Maysir
ميسر
Pronunciation: MAY-sir
Gambling or games of chance — one of the three major prohibitions in Islamic finance.
Definition
Gambling or games of chance. One of the three major prohibitions in Islamic finance (alongside riba and gharar). Financial transactions that resemble gambling — with speculative, chance-based outcomes rather than genuine economic activity — are considered maysir.
This prohibition extends to derivative instruments and speculative trading strategies where the outcome depends primarily on chance rather than productive economic activity. Conventional insurance is also considered by many scholars to contain elements of maysir.
Related Terms
Ghararغرر
Excessive uncertainty or ambiguity in a contract — one of the three major prohibitions in Islamic finance.
Ribaربا
Interest or usury — the most strictly prohibited practice in Islamic finance.
Haramحرام
Prohibited under Islamic law — in finance, includes interest-based products and investments in prohibited industries.
Takafulتكافل
Islamic cooperative insurance based on mutual assistance and shared risk among participants.
Further Reading
Read more on WikipediaStay Updated
Get halal finance updates, new provider alerts, and expert insights
No spam ever. Unsubscribe in one click.
Maysir (ميسر) — Gambling or games of chance — one of the three major prohibitions in Islamic finance. Gambling or games of chance. One of the three major prohibitions in Islamic finance (alongside riba and gharar).
- Gambling or games of chance — one of the three major prohibitions in Islamic finance.
- Category: Prohibitions
- Related: Gharar, Riba, Haram, Takaful
How to cite this page
Preferred format:
For time-sensitive claims (rates, fees, state availability), please verify directly with the provider's official documentation and note the retrieval date.
Sources and review process
This page is reviewed against HalalWallet editorial standards and source documentation.
Reviewed by: HalalWallet Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 2026-03-06
Editorial Team, HalalWallet
Independent halal finance research · A member of Niya
Reviewed quarterly and updated for major content changes.