The Qur'an states that, like alcoholic beverages, gambling is the work of Satan. A ban that has now been partially lifted by a "fatua" (Islamic decree) issued by the Abu Dhabi religious affairs authority. This Saturday, after an initial postponement caused by the coronavirus, the United Arab Emirates will debut the first "halal" (permitted) lottery in the Persian Gulf.

At 7:30 p.m. local time, Emirates Loto will broadcast the first of its draws via its website, mobile application and social networks, led by two stars from the Middle East media scene, Lebanese television presenter Wissam Breidy and the actress and model. Indian Aishwarya Ajit. The initial jackpot of this BonoLoto blessed by an Islamic authority promises prizes of up to 35 million Emirati dirham (about 8.8 million euros).

The lottery is not only intended for residents of the United Arab Emirates, the federation of seven emirates that - irrigated by petrodollars - inhabit 9.6 million souls of which only 11.5 percent are native. Any user can also participate who, from any corner of the planet , purchases one of the 35 dirham passes and chooses six numbers, between 1 and 49.

Sources of Emirates Loto have refused to provide EL MUNDO with the sales figures of the first draw but they assure that "the reception has been very positive" since the cards of this primitive transcript -decorated with iconic buildings of the modern country- began to be distributed in Emirates stores and telematically on March 22.

Buyers have until 5.30 pm on Saturday to access the web and select the six numbers or let them be chosen by chance of technology. If no participant achieves the maximum hit, the jackpot will increase each week to 50 million dirham, their ceiling.

At the head of the private company that manages the service is Paul Sebestyen, hardened by more than three decades of experience in inventing lotteries around the planet, from South Carolina to South Korea or Peru. According to the organization, the American plays a fundamental role in "aligning" the company with "the initiatives of the Government of the Emirates that seek to give back to the community and the country as a whole."

Fatua and sharia

Its creators leave customers the option of having the new game comply with the precepts of Islam. "According to the Islamic principles of fatua and sharia (Islamic legislation), there must be an exchange of value. Access to the weekly draw is optional. You can buy the ticket in order to collect them and reject the possibility of entering the draw ", the firm said in a statement.

Emirates Loto further states that its purpose is "to donate millions of dirham to the public good" without providing further details. "We are going to raise funds to change lives not only for the people who were fortunate enough to win but also money that will be donated to charity associations and other organizations that assist people in need," Sebestyen tells the local newspaper The National .

These terms do not convince Islamic finance experts like Safdar Alam, former head of JPMorgan's Islamic division. "I personally am not interested in commercial gymnastics exercises to gain Sharia approval. My convictions are strong. I will never participate in anything like this . I don't care who says 'halal'," Alam replies to EL MUNDO.

"What I am saying is that this is an activity that we should avoid. We should focus on how to benefit people and communities and not waste time with these things," adds the banker. "The idea of ​​whether it is 'halal' or not is not even important. It devalues ​​our religion, " says the expert, who suggests that if the objective is to generate money for "the common good," it is easier to "donate it directly."

He acknowledges, however, that "prize draws, which are similar to the lottery, have been used by Islamic banks in the Middle East for more than a decade." Islamic banking, in full expansion globally, promises financial products without falling into usury or investing in companies that supply goods or services considered anti-Islam such as gambling, alcohol, tobacco or pig-related industries

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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