Can he accept money that comes from the lottery company?
Question I recently found out that the scholarship I receive to help pay my school tuition is funded by the Florida lottery. Should I not accept the scholarship any more?. Praise be to Allah. If this money is only a scholarship and is not subject to any condition requiring you to work with them –…
Question
Praise be to Allah.
If this money is only a scholarship and is not
subject to any condition requiring you to work with them – for example – or to advertise for them and commend their work, then there is nothing to
prevent you accepting it. Money that is haraam because of its source may be made use of and taken possession of if it is transferred in a manner
that is Islamically acceptable.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
… Others said with regard to that which is
haraam because of its source, the sin is one on the one who acquired it, not on the one who takes it in a permissible manner from the one who
acquired it. This is unlike things that are haraam in and of themselves, such as alcohol, goods seized by force, etc. This is a strong opinion,
based on the fact that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) bought food for his family from a Jew – narrated
by al-Bukhaari, 1954; Muslim, 3007. And he ate from the roast sheep that was given to him by the Jewish woman at al-Khaybar, and he accepted the
invitation of a Jew. Narrated by Ahmad, 3/210.
It is well known that most of the Jews deal in
riba (usury) and consume haraam wealth. This view may be supported by the fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said, concerning the meat that was given in charity to Bareerah, “It is charity for her and for us it is a gift.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1398;
Muslim, 2764.
Al-Qawl al-Mufeed Sharh Kitaab al-Tawheed,
3/138, 139.
For more information, please see the answers to
questions no. 4820.
We should point out that it is not permissible
for a Muslim to remain in the land of kufr or to study in a mixed environment, because that involves doing several things that are forbidden in
sharee’ah.
For more information please see the answers to
questions no. 2956 and 10338.
And Allaah knows best.
