(Part No. 4; Page No. 411)

  Ruling on boxing, bullfighting, and freestyle wrestling [4]

Q: A questioner from Egypt is asking about the ruling of Islam on boxing, bullfighting, and freestyle wrestling A: Boxing and bullfighting are of the rejected prohibited things because of the great harm and danger involved. Moreover, bullfighting entails torturing these animals. However, there is no harm in practicing freestyle wrestling so long as it does not involve danger, harm, or uncovering one's `Awrah (parts of the body that must be covered in public). The Hadith mentions that the Prophet (peace be upon him) wrestled Yazid ibn Rukanah and defeated him. [1] This is because the basic ruling expresses permission unless otherwise declared by Islamic law. The Islamic Fiqh Academy, an affiliate of the Muslim World League, has issued a decree prohibiting boxing and bullfighting for the aforementioned reasons. Following is the text: The Third Decree

on the issue of boxing, freestyle wrestling, and bullfighting [5]

Praise be to Allah, Alone. May peace and blessings be upon the Last Prophet, our master and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his family, and Companions.The Islamic Fiqh Academy of the Muslim World League in its tenth session held at Makkah Al-Mukarramah during the period (from Sat. Safar 24, 1408 A.H./October 17, 1987 A.D. to Wed. Safar 28, 1408 A.H/Oct. 21, 1987 A.D.)

(Part No. 4; Page No. 412)

 investigated the legal decision concerning the boxing and freestyle wrestling as practiced in some foreign countries, and bullfighting as a permissible sporting game, the academy reviewed and discussed all aspects of this issue and considered the results of such practices that have been classed as sports and broadcast on TV programs in Islamic and non-Islamic countries. After looking into the studies submitted to the academy in its previous session by competent doctors and the information provided by some statistics presented regarding what has happened in the world as a result of practicing boxing and the tragic incidents seen on TV resulting from it, the council of the academy decided the following: First: Boxing: The Academy Council has unanimously agreed that boxing as practiced nowadays in contests and sport centers in our countries is a prohibited practice in the Islamic Shari`ah. It is based on permitting fighters to injure each other to the extent that could lead to blindness, permanent severe brain damage, serious fractures, or death; without imposing any liability on the other party. In addition, spectators derive pleasure from the winner's victory and feelings of happiness for the injury suffered by the loser. This is absolutely prohibited and rejected in Islam for Allah (Exalted be He) states, ...and do not throw yourselves into destruction [6] And He (Exalted be He) says: And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allâh is Most Merciful to you. [7] In addition to the statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him): There is no harm (in Islam) nor should one cause harm (either to himself or to others). [2] Thus, the jurists of Shari`ah state that if a person makes his blood violable to another, saying: (kill me), it is impermissible for the other to do this and if he does, he shall be liable to punishment.

(Part No. 4; Page No. 413)

 Therefore, the council rules that it is impermissible to deem this sort of boxing as a sport or to practice it, for the concept of sport depends on training without causing harm or injury. Moreover, it should be removed from local sports programs or international participation. The council also approves the impermissibility of broadcasting such contests on TV to protect the youth from learning such bad acts or imitating them. Second: Freestyle Wrestling: As for freestyle wrestling in which wrestlers deem it lawful to hurt one another and cause injury, the council views that it completely resembles boxing even if there are slight differences between them, because the legal physical reasons for the prohibitions of boxing exist in freestyle wrestling that assumes the nature of fighting. Thus, it takes the same ruling of prohibition. Regarding other types of wrestling practiced for physical exercise without causing any injury, they are legally permissible and the council does not view their prohibition. Third: Bullfighting: As for bullfighting that is a custom in some countries, in which bulls are killed by a skilled matador using some weapons, it is also prohibited as it is legally impermissible in Islam to kill animals by means of torture with sharp objects being thrust in their bodies. This frequently leads to killing the bull, which is a brutal act and rejected by Islamic law. The Messenger (peace be upon him) stated in the Sahih (authentic Hadith): A woman was cast into Hellfire because of a cat which she tied up and did not feed, nor did she release it to feed upon the vermin of the earth. [3] Thus, if locking up cats is a cause for entering Hellfire on the Day of Resurrection, how will it be in the case of torturing a bull to death using weapons?

(Part No. 4; Page No. 414)

  Fourth: Promoting Animal Fights : The council also declares the prohibition of animal fights that take place in some countries where they promote fighting between animals such as camels, rams, cocks, and others until they kill or injure each other.Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Creation. May Peace and blessings be upon our master Muhammad, his family and Companions.The discussion on this topic was attended by Professor Najm `Abdullah `Abdul-Wahid from Kuwait .

Signature	.	Signature
Vice President	.	President of the Academy Council
Prof. `Abdullah `Umar Nasif	.	`Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz
Signature	Signature	Signature
Muhammad ibn Jubayr	Prof. Bakr `Abdullah Abu Zayd	`Abdullah `Abdur-rahman Al-Bassam
Signature	Signature	Signature
Salih ibn Fawzan ibn `Abdullah Al-Fawzan	Muhammad ibn `Abdullah ibn Sabil	Mustafa Ahmad Al-Zarqa'
Signature	Signature	Signature
Muhammad Mahmud Al-Sawwaf	Abul-Hasan `Aly Al-Husny Al-Nadawy	Muhammad Rashid Raghib Qabbany
Signature	Signature	Signature
Muhammad Al-Shadhely Al-Nayfar	Abu-Bakr Jumy	Prof. Ahmad Fahmy Abu Sinnah
Signature	Signature	Signature
Muhammad Al-Habib ibn Al-Khujah	Muhammad Salim ibn `Abdul-Wadud	Prof. Talal `Umar Bafaqih

..

Reporter of the council of the Islamic Fiqh Academy

The following had been absent from this round: His Eminence Professor: Yusuf Al-Qaradawy, His Eminence Shaykh Salih ibn `Uthaymin, His Eminence Shaykh `Abdul-Quddus Al-Hashimy, His Excellency staff general Mahmud Shit Khattab, His Eminence Shaykh Hasanayn Muhammad Makhluf, in addition to His Eminence Shaykh Mabruk Mas`ud Al-`Awwady .