Sheikh Deal With Gambling Firm Could Be Seen As Defying Islam

New Malaga FC owner Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Al-Thani of Qatar may decide to keep the United Kingdom’s number two biggest bookmaker and gambling house on as a team sponsor after all, though the odds of this happening are seen as rather slim. 

Gambling911.com had reported last week that the Sheikh objected to having a gambling company sponsor one of his venues as such activity is frowned upon in much of the Arab world.

“We don’t want to turn everything upside down and cancel contracts but let’s put it this way: I’m a smoker but I don’t smoke in my home because these are the rules and I want to protect my family,” the Sheikh’s business associate Abdullah Ghubn said in an interview at Malaga’s training ground.

But it’s not just the Sheikh’s own personal religious beliefs that are of concern.

Islam’s ban on gambling has pushed Islamic finance institutions to shun investments in companies that have direct link with the industry.

William Hill is still in talks with the Malaga football club however.

William Hill spokesperson Kate Miller refused to confirm the reports.

“We are aware that there is a new owner of Malaga football club and we are currently in talks. We are still the main sponsor of Malaga FC,” she told EGRMagazine.com.

But Islam strictly prohibits all forms of gambling and it is widely believed that the Sheikh will likely shun William Hill in the end.

The Islamic teachings urge the Muslim to follow Allah's directives for earning a living, to use natural laws and direct means for the attainment of his objectives, and to employ such causes to produce the desired effects. Gambling, which includes raffling or the lottery, on the other hand, makes a person dependent on chance, 'luck' and empty wishes, taking him away from honest labor, serious work and productive effort. The person who depends on gambling loses respect for the laws of causation which Allah has established and commanded people to use.

Islamic teachings also say thatgamblers develop hatred and enmity towards one another, although they may claim that losing does not trouble them.

Additionally, because of gambling’s addictive nature, Islam claims that it is a danger to the society as well as to the individual. This habit consumes gamblers' time and energy, making them non-productive idlers and parasites on society, who take but do not give, who consume but do not produce. Moreover, due to his absorption with gambling, the gambler neglects his obligations towards his Creator and his duties towards his community.

Gambling is believed to be inspired by Satan.

'O you who believe, truly intoxicants and gambling and divination by arrows are an abomination of Satan's doing; avoid them in order that you may be successful. Assuredly Satan desires to sow enmity and hatred among you by means of intoxicants and gambling, and to hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Will you not then desist?' (Al-Ma'idah: 93-94)"

Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com