Ten pieces of arrow-shaped wood were kept at the venue of gambling.

Ten pieces of arrow-shaped wood were kept at the venue of gambling. Each piece had a specific name. The names of seven of those pieces were faz, tawām, raqīb, halas, nafis, masbal and mualla . Specific portion of meat was allotted to each of the arrows. For example faz was equal to one portion and mualla had seven portions. The meat that had been divided into twenty-eight pieces was distributed only to these ten pieces of wood.

Some of the arrows were such that no meat was allotted to them and in fact those who got them had to reimburse the cost of camel in full. The total of participants in this game was ten, and the Three unlucky ones were expelled. The Three unlucky arrows were named “manaj, safih and raghad ”. ‘Azlām’ is a kind of a wager whereas *‘Maesir’*includes all forms of gambling. Azlām is mentioned specifically because it was popular before the advent of Islam.

Other methods of azlām are also recorded but irrespective of the method, all types of wagers are Harām . Wine, gambling, idol worship and azlām are all satanic works. Involving oneself in these would deprive the person of salvation and success in the hereafter. It is therefore commanded not to even go near wine and gambling.

Gambling and Wine Cause Avarice and Enmity “The Shaitan only desires to cause enmity and hatred to spring in your midst by means of intoxicants and games of chance...” (Surah al-Mā’ida 5:91) It is common knowledge that a man loses his senses under the influence of alcohol and in this condition behaves in a most indiscreet manner. He is therefore bound to create enemies due to his shoddy behaviour. Drunkards are also known to murder their own family members and friends.

As far as gambling is concerned, enmity between the participants is the most natural outcome in a game of chance. The person who loses his money to his opponent is bound to resent him and have a feeling of vengeance and there is bound to be a winner and a loser. The dominating influence on the gamblers is that of hatred and enmity. Gambling Causes Voluptuousness and Sensuality A person who wins in gambling makes a lot of easy money.

Obviously, he looks for ways and means for self-indulgence to splurge his ill-gotten wealth. In fact, profit from Harām means paves the way towards further unlawful evils. Avarice is the characteristic of all gamblers. The gambler who wins is so obsessed that he wagers more around larger profits. The loser is equally obsessed to win back what he has lost.