Interpreting Maisir in Qur’an 5:90–91 and Its Relevance to Togel Gambling in Celawan Village

Abstract

Lottery gambling (togel) persists despite its prohibition in Islam, raising questions about the relationship between religious knowledge and social practice. This study examines interpretations of maisir in Qur’an 5:90–91 and their relevance to togel in Celawan Village, Serdang Bedagai Regency, Indonesia. It combines a descriptive qualitative case study with Qur’anic exegesis. Data were drawn from interviews with seven informants—three gamblers and four representatives of village government, community leadership, and religious leadership—and relevant exegetical and scholarly literature. The analysis examined gambling mechanisms, motivations, experiences, and reported consequences before relating these findings to the selected verses. Togel involved monetary stakes, uncertain outcomes, and anticipated winnings, corresponding conceptually to the characteristics of maisir. Informants described financial expectations, peer influence, entertainment, and habit as reasons for continued participation. Reported consequences included financial losses, family objections, and community concern. Some participants continued gambling despite recognizing its risks or wishing to stop, while community informants described a gap between awareness of the religious prohibition and actual behavior. The exegetical analysis highlighted the command to avoid gambling and its social and spiritual implications. Claims concerning crime and marital breakdown remain informant perceptions, and the study did not measure changes in religious observance. These findings support a contextual understanding of maisir and suggest that prevention should address religious education alongside the social and economic circumstances associated with continued gambling.