The Evil of Gambling, Especially Football Betting During the ongoing World Cup

 *_DAILY ISLAMIC REMINDER_*

Yaum Al-khamis | 2nd day of Swafar, 1448 AH | Thursday, 16th July, 2026. *_The Evil of Gambling, Especially Football Betting During the ongoing World Cup_*. BismilLah. 

Let's pause on our Qur’an studies today to remind each other about the dangerous nature of gambling. 

Information reaching me recently from my country Ghana Especially within some Muslims communities indicates that, the excitement of the ongoing World Cup leads lot's of Muslims to place bets on matches such as who wins and who scores involving money seeking to make more money AstaghfirulLah. 

While watching football for lawful entertainment is generally permissible (provided it does not involve sinful elements), betting money on match outcomes is a form of gambling (maysir/qimār), which ALLAH Azzawajal has explicitly forbidden.

ALLAH Azzawajal says:

"O you who believe! Indeed, intoxicants, gambling (maysir), sacrificing on stone altars, and divining arrows are an abomination from the work of Shayṭān. So avoid it that you may be successful. Shayṭān only wants to cause between you enmity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to hinder you from the remembrance of ALLAH and from prayer. So will you not desist?"

(Qur'an 5:90–91)?

Lessons from these verses

Gambling is described as "Rijs" (filth/abomination).

It is from the work of Shayṭān.

ALLAH Azzawajal commands believers not merely to reduce it, but to avoid it completely.

Gambling destroys faith by distracting people from dhikr (remembrance of ALLAH) and ṣalāh. It breeds hatred, greed, broken relationships and financial hardship. 

*_May ALLAH Azzawajal keep guiding and protecting us from any satanic influences_*. Aameen.