Ques. I have a question about the Green Card Lottery. The US government gives permanent visas to many people
every year through this lottery system. Is it allowed (Halal) for Muslims, according to the Shari'ah, to participate in
this lottery?
Ans. For a proper answer to this question, it is important to understand various rulings in Islam on lottery. We
should also know what is the Green Card Lottery. Then we can apply Islamic judgment on this issue.
The word lottery literally means "the drawing of lots." There are basically two types of lotteries. In some lotteries a
number of tickets are sold and one or more of these tickets draw prizes. This type of lottery is a kind of gambling or
"Qimar" or "Maysir". It is forbidden in Islam, because many people put their money and only few receive the
prize. Others loose their money and receive nothing for it.
The other type of lottery does not involve any payment. Here the lots are drawn in order to choose between various
groups of people or things. In the Islamic terminology it is called "Qur'ah" or "Istiham". This is basically
permissible (Halal). In the story of Prophet Yunus (Jonah -peace be upon him) as mentioned in the Qur'an there is
a reference to the casting of lots. He was thrown into the water when his name came up in that lot. (see al-Saffat 37:
141) It is also mentioned in the Qur'an that when Maryam (Mary, Jesus' mother -may peace be upon both of them)
was growing up, some of her relatives threw their pens (in a lot) to know which of them should be her guardian. It
was her maternal uncle Prophet Zakariya -peace be upon him- whose name came in that lot and so he became her
guardian. (See Al 'Imran 3:44). The Prophet -peace be upon him- sometimes also used to do "Qur'ah". Imam
Bukhari has two chapters in his book of Hadith on this subject: "Chapter on the use of Qur'ah in difficulties" and
"Chapter on the use of Qur'ah when planning for a trip". There are also long chapters on this subject in the books of
Fiqh. All Muslim jurists agree that the method of Qur'ah is permissible in Islam in order to make a choice between
various equal options. It is a kind of random selection without depriving any one of his/her rightful due.
To my understanding the Green Card lottery is nothing but a kind of Qur'ah. The purpose of this lottery is to
give chance to the people of many countries to come and live in United States. This visa is also called "Diversity
Immigrant Visa". The US government makes available each year by random selection 50,000 permanent residence
visas (Green Cards) to people from around the world. This program began in 1990 and its objective was stated then
as "to issue Green Cards to individuals born in countries with historically low levels of immigration to the United
States." The government does not charge any money to enter the lottery. To enter, an applicant must be a native of
an eligible country. Every year a list of ineligible countries is issued. These are the countries that have already met
their immigrant quota. (For example this year India is ineligible, but Pakistan is eligible.) A person who applies for
this visa must have either a high school education or its equivalent, or two years of work experience within the past
five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience.
There are, however, some agencies in US as well as in other countries that charge the applicants "filing fee" or
"processing fee" etc. But this money does not go to the government and one does not have to use the services of
these agencies.
On the basis of this information and the above principle of Qur'ah, I do not see anything wrong in the Green Card
Lottery. It is permissible for Muslims to enter this lottery. One can directly apply for this visa, but if someone finds it
difficult, it is also permissible for him/her to use the services of any processing agency and to pay that agency its
fee. This fee is not for the lottery; it is for the services of filling out the application and filing.
ALLAH Almighty knows best !!
every year through this lottery system. Is it allowed (Halal) for Muslims, according to the Shari'ah, to participate in
this lottery?
Ans. For a proper answer to this question, it is important to understand various rulings in Islam on lottery. We
should also know what is the Green Card Lottery. Then we can apply Islamic judgment on this issue.
The word lottery literally means "the drawing of lots." There are basically two types of lotteries. In some lotteries a
number of tickets are sold and one or more of these tickets draw prizes. This type of lottery is a kind of gambling or
"Qimar" or "Maysir". It is forbidden in Islam, because many people put their money and only few receive the
prize. Others loose their money and receive nothing for it.
The other type of lottery does not involve any payment. Here the lots are drawn in order to choose between various
groups of people or things. In the Islamic terminology it is called "Qur'ah" or "Istiham". This is basically
permissible (Halal). In the story of Prophet Yunus (Jonah -peace be upon him) as mentioned in the Qur'an there is
a reference to the casting of lots. He was thrown into the water when his name came up in that lot. (see al-Saffat 37:
141) It is also mentioned in the Qur'an that when Maryam (Mary, Jesus' mother -may peace be upon both of them)
was growing up, some of her relatives threw their pens (in a lot) to know which of them should be her guardian. It
was her maternal uncle Prophet Zakariya -peace be upon him- whose name came in that lot and so he became her
guardian. (See Al 'Imran 3:44). The Prophet -peace be upon him- sometimes also used to do "Qur'ah". Imam
Bukhari has two chapters in his book of Hadith on this subject: "Chapter on the use of Qur'ah in difficulties" and
"Chapter on the use of Qur'ah when planning for a trip". There are also long chapters on this subject in the books of
Fiqh. All Muslim jurists agree that the method of Qur'ah is permissible in Islam in order to make a choice between
various equal options. It is a kind of random selection without depriving any one of his/her rightful due.
To my understanding the Green Card lottery is nothing but a kind of Qur'ah. The purpose of this lottery is to
give chance to the people of many countries to come and live in United States. This visa is also called "Diversity
Immigrant Visa". The US government makes available each year by random selection 50,000 permanent residence
visas (Green Cards) to people from around the world. This program began in 1990 and its objective was stated then
as "to issue Green Cards to individuals born in countries with historically low levels of immigration to the United
States." The government does not charge any money to enter the lottery. To enter, an applicant must be a native of
an eligible country. Every year a list of ineligible countries is issued. These are the countries that have already met
their immigrant quota. (For example this year India is ineligible, but Pakistan is eligible.) A person who applies for
this visa must have either a high school education or its equivalent, or two years of work experience within the past
five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience.
There are, however, some agencies in US as well as in other countries that charge the applicants "filing fee" or
"processing fee" etc. But this money does not go to the government and one does not have to use the services of
these agencies.
On the basis of this information and the above principle of Qur'ah, I do not see anything wrong in the Green Card
Lottery. It is permissible for Muslims to enter this lottery. One can directly apply for this visa, but if someone finds it
difficult, it is also permissible for him/her to use the services of any processing agency and to pay that agency its
fee. This fee is not for the lottery; it is for the services of filling out the application and filing.
ALLAH Almighty knows best !!
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |