Ichiban Kuji is a game that is gaining popularity in Malaysia. It can be found at almost every toy and collectable store, and even online.
Its official “Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia” site describes Ichiban Kuji as Japan’s most popular sure-win lucky draw.
To play, a participant must buy a Kuji ticket, peel the seal on the ticket to see the prize, show it to the store’s staff, and claim it on the spot. Also, every ticket is a winner.
Participants could also win special prizes by buying the last ticket in the game (Last One) or winning the secondary lucky draw (Double Chance)
However, not all prizes are the same. Take the Ichiban Kuji for Godzilla Minus 1 as an example. The most common prize (Prize H) is one of the six 3 to 4cm tall magnets, while the rare top prize (Prize A, Last One, and Double Chance) is a 23cm tall Godzilla figure. The rarity and value of both prizes are different.
In other words, the money for the Ichiban Kuji prizes comes from the participants. However, based on luck, some players will get a more desirable high-value item, while most will get lower-value items.
This makes sense as Bandai Namco, the company that created the game and its prizes under the name Banpresto, translates “Ichiban Kuji” as “Number 1 Lottery”, where “Kuji” means “Lottery”.
A lottery is “a situation whose success or result is based on luck rather than effort or careful organisation” or gambling.
“The Concept of Competition and Award in Islam” by Dr. Ashraf Md. Hashim from the International Islamic University Malaysia, it is considered gambling when these two elements are present:
First, the source of the prize comes from the money deposited by all participants.
Second, every participant has to take a risk: either they will win the competition or lose.
It also says, “The jurists do not differentiate between competitions that involve participants’ special abilities and skills, or those that depend only on luck.
“In all situations, when both the criteria are met, these situations are considered ‘gambling’, which is prohibited under Islamic law.
Regarding the law, the “Lotteries Act 1952” defines “lottery” as “any game, method, scheme or device whereby money or money’s worth is distributed or allotted in any manner depending upon or to be determined by chance or lot”.
It also says, “lotteries unlawful except with permit of Minister of Finance”.
Ichiban Kuji permitted in Islam? Does the law recognise it as a lottery?
I am not a lawyer nor a scholar, but is I think Ichiban Kuji is gambling, and I’ll avoid it. But what do you think?
Links:
https://www.ichibankujisgmy.com
https://www.banpresto.jp/kuji/9042270.html
https://shop.bandai.com/blog/post/blog/product-spotlight-ichibansho-figures
Azizul Rahman Ismail 