Page 104 - Solution, the values of the Qurʼan

102 SOLUTION THE VALUES OF THE QUR'AN

The influence of gambling over people is entirely malignant. Society
cannot afford gambling, which is also evident from the news in the
newspapers and on TV. People commit suicide due to debt, they cannot
keep their families together, they suffer from depression, and even
commit murder, since they can easily gamble away what they've amassed
over years in only a few hours. This sector of the economy, established on
broken families, ruined marriages, and money made outside the law, is a
significant example of moral degeneration.
It is astonishing that gambling, which does so much harm to society, is
extensively promoted. To make money out of gambling and legitimizing
it is surely not done by people who are listening to their consciences.
Those who allow gambling to become widespread in society, which is
a source of mass suffering, confess to this vice only when they themselves
start to suffer from it. Until they meet such an undesirable consequence
themselves, however, they cause many people to drift into a gloomy life.
Eradicating such conscienceless attitudes is only possible through
adherence to the Qur'an. Allah defines gambling as filth and warns man
to stay away from it:
You who have faith! Wine and gambling, stone altars and divining arrows
are filth from the handiwork of satan.
Avoid them completely so that
hopefully you will be successful. Evil You who have faith!
wants to stir up enmity and hatred Wine and gambling,
between you by means of wine and stone altars and
gambling, and to debar you from
divining arrows are
remembrance of Allah and from
filth from the
prayer. Will you not then give them
handiwork of Satan.
up? (Surat al-Ma'ida: 90-91)
Avoid them completely
What is incumbent on faithful and
so that hopefully you
conscientious people is to raise
will be successful.
awareness about the harm gambling
(Surat al-Ma'ida: 90)
brings, and summon people to avoid
this vice.