The Disease of Gambling

Asalaamu alaykum wa rahmahtullahi wa barakatuh brothers and sisters in Islam.

A suicide as a result of problem gambling seems to be a recurring incident. In fact, I once personally knew someone who walked that exact path, it's always a shame - but until gambling is at least outlawed by more than consensus very little is going to happen.

Obviously putting ads on TV about a gambling help line is not the solution to the problem - and when the results include, but are not limited to:

• Breaking up families.
• Putting people/families in debt.
• Suicide.

Then it's pretty clear that for the sake of society something really needs to be do.
What I wish to share in this blog post is an article I came across on news.com.au about a single mother in Adelaide, Australia who spent 29 minutes on a pokie machine, in that time lost $4,000 and then committed suicide.

But, before that I would like to provide you all with these Ayat from The Holy Qur'an:

They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and some benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they should spend. Say, "The excess." Thus Allah makes clear to you the verses that you might give thought."
[Surah Al-Baqarah: 19]

O you who believe, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, sacrificing on stone alters, and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.
[Surah Al-Ma'idah: 90]

Now - on with the story:

Problem gambling: 'Our family paid the ultimate price'

KATHERINE Natt had just 30c in her purse after losing $4000 in 29 minutes in a pokies binge. The same day, the SkyCity Casino worker and single mother of two took her own life.

Her mother, Chris Matthews, says imposing controls on pokies could have stopped her plunge that day five years ago - and might have saved her life.

"I don't know if mandatory pre-commitment will work, but something needs to be done to stop people losing these huge amounts of money," she said.

"Families are suffering, our family paid the ultimate price.

"There are families out there paying every day.

"Many are falling apart. People are losing their homes."

Read more...

Wasalaam.
Abu Khadijah.