Permissible types of betting
11-10-2014 | IslamWeb
Question:
Dear bros, Assalamu alaikum. Can we do betting in islam? To elaborate more on this.. One of our organisations from south india named TNTJ , its leader openely challenged that anyone who kills him by sihr , blackmagic in any period of time will be awarded a cash prize of Indian rupees 50 lakhs and failing to kill him, the sorcerer has to accept islam and do dawah. This is the agreement and a sorcerer came forward and mutually agreed This incident happened couple of days ago and we want to know such a kind of act is allowed in islam? Did our prophet mohd ( pbuh) challenged like this? Kindly reply from quran and hadeeths so that we can convey them.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
It is permissible to bet money only in the activities that are allowed with evidence from Sharee‘ah, such as horse racing, camel racing and archery. The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked about the ruling on betting that is known as a “personal commitment” and what the ruling is on one-sided betting; the person says, “If such and such takes place, I commit myself to invite you (to a meal), for instance.”
They answered, “It is not permissible to bet money except on the activities excluded by the Sharee‘ah in this regard, which are horse or camel racing and archery. It is impermissible to make other types of bets because it consists in the unlawful consumption of people’s wealth and it is a kind of gambling, which is deemed prohibited by Allaah and His Messenger. As for making a personal commitment, saying, ‘If such and such takes place, I commit myself to give you such and such,’ then this is considered a promise. It is permissible for the person to fulfil such a promise or commitment if he can.”
It should be noted that practicing sorcery - even if it does not involve betting - is prohibited; it is one of the seven deadly sins. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Avoid the seven deadly sins.” It was asked (by those present): “What are they, O Messenger of Allaah?” He replied, “Associating anyone or anything with Allaah, practicing sorcery .....” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Moreover, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “He who practices magic or has magic practiced for him is not one of us.” [At-Tabaraani - Al-Albaani graded it as Saheeh (sound)]
In addition, practicing magic may incur harm on the person by the Will of Allaah; Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {But the two angels do not teach anyone unless they say, "We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic]." And [yet] they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife. But they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allaah.}[Quran 2:102]
Shaykh Haafith Ahmad Hakami 
said in his poem “Sullam Al-Wusool” (what means), “Sorcery has its effect on people by the predestination of Allaah."
He commented on “the effect of sorcery” saying, “This means that magic or sorcery could cause the person to fall ill and may kill him as well. Some other types of magic may affect and deceive the minds or the eyes. Some other types of sorcery may drive couples to separate.”
Hence, what the head of this organization did is impermissible. Even if he did not get himself killed and the sorcerer embraced Islam, it should be noted that the end does not justify the means.
Allaah Knows best.