Condemning attacks against homosexuals - competing for prize money
3-1-2018 | IslamWeb
Question:
Assalaamu alaykum. I have asked you a question on taking help from homosexuals for common human rights in the West, where homosexuality is allowed. You said that it is generally allowed to take help from them in the causes which benifit the Muslim community. I have another question: A year ago there was an attack on a homosexual club. This attack is un-Islamic in the sense that we are not allowed to carry out the Hadd (Shariah-prescribed physical) punishment ourselves, especially where we live as a minority. Is it allowed to support the homosexual community against those attacks while also saying that we do not believe that homosexuality is morally wrong? For example, if someone attacks a heterosexual night club in a Western country, we will not justify that attack by saying that the night club is a place of fornication etc.
I also have another question. There is a hadith which prohibits taking prize money for games other than horse racing, archery, and something else which I forgot. The scholars extend this ruling to Quran memorization competitions and Islamic games! So will it be halal by extension for any other halal sports competitions, engineering project shows, or science competitions to take prize money? I do not see any difference therein.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
It appears – Allah knows best – that the criteria in condemning the attacks that may take place against those people (homosexuals) depends on the benefit involved. So there is nothing wrong in resorting to it if there is a preponderant benefit for the Muslims. As for saying that homosexuality is not morally wrong, then this is confirming a falsehood and a great evil that is rejected by people with reason; let alone by the Shariah. This is in relation to your first question. For more benefit, please refer to fatwa 90305.
As regards your second question, the scholars differed in opinion regarding the competitions in which taking compensation for winning is permissible. Some of them were flexible about it while others were stringent. Those who were flexible allowed it in all fields that are helpful for jihaad for the sake of Allah and for supporting the religion, so it is impermissible to compete for a prize in what does not serve this purpose.
‘Abd Ar-Rahmaan Al-Barraak said, “It is known that sports games, such as soccer and the like, are not included in jihaad, and they have nothing to do with supporting the religion. So it is not permissible to take a compensation for it...”
Therefore, taking a compensation is not permissible in sports games, engineering projects, or scientific matters that have nothing to do with supporting the religion.
For more benefit, please refer to fatwas 89570, 339982, and 3381.
Allah knows best.