#Crypto trading in light of Islam:
Spot Vs Futures Trading: In light of Islam
Gambling:
Gambling (or betting) is when you risk money (or something valuable) on an uncertain event hoping to win more money.
examples:
• Placing money on a cricket match team to win
• Guessing a number or card and winning if you’re right
👉 You stake money + outcome is based on chance (or partly skill) + you may win or lose
👉 is this prohibited in islam?
Yes — gambling and betting are clearly prohibited (haram) in Islam.
In Islam it is called Maisir (مَيْسِر) or Qimār (قمار), and it is strictly forbidden in the Qur’an.
Clear Qur’anic ruling (simple meaning):
Allah says in Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:90):
Gambling, alcohol, idols, and fortune-telling are filthy acts of Satan — so avoid them so that you may succeed.
👉 “Avoid” in Islam means completely prohibited, not just disliked.
👉What is NOT gambling?
✔ Business with real risk + effort + value creation (trade)
✔ Investment (not based on pure chance)
👉what about future trading of crypto currency? is this also gambling?
You are not buying real crypto like Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Instead you are:
• Guessing whether price will go UP or DOWN
• Putting money on that prediction
• Using leverage (borrowed money) to multiply profit or loss
Example: You bet $100 that Bitcoin will go up.
If correct → you win more
If wrong → you lose (sometimes everything)
👉 This looks very much like betting.
👉Why scholars say it’s haram:
1. It is speculation, not real ownership
Islam requires real asset ownership in trade.
In futures, you usually never own the crypto.
2. It has gambling (Maisir)
You profit purely from price movement —
Your gain = someone else’s loss.
3. It has excessive uncertainty (Gharar)
No one knows price direction — very high risk.
4. It usually includes interest (Riba)
Leverage & funding fees often involve hidden interest.
👉A Simple rule:
If you are predicting price up/down without owning asset = gambling-like = haram