FatwaFederal TerritoriesTransactions & Finance
AL-KAFI #1604: JUDI BERAT BADAN
Is a RM5 fine for weight gain, with a prize for the biggest weight loss funded by the fines, considered gambling or riba?
Short answer
The activity is in substance a form of competition, and its aim of promoting health is permissible in Islam.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Transactions & Finance
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
The activity is in substance a form of competition, and its aim of promoting health is permissible in Islam. The fine money differs from an entry fee because it is collected only from participants who breach the rules and is given willingly, so it is closer to a gift or tabarruʿ contribution. To avoid doubt, the fatwa recommends that each participant donate a sum as waqf into the unit welfare fund, which may be used for activities and prizes.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Berdasarkan takrifan dan hakikat yang berbeza di antara duit penyertaan dan duit denda, kami melihat duit kutipan denda tidak sama seperti duit penyertaan yang boleh terjerumus ke dalam lembah perjudian dan pertaruhan yang diharamkan Syarak.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #1604: JUDI BERAT BADAN”, 13 February 2020. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/4180-al-kafi-1604-judi-berat-badan. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/weight-loss-fine-and-prize-gambling-ruling/