Claw Machines considered gambling, Perlis Mufti says “big sin” to play and operate for Muslims
SHAH ALAM – With the large number of claw machine games operating in shopping malls, an Islamic scholar had come forward to warn the Muslims that it is a “big sin” to play and operate the machine.
Perlis Mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin stated that claw machine games are prohibited in Islam after an individual inquired about the rules of playing the game.
On his Instagram post, Asri, fondly known as Dr Maza said Muslims should refrain from engaging in betting games on such machines as it was considered a major sin.
“The claw machine games or the likes are considered as gambling, where if the customers succeed, they will get the goods in the machine while if they lost, they would lose the money.
“The game is also seen as deceiving and may trick children into playing while profiting off them,” he said.
Dr Maza said that the concept featured in the claw machine games denied the right of the buyer to choose goods that they wanted according to the payment made.
He added that a Muslim should not even help manage the machine as it is considered batil (falsehood) and made it clear that a game based on one’s luck is against the religion of Islam.
