If Sports Can’t Cause Harm to be Halal, Doesn’t That Make All Sports Haram?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I’ve read that for a sport to be considered permissible, it can’t cause harm or injury, but most, if not all, sports can cause or involve potential harm or injury from boxing, to football, to hockey, so does this mean we can’t actually participate in 99% or all sports or is there something that makes more sense that I’m missing?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
The permissibility of a particular sport depends on many factors. Harm and injury are just one aspect of a sport.
Harming Oneself
Allah (Most High) tells us in the Quran, “And do not let your own hands throw you into destruction [2:195], and ‘And do not kill yourselves.” [Quran, 4:29]
Your Body Has a Right Over You
’Aisha reported: The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) sent for ’Uthman ibn Madh’un and he came. The Prophet said, “O ’Uthman, do you not desire my practice?” ’Uthman said, “O Messenger of Allah, no by Allah. I seek your practice.” The Prophet said, “Verily, I sleep, and I pray, I fast, and I break my fast, and I marry women. Fear Allah, O ’Uthman, for your family has rights over you, and your guest has rights over you. Verily, yourself has rights over you, so fast and break your fast, pray and sleep.”
[Abu Dawud]
The above references, as well as being established in the sacred law, make it clear that we are not permitted to cause harm to ourselves primarily. If our bodies get injured while playing a particular permissible sport, this is secondary and not deliberate.
Our bodies -Trust from Allah (Most High)
Like everything else we use and enjoy in this life, our bodies do not belong to us but belong to Allah (Most High) and are entrusted to us to look after. On the Day of Judgment, our limbs and body parts will either speak for or against us, depending on what we did with them. For this reason, we should look after our bodies, faculties, and senses as best as we can. So we have to play safely and train safely.
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.
Related Answers
- What Guidelines Should Muslims Consider to Play Sports in Europe? (seekersguidance.org)
- The Strong Believer Article Eight– Healthy Bodies, Minds, and Souls (seekersguidance.org)
- Is It Allowed to Wear Shorts While Playing Sports? – SeekersGuidance
- Praying While Wearing Soccer Shorts With Compression Leggings Underneath – SeekersGuidance
- Is Punching or Striking the Face Allowed? – SeekersGuidance
- Is Sparring During Thai Boxing Training Sessions Disbelief? – SeekersGuidance
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersAcademy (seekersguidance.org)
I pray this helps with your question.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.
