is it permissible to play a game “Guess the amount of beans in the Jar”, for a prize?

Message: Assalaamu Alaikum,

I wanted to know if the game “Guess the amount of beans in the Jar”, for a prize is haraam. We have a charity drive at the office to generate funds to help a family. One such initiative is to have the employees guess the amount of beans in a jar, for $5 a try, and they win a prize of the jar full of beans. Can you let me know if this is haraam, and encouraging the game as well is haraam? Thanks.

Wa Alaikum Assalaam,

الجواب و بالله التوفيق

This falls into the category of ‘Games of chance’ and is not permissible.

From what you have described, it means that a number of people may pay $5.00 and get nothing in return for the money. This is not permissible since one cannot simply pay for ‘a chance’. There must be a return that is valued at $5.00 for one who pays this amount. You should not participate in this, nor should you encourage this since it is haram.

Instead of this, if the workers wish to help a family, they should contribute $5.00 to helping the family. In this, they will receive rewards.

And Allah Knows Best.

Mufti Waseem Khan.

25/2/2016.