The Madrassah in our locality often organises competions. Sometimes there are many winners. Because of the great number of winners all of them are not given a gift but a draw is done to select one or two or three winners and they are awarded a prize/gift. Is it permissible to perform the draw according ti Islam?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

This is like drawing lots in order to select a winner and this is permissible. Ibn Rajab from the Hanbali School of jurisprudence, said: "Drawing lots is used to select a winner when it is confirmed in principle that an indefinite one deserves the prize, and when there are many people who equally deserve the prize.''

Therefore, it is permissible to draw lots in order to select one person among the winners if the participants did not pay any money to participate in the draw. However, if the participant pays any money in order to participate in the draw, then it is not permissible to participate in this case, because he will either be a winner or a loser and this is gambling itself [which is forbidden].

Allaah Knows best.