The Impact and Dangers of Gambling on Society
Gambling carries significant psychological, religious, and economic harms that affect both individuals and society as a whole. The prohibition of gambling is rooted in its destructive consequences, which include the following:
Gambling Leads to Unjust Acquisition of Wealth
Through deceit and without rightful cause, as stated in the verse: “O you who have believed, do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful],” gambling does not create profits through legitimate exchanges, but rather through deception, chance, and speculation, turning away from honest work and acquiring wealth without any effort.
Gambling Fosters Enmity and Division
This practice can instigate animosity and discord among participants. Since gambling is a means of obtaining money without any significant effort, a person who suffers losses may feel compelled to gamble repeatedly in a grasping quest to recover their losses. Unfortunately, this can lead to increased losses and escalating problems, resulting in anger towards fellow players whom they blame for their financial struggles, thus breeding hostility.
Gambling Distracts from the Remembrance of God
It also causes individuals to neglect their obligatory prayers, with engagement in gambling taking precedence over spiritual duties. As indicated in prior verses, if one is required to abandon business or amusement for the Friday prayer, it is even more imperative to forsake actions that distract from remembering God, such as gambling, which is clearly deemed forbidden.
Gambling Dismantles Family Structures
Gambling may lead to the disintegration of families due to issues like divorce and conflict, alongside the squandering of money on prohibited activities. Many families that seemed stable may find themselves impoverished because of gambling. The aftermath can include loss of dignity, psychological distress, and a breakdown of homes; countless individuals face hunger and deprivation due to the financial ruin caused by gambling behaviors, leading to failed marriages and job losses due to theft or embezzlement tied to gambling. Ultimately, gambling can ruin individuals and provoke a range of other crimes such as substance abuse, theft, and more.
Understanding Gambling
According to Al-Zaylai, gambling is defined as “a process that fluctuates, at times increasing and at others decreasing,” deriving its name from the nature of its practice where participants may risk their money while potentially gaining from others. The majority of scholars assert that gambling and games of chance are synonymous, whereas some theologians argue that gaming encompasses a broader scope with gambling being a subtype.
Al-Qurtubi defines games of chance as outcomes obtained without exertion, explaining that individuals might engage in random draws associated with stakes, where the luck of the draw determines their gain or loss, often with penalties involved for those losing.
Types of Gambling
Gambling can be categorized into two distinct types:
- Games of Chance: These do not involve monetary stakes, such as chess or similar activities.
- Gambling: This type involves an agreement to win money through play.
Legal Rulings on Gambling
The prohibition of gambling is firmly established in the Qur’an, Prophetic traditions, and the consensus of scholars. The scriptures declare: “O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So avoid it,” illustrating that gambling is a sin, and a source of evil orchestrated by Satan, hence emphasizing the necessity to abstain from it due to the ensuing corruption associated with such behavior.