Remuneration for solving a puzzle

Question

Question: A friend of mine and I have had a dispute over a matter, and with the consent of us both we are leaving the decision to you. The matter is as follows: You, sir, must have seen in many magazines the knowledge puzzles: a prize is given for filling them in correctly. My friend says this is a kind of gambling (qimar), because in exchange for one rupee more rupees are obtained.

Answer

Your friend has proposed one reason for its impermissibility (qimar), while you have produced a reason for its permissibility which in reality reinforces and confirms its impermissibility, namely riba (usurious increase). Thus from the combined words of you both two reasons for its impermissibility have been obtained! (1)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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