Author: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman Azmi رحمه الله
The Ruling on the Sport of Boxing
This is a sport in which each boxer punches the face of the other, and often, as a result of a blow to the face, unconsciousness occurs. Similarly, those who play this sport expose their thighs, thus revealing the area of the body that must be covered (‘awrah).
As far as boxing is concerned, it is not permissible because it results in significant harm to both players or at least to one of them. Allah says:
"وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ" [البقرة: 195]
"And do not throw yourselves into destruction with your own hands."
Furthermore, He says:
"وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا" [النساء: 29]
"And do not kill yourselves. Indeed, Allah is ever Merciful to you."
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
"There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm." [Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith no. 2340]
Exposing the thighs and revealing the rest of the ‘awrah is also impermissible.
[Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta: 3685]
The Ruling on the Sport of Boxing
This is a sport in which each boxer punches the face of the other, and often, as a result of a blow to the face, unconsciousness occurs. Similarly, those who play this sport expose their thighs, thus revealing the area of the body that must be covered (‘awrah).
As far as boxing is concerned, it is not permissible because it results in significant harm to both players or at least to one of them. Allah says:
"وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ" [البقرة: 195]
"And do not throw yourselves into destruction with your own hands."
Furthermore, He says:
"وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا" [النساء: 29]
"And do not kill yourselves. Indeed, Allah is ever Merciful to you."
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
"There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm." [Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith no. 2340]
Exposing the thighs and revealing the rest of the ‘awrah is also impermissible.
[Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta: 3685]
