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Fatwa CenterWinning money prizes without participating with any money
Question
Assalamu alaikum Is it permissible to apply for a money prize competition that comes to the post? I often get post claiming that i am a winner of a certain amount of money, is this a form of lottery and haram money? Jazakallah
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 
is His slave and Messenger.
Al-Maawirdi 
from the Shaafi'i School said: "Gambling is when a person who participates with money [in a game] either wins or loses." Therefore, if you did not contribute with any money to participate in this prize, and you won it without paying anything, it is permissible for you to accept it provided that this money is not a result of lottery. Lottery is gambling which is forbidden and so it is not permissible to accept it even if it was given to the person without him participating in it. However, if you receive anything from it without you asking for it, then take it and distribute it among the poor and destitute people and in the general benefits of Muslims.
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