Islam and Gambling

Before the advent of Islam, like other many-sided evils, gambling was also on the increase. The Arabian society, ignorant and illiterate as it was, had fallen a prey to this evil. Gambling fairs were held, and rich and poor took part in them according to their means. Drinking bouts were also held. People tried their fortunes for many days. Many times these gatherings which began with drinking and gambling ended in fights and riots. Besides Arabia, many other countries had also come within this vicious circle.

In the Roman, Egyptian and Greek culture, gambling was not only not disapproved, but it was regarded as a mark of one's opulence. Even cultures permeated by religion did not realise the great evils hidden in gambling.


The Jewish and Christian civilisations also flourished. But history shows that they were not successful in rooting out this evil. They even failed to arouse public opinion against it. In proof of this, we can cite the example of Monte Carlo, the greatest gambling House in England.

When Islam came, it described the evils of gambling in the most effective language and prohibited it for the Muslims.

"O you who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, sacrificing to stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination- of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that you may prosper."
[5:90]

Gambling is mentioned in the Quran, alongside drinking alcohol as an abomination, a sin, and a grave harm to mankind. It was made clear that prosperity does not come through gambling. That gambling, among many other things, causes families to break, societies to suffer, and the economy to deteriorate, damaging and ruining the ethical foundation of any decent society.


If the Qur'an is studied, it will become clear, that like alcohol, since the Arabs had been habituated to gambling for a long period of time, God revealed His Commandments regarding its prohibition only gradually. In the Qur'an the first verse regarding gambling is found in surah al-Baqarah (The Cow);

"They ask you concerning wine and gambling. Say: 'In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit.'"
[2:219]

This verse did not clearly condemn and prohibit gambling. It was only said that sometimes the gambler gains money without any effort, but its moral evil is so great that a few material advantages are of no account. In the Traditions (ahadith), it is recorded that when this verse was revealed, many Muslims totally gave up wine and gambling without waiting for the command of their prohibition to come later on in the gradual process. They quickly realised that something which is predominantly disadvantageous cannot meet with the approval of Islam.

It was made clearer the position of Islam on gambling though another verse;
" O who you believe! Intoxicants (e.g. alcohol) and gambling and idols and (lottery by) arrows are an abomination of Satan’s work, so avoid them so that you may get salvation. Satan's only desire is to create among you enmity and hatred by means of intoxicants and gambling and stop you from praying and remembering Allah. Will you not then stop?"
[Surah Ma'idah; 5:90,91]

It is a basic principle of Islam that man must not take that which he has not earned or worked for, as well as fairness and justice. Indeed, the word "gambling" in the Quran's Arabic language is derived from a root word that literally means "easy," and "something attained with no effort."