Defining "Haram" Money
Defining "Haram" Money
Many Malaysians especially the non-Muslim must be wondering why is it a hype about the "Haram" money in Penang. Most of the Muslims and some non-Muslims there are returning the one hundred to two hundred ringgit to the State Government when they found out that the money came from the Penang Turf Club. We might be thinking to ourselves: "After all, the money is free. Just take it".
What actually is "Halal" and "Haram" money for a Muslim person? Especially a non-Muslim might ask. Many people will only think that when it comes to "Halal" and "Haram", it is only about food but in actual fact, for a Muslim, everything we do all comes down to the "Hukum" or pillars in what we can or cannot do. They are the "Halal", "Haram", "Makruh" and "Sunah" and it all comes down to be sinful or virtues.
"Halal" simply means taking or doing something in a proper or legitimate way. It can also mean eating something that is conforming to the Islamic dietary laws. There are virtues for doing a Halal act and there are no sins for doing so. The meaning of "Haram" is the opposite meaning of "Halal". A Muslim cannot take nor do something that is considered an improper or illegitimate way. There will be sins doing something that is considered Haram and definitely will be no virtues. For "Makruh", it basically means "disliked" and it simply means that when a Muslim does, or consumes something, there won't be any sin nor virtue for him or her but is advised not to do so. The last one is the "Sunah", a Muslim will get a virtue for doing or consuming something that is considered Sunah but if he or she does not do it, there won't be any sins or any virtues.
When we look at the scene in Penang, an amount of RM500,000 has been paid by the Turf Club there to the state government. The total amount is then given out to the poor and needy of Penang. Socially, distributing gains from a Company for the betterment of a state or a country is a responsible act. For the Islam religion, gambling is considered "Haram". Whether it is from a third party or directly, when a company's core income is from gambling, it is Haram for a Muslim to enjoy or even take the benefits or gains from that company.
From the Qur'an, in which all Muslims will refer to, there is a verse in it which states: "They ask you concerning wine and gambling. Say, in them there is great sin and some benefit for men. The sin is greater than the benefit." (Surah al-Baqarah, V. 219) This verse states that there are benefits to consuming alcohol or gambling but there are more sins than benefits if a Muslim does so. When there is a sin in an action, it is therefore considered Haram for a Muslim.
There are still ways for a Government or individual to spend such gains gained from a company which involves in gambling, alcohol or other activities considered Haram to the Muslim community. These moneys can actually be used for the betterment of the state or country too like for example, for charities in general, such as building roads or buildings, constructing community centres and financing other public-welfare projects.
When it comes to managing a Multi-Racial community, where there are not only the Muslims, there are also others like the Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and many more religions, it is important for the people in-charge to take into account the sensitivities of every religion in our beloved 1Malaysia. Otherwise, these insensitivities will be exploited by certain irresponsible parties not only in Malaysia but also from abroad and may make us 1Malaysians look ridiculed in the "Eyes of the World" for returning a mere donation.
Defining "Haram" Money
By: Halim Chew
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