Question:
What is the ruling of participating in the Maybank2u challenge? I am interested to join but worried if the prize or rewards offered have some elements of syubhah and riba. May ustaz explain whether the contest is halal or haram?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Firstly, praise should be given to the questioner because the question gives understanding to our society as a whole.
In the book al-Fiqh al-Manhaji, there is a chapter named musabaqah (المسابقة) which means contest and competition. In the Arabic language, musabaqah originates from the phrase al-Sabqu that means preceding other. Musabaqah also means a test which is done towards certain individuals to choose who is the best in doing something. (Fiqh Manhaji 3/513)
In the Islamic legal maxim, there is a maxim that is suitable to be used in this issue:
الْأَصْلُ فِي الْأَشْيَاءِ الْإِبَاحَةُ
“The original rule of something is its permissibility”
Before further explanation, we would like to state the modus operandi used by Maybank authorities in this Maybank2u challenge contest to explain further on this contest:
The procedure of the Maybank2u Challenge:
- Participant must register the account of Maybank2u.
- There is a button for ‘MYM2U challenge’ on the website. The participant should click on that button.
- After clicking on the button, the participant will be on the first level of MYM2U. He/she should answer all questions on that level.
- After the participant succeeded in answering all questions on the first level of MYM2U, he or she will level up to the second level.
- Rewards are given to those who are able to answer questions on that level. Rewards are in the form of a voucher.
It is permissible to hold a contest among the people in physical form. This is based on the following hadith of the Prophet PBUH:
سَابَقَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْنَ الْخَيْلِ، فَأُرْسِلَتِ الَّتِي ضُمِّرَتْ مِنْهَا وَأَمَدُهَا إِلَى الْحَفْيَاءِ إِلَى ثَنِيَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ، وَالَّتِي لَمْ تُضَمَّرْ أَمَدُهَا ثَنِيَّةُ الْوَدَاعِ إِلَى مَسْجِدِ بَنِي زُرَيْقٍ، وَأَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ كَانَ فِيمَنْ سَابَقَ
"The Prophet (ﷺ) arranged for a horse race, and the prepared horses were given less food for a few days before the race to win the race, and were allowed to run from Al-Hafya to Thaniyat-al- Wada`, and the unprepared horses were allowed to run between Thaniyat-al-Wada` and the mosque of Bani Zuraiq," `Abdullah was one of those who participated in the race.
Sahih al-Bukhari (420) and Sahih Muslim (1870)
However, in this issue, the jurists have a differing opinion on the ruling of a contest that applies to individuals’ intellect or knowledge. What is intended here is like organising a specific quiz and the like. Is it permissible to receive rewards from a contest related to intellect like it is permissible to receive from the physical game as stated in the following hadith of the Prophet PBUH?
لاَ سَبْقَ إِلاَّ فِي خُفٍّ أَوْ فِي حَافِرٍ أَوْ نَصْلٍ
Wagers are allowed only for racing camels, or horses or shooting arrows.
Sunan Abi Dawud (2574)
Looking at the above hadith, we can understand that it is permissible to receive rewards if the contest is in physical form, but is it also permissible if the contest is in intellectual form like quiz and the like?
The jurists have differing opinions on this matter. In the book Minhajul Muslim by Abu Bakar Jabir al-Jazai’ri (pg 279), it is stated as the following:
First: It is prohibited (haram) because this contest is not among weaponry as stated in the hadith.
Second: It is permissible. This is because knowledge is also considered as a weapon in a war, and even more effective compared to weaponry, horses and the like. If we see the current situation (in Malaysia), we no longer experience physical war like before, but Muslim nowadays are bombarded by thoughts (ghazw al-fikr). Therefore, the priority of giving rewards in this matter is far more important
compared to physical war.
Conclusion
We are of the opinion that it is permissible to participate in the contest of Maybank2u Challenge because this contest able to sharpen our mind to be more alert. We can see today that the enemies of Islam not only attack the Muslims physically but also in the form of thoughts. Hence, we are of the opinion that as it is permissible to receive rewards from a physical contest, the same is for an intellectual contest which is permissible.
Lastly, may Allah ease all our daily affairs in understanding and learning the Islamic teachings. Ameen.