Q: I work in a post office and selling lottery is part of the contract. Is it permissible to sell lottery tickets? if it is not permissible then what do I do with the remuneration received?
الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومنه الصدق والصواب
A: It is not permitted to sell lottery tickets and any remuneration received for doing so must be returned to your employer. If that is not possible it must be donated to charity without the intention to earn reward. The requirement is to ensure that the income is spent in charitable causes of public benefit that have sanction in Shariah. This could potentially be through a non-Muslim charity that is providing such benefit. However, it may not always be guaranteed that the activity of the charity has Sharia sanction. A Muslim charity on the other hand is likely to be providing such benefit by default.