“Return the GHc6 million haram money” – Muslim clerics tells Ghanaian young man who won bet

Some clerics have ordered a young Ghanaian practicing Muslim who recently won GHC6 million through a bet to return the money.

The young man has been ordered to reject and return the entire amount of money to the betting company because his religious belief forbids gambling in all its shades and forms, including proceeds from gambling.

The winner, only identified as Fuseini, went to receive his cash amount with his mother, who was seen wearing a hijab and wiping tears of joy from the face of her son when he was presented with the dummy cheque of their winnings on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

An emotional Fuseini, who has over the years been yearning to turn the fortunes of his family, was seen shedding tears and being consoled by his mother and a staff member of Pawabet, the platform on which the money was won.

Despite Fuseini’s tears of joy over his GHC6 million win, equivalent to N423,554,809 million, some Islamic clerics have questioned the morality of the win, describing it as haram, a forbidden act, because it was money made through gambling.

Staunch Muslims view gambling as a sin or a practice not supported by Islam.

Some of the clerics have mounted pressure on the young man, whose economic woes are now history, to return the money.

The clerics urging Fuseini to return the gambling money have cited Quran 5:90, which says, “Believers! Intoxicants, games of chance, idolatrous sacrifices at altars, and divining arrows are all abominations, the handiwork of Satan. So turn wholly away from it that you may attain true success.”

A social media platform, Iqra Foundation, has taken on the winner and his mother wrote: “Fuseini has won GHC 6 million (60 billion old currency) on betting, which we all know is haram. His mother, with her veil, is in the picture in support of her child’s haram. Betting has become a canker to the youth, especially the Muslims and Zango youth in our communities so this Fuseini boy’s win will be a motivation to some innocent children out there. What do you think?”