The words “Qimaar” and “Maysar” are synonymous in meaning and are translated as “Gambling or Wagering” in English. The Aayaat in the Qur’an that prohibit gambling are as follows:
“People ask you about liquor and gambling, say to them there are great evils in both these things, along with some benefit, but the harms far exceed the benefit. (Surah Baqarah 219)
“O you who believe! Without doubt liquor, gambling, idols, and gambling with arrows are all filthy, the actions of Shaytaan. Therefore, totally abstain from them so that you may be successful.” (Surah Maaidah 90)
In both these verses, the word “Maysir” has been used for gambling, which is synonymous with the word “Qimar”. As such, Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Umar y says: “Maysir refers to Qimar.”
Apart from this, Muhammad bin Sireen, Mujaahid, Saeed bin Musayyib, Saeeb bin Jabeer, Qatadah, Hasan Basri, Taoos, Ata bin Abi Rabah, Siddi, and Dhahhaak have also agreed that “Maysir” and Qimar” have the same meaning.(Tafseer Ibn Jareer Tabari v-2 pg. 358)
Nabi-e-Kareem (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) emphasized so much on abstaining from gambling that he not only established gambling to be Haraam but also established the fact that merely expressing an intention to gamble is also a sin. If anyone invites another person to gamble, he is commanded to give Sadaqah as Kaffarah for his sin. As such, this narration of Nabi-e-Kareem (S.A.W) is mentioned in Sahih Bukhaari:
“A person who says to someone, ‘Come, let me gamble with you,’ should give something as Sadaqah.”






