Fatwa No : 78252
Going for Umrah on a lottery drawn by the working place

Going for Umrah on a lottery drawn by the working place

The software company I work for, is sending 1 out of 10 people who have completed 3 years service in the company, to perform Umrah through a lottery. This will be sponsored by the company and only 1 person will be sent. If I am selected in the lottery, is it permissible to go at the company's expense? Is it permissible to be a part of such a lottery?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

If the company mentioned in this case, does not charge any money from its employees to participate in the lottery, but rather sends the employee whose name is drawn in the lottery on its behalf to perform Umrah, then this is a gift and generosity on the part of the company, which is permissible and correct according to Sharia. Therefore, the questioner's participation in this lottery and, if his name is drawn in the lottery and performing Umrah at the company's expense are both permissible, and there is no harm in that.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما فی الدر المختار: (فإن استووا يقرع) بين المستويين (أو الخيار إلى القوم) فإن اختلفوا اھ۔
و فی رد المحتار : (قوله أقرع بينهم) أي إذا تنازعوا. والظاهر أن هذا على سبيل الأولوية اھ (1/558)۔
وفی الدر المختار: (هي) لغة: التفضل على الغير ولو غير مال. وشرعا: (تمليك العين مجانا) أي بلا عوض لا أن عدم العوض شرط فيه الخ
و فی رد المحتار: (قوله: بلا عوض) أي بلا شرط عوض فهو على حذف مضاف الخ ( کتاب الھبۃ ج 5 ص 687 ط: سعید)۔