Crossword Puzzle
This form of gambling has become more like an epidemic
nowadays. It is a big business for newspapers and monthly magazines. Various types and
forms of crosswords are published and it is advertised that whoever solves them correctly
and encloses a certain amount, when posting it to the company concerned, stands a chance
of winning a certain amount of money or a certain prize if, he is the lucky one at the
time of the draw. Some companies fix substantial amounts of cash as the prize money.
As a result, the poor masses, seeing that the entry fee is so small and
negligible and there is a chance of winning a substantial amount, enter by the thousands.
This is open gambling where a person stakes an amount in this indistinct way that either
he loses that amount or wins a substantial amount. This in Sharee'ah is known as gambling.
In some monthly magazines this form of gambling has expanded very widely and the income
runs into millions. Even if the company does not indulge in any form of cheating, and
distributes the prize money justly, thousands of dollars & pounds are left over which
is the blood and sweat of the poor classes. Consequently, the poor become poorer and the
rich become richer. In the Islaamic economic system, basically, it has been very severely
opposed that the wealth of the masses be owned by a handful of people. This reason is
sufficient for the prohibition of gambling.
This gambling in the form of crosswords is a very
detrimental form, and a collection of thousands of sins. This form openly invites the
general public to
participate in it and go against the commands of Allah and His Rasool
sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Every Muslim who participates in this is defying the Qur'aan
and is guilty of committing a major sin.
The burden of this sin is placed on the shoulders of the people
responsible for organising this. Any person who renders any form of assistance to such a
business will also be a partner in sin. In this manner thousands of Muslims at one time
openly indulge in that which is undoubtedly Haraam and against the clear command of the
Qur'aan. There are hundreds of Muslims who indulge in this Haraam act. The unending chain
of evil and sin continues.
May Allah Most High save all Muslims from this crime and misfortune