Q: What is the ruling on the prizes presented by some call centers to encourage customers to make more calls?

(Part No. 15; Page No. 197)  A: These presents offered by public centers to callers are not permissible, as they involve gambling, deception and devouring people's money in falsehood just to encourage them make more calls and thus gaining more profits. This leads to harboring feelings of hatred and enmity among centers' owners and between them and the callers sometimes. Allah (Exalted be He) says: O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and gambling, and Al-Ansâb, and Al-Azlâm (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitan’s (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful. Shaitân (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allâh and from As-Salât (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain? May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.