400- Holding a competition in exchange for a consideration is forbidden, except in those cases which the Shari’ah has exempted, and this is stated in the hadith: “There is no competition except in archery, horses and camels.”
That is, taking a consideration in any competition other than these three kinds is not permissible. These three things are also exempted and set apart because training and competing in them provides support for Jihad fi sabilillah. On this basis we say that, by analogy with camels, horses and archery, holding prize competitions between things specific to warfare, such as riding (mounts) etc., is permissible. Some scholars, extending this to competitions in the religious sciences, say that seeking knowledge is also Jihad fi sabilillah, so holding competitions with prizes or consideration in religious matters is permissible.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) also adopted this view. Accordingly, races, wrestling, competitions in beautiful handwriting and dictation in exchange for a consideration are not permissible, because they are included in that text neither in wording nor in meaning. There is also a third kind of competition, which takes place in a forbidden activity, such as competitions in backgammon (nard), chess and the like; this is forbidden whether it is with a consideration or without one.
On this basis, competitions are of three kinds:
The first kind is forbidden; the second is forbidden with a consideration and permissible without one; and the third is permissible both with and without a consideration. The three things we have mentioned, namely archery, horses and camel riding, competitions in them are permissible whether with a consideration or without one, and the racing etc. that is permissible is forbidden with a consideration, and permissible without one; and competition in a forbidden thing is forbidden in every case.
Note: The word “consideration” repeatedly mentioned in these answers refers to the sum (entry fee) which each team, each participating player or each candidate pays to take part in the competition or tournament, then the sums of all the candidates are collected and given to the winning team as a prize; it also includes betting.
Ruling on Betting (Shart)
Betting falls under the ruling of gambling. Betting is not permissible except in those activities which the pure Shari’ah has made lawful, and it is permissible only in competitions of camels, horses and archery, because the Prophet’s hadith says:
“Competition with a consideration is only in horses, camels and archery.”
