Question Summary:
Quran Competitions

Question Detail:

Is it permissible to take part in a Qur'an competition in which the prize is money? 

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullahi wa-barakatuh.
Shariah has emphasized on Islamic education. Consider the following Ahaadeeth:
مَنْ خَرَجَ فِي طَلَبِ العِلْمِ فَهُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ
“Whoever leaves (home) to seek knowledge, will be in the path of Allah until he reaches home” (Tirmidhi 4-325, Darul Gharbul Islaami) 
طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَة ٌعَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ
“The seeking of (sufficient Islamic) knowledge is compulsory upon every Muslim” (Musnade Bazzaar 1-164, Maktabatul Uloom Wal Hikam-Madinah Munawwarah)
إِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ لَتَضَعُ أَجْنِحَتَهَا لِطَالِبِ الْعِلْمِ رِضًى بِمَا يَطْلُبُ
Indeed, the angels lower their wings for the seeker of (Islamic) knowledge in happiness of his seeking (knowledge) (Al Mu’jamul Kabeer 8-63, Cairo)
In this era of secularism, there is great amount of emphasis on secular education. Children compete in school with one another and focus on attaining degrees in university. There is a lack of enthusiasm in studying Islamic knowledge. It has also become a challenge to guide our children in seeking Islamic knowledge. There is therefore a need to create ways and means of encouragement to study Islamic knowledge.
Prizes and Gifts offered in Madrasahs and Darul Ulooms to students who excel in their studies are one of the means to encourage students of Deen. The gifts are not a remuneration emanating from a contractual agreement which can be termed as wages for worship (اجاره علي الطاعت).
The prizes offered in a Quraan competition are similar to the prizes offered in Madrasahs and Darul Ulooms to students who excel in their studies. There is no difference between cash prizes or prizes in kind. At most, prize giving is based on مصلحت (expediency) for the benefit of Deen.
As such, the focus should not be the gifts or prizes awarded to the participants in a Quraan competition. The prime focus should be to gain the pleasure of Allah.[1][2][3]
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Ismaeel Bassa
Student Darul Iftaa
Durban South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net