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
