Powerball is Fireball

July 31, 1998: CNN Reports:
    A group of 13 machine shop workers from a plant in Ohio has won the Powerball jackpot. They work at this automation tooling system facility in Westerville, Ohio, and the winning ticket was one of the 130 tickets they bought at a gas station in Richmond, Indiana. Each of the winners, who call  themselves the "Lucky 13" will get more than $12 million, that's before taxes. (end of CNN quote)

While there are some benefits in lottery, the harm is far greater. All types of gambling, including lottery are forbidden in Islam. Don't let the powerball turn into fireball for you. Do not gamble. Do not buy lottery tickets. Do not buy raffles either. Give money for charity, but don't taint it with raffle tickets. Are you giving the money for the sake of God or for the sake of the prize? Do you believe in God and want to obey Him? If the answer is yes, read on.

Here are a few verses from the Quran to help us.
002.219  They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is great sin, and
some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit." They ask thee how much
they are to spend; Say: "What is beyond your needs." Thus doth God Make clear to
you His Signs: In order that ye may consider-

005.093  O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and
(divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan's handwork: eschew such
(abomination), that ye may prosper.

005.094  Satan's plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with
intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of God, and from
prayer: will ye not then abstain?

005.095  Obey God, and obey the Apostle, and beware (of evil): if ye do turn back,
know ye that it is Our Apostle's duty to proclaim (the message) in the clearest
manner.

005.101  Know ye that God is strict in punishment and that God is Oft-forgiving,
Most Merciful.

005.102  The Apostle's duty is but to proclaim (the message). But God knoweth all
that ye reveal and ye conceal.

005.103  Say: "Not equal are things that are bad and things that are good, even though
the abundance of the bad may dazzle thee; so fear God, O ye that understand; that (so)
ye may prosper."