|
There
is an obvious difference
between permissible
competitions and prohibited
betting. A permissible
competition is between two
teams, and the winner gets a
prize that is paid by a
third party. However, a
prohibited bet, which is
nothing but gambling, is
when two spectators bet each
other a certain sum of money
to be paid by the one who
supports the losing team to
the one who supports the
winning team. This is a bet
that has nothing to do with
the competition between the
two teams, as it occurs
between two parties who have
no relation to the
competition, and the said
sum of money is paid to
someone who has no relation
to the competition.
That
kind of bet was made between
Abu Bakr (may Allah be
pleased with him) and the
polytheists before betting
was prohibited, regarding
the Qur'anic verse in which
Almighty Allah says [The
Romans have been defeated.
In the nearer land (Syria,
Iraq, Jordan, and
Palestine), and they, after
their defeat, will be
victorious] (Ar-Rum
30:4).
Abu
Bakr bet the disbelievers a
sum of money that the Romans
would defeat the Persians
within 3 years. When Abu
Bakr told the Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him)
about that — and gambling
had not been prohibited then
— the Prophet commanded
him to increase the said
period from 3 years to 9
years because the Arabic
indicates that the victory
will happen within 3 to 9
years.
Within
that period, the Romans
defeated the Persians and
Abu Bakr won the bet. In
that case, the two parties
were Abu Bakr and the
polytheists, and both had
nothing to do with the war
between the Romans and the
Persians. Thus their bet was
a kind of gambling.
Afterwards the prohibition
of gambling was revealed and
when Abu Bakr got the money
of the bet, Allah's
Messenger commanded him to
spend it on the poor.
|
