Is Engaging in Wrestling Halal in Islam?
C.J Ahmed-05.06.2023
Wrestling is a form of physical sport that is done usually to compete in championships. There is nothing haram in engaging in wrestling.
Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allah (sal) said:
“The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, although both are good. Strive to do that which will benefit you and seek the help of Allah. Do not feel helpless and if anything befalls you, do not say ‘If only I had done such and such.’ Rather say, ‘Qadar Allah wa ma sha-a kan (The decree of Allah and whatever He wills happens).’ For (the words) ‘If only’ open the door to the Shaytan.” (Muslim)
There are hadiths which I ndicate that wrestling was done during the time of the prophet (sal) but he did not prohibited it.
Abdullah b. Mas'ud reported Allah's Messenger (sal) as saying:
Whom do you count as" Raqub" amongst you? They (his Companions) said: One who has no children (the children are born unto him but they do not survive). Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: He is not a Raqub but Raqub is one who does not find his child as the forerunner (in Paradise). He then said: Whom do you count as a wrestler amongst you? We said: He who wrestles with persons. He said: No, it is not he but one who controls himself when in a fit of rage.(Muslim)
In this hadith, the prophet (sal) took wrestling as an example to show the importance of nt getting angry.
There are some who might try to forbid wrestling by stating that boxing involves striking the face and striking the face is harm. The prophet(sal) said,
“If any one of you has a fight with his brother, let him avoid the face.”(Muslim)
The above hadith is about fighting a Muslim seriously and boxing is done for sport and is not serious.
Narrated AbuHurayrah:
The Prophet (sal) said: “When one of you inflicts a beating, he should avoid striking the face.”(Abu Dawud-Graded Sahih by Albani)
It is clear that striking the face means fighting seriously and wrestling is done only for entertainment.
Boxing has being there since ancient Greece nd even in such a scenario, the prophet (sal) never forbade boxing. Islam is basically silent. The next argument is that boxing is a waste of time. that watching movies is a waste of time? The hadith about wasting time is as follows.
Ibn Abbas reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “There are two blessings which many people waste: health and free time.”
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
The above hadith, it speaks generally about wasting time and you cannot say specifically that boxing is also a waste of time. Wasting time is what the Quran and the authentic hadiths say what wasting time is and not the personal opinions of someone. Just because ports such as boxing is a waste of time for one person does not mean it is a waste of time for another. If seeking entertainment was a waste of time, then the prophet (Sal) would have forbidden Aisha (Rali) from watching the Ethiopians playing with spears in the mosque. Wasting time is a relative thing for a person to person and Islam nowhere says that watching movies or entertainment is a waste of time or that it is haram. This is what happens when Muslims become puritanical and try to go beyond the understanding of the Sahaba and the Salaf. The Ansar Sahaba are among the most closed companions of the prophet (Sal) and loving them is a sign of faith. The Ansar Sahabah were fond of entertainment and the prophet (Sal) said:
“O Aisha, do you have any entertainment? Verily, the Ansar are fond of entertainment.”
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
Wrestling is a form of physical sport that is done usually to compete in championships. There is nothing haram in engaging in wrestling.
Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allah (sal) said:
“The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, although both are good. Strive to do that which will benefit you and seek the help of Allah. Do not feel helpless and if anything befalls you, do not say ‘If only I had done such and such.’ Rather say, ‘Qadar Allah wa ma sha-a kan (The decree of Allah and whatever He wills happens).’ For (the words) ‘If only’ open the door to the Shaytan.” (Muslim)
There are hadiths which I ndicate that wrestling was done during the time of the prophet (sal) but he did not prohibited it.
Abdullah b. Mas'ud reported Allah's Messenger (sal) as saying:
Whom do you count as" Raqub" amongst you? They (his Companions) said: One who has no children (the children are born unto him but they do not survive). Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: He is not a Raqub but Raqub is one who does not find his child as the forerunner (in Paradise). He then said: Whom do you count as a wrestler amongst you? We said: He who wrestles with persons. He said: No, it is not he but one who controls himself when in a fit of rage.(Muslim)
In this hadith, the prophet (sal) took wrestling as an example to show the importance of nt getting angry.
There are some who might try to forbid wrestling by stating that boxing involves striking the face and striking the face is harm. The prophet(sal) said,
“If any one of you has a fight with his brother, let him avoid the face.”(Muslim)
The above hadith is about fighting a Muslim seriously and boxing is done for sport and is not serious.
Narrated AbuHurayrah:
The Prophet (sal) said: “When one of you inflicts a beating, he should avoid striking the face.”(Abu Dawud-Graded Sahih by Albani)
It is clear that striking the face means fighting seriously and wrestling is done only for entertainment.
Boxing has being there since ancient Greece nd even in such a scenario, the prophet (sal) never forbade boxing. Islam is basically silent. The next argument is that boxing is a waste of time. that watching movies is a waste of time? The hadith about wasting time is as follows.
Ibn Abbas reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “There are two blessings which many people waste: health and free time.”
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
The above hadith, it speaks generally about wasting time and you cannot say specifically that boxing is also a waste of time. Wasting time is what the Quran and the authentic hadiths say what wasting time is and not the personal opinions of someone. Just because ports such as boxing is a waste of time for one person does not mean it is a waste of time for another. If seeking entertainment was a waste of time, then the prophet (Sal) would have forbidden Aisha (Rali) from watching the Ethiopians playing with spears in the mosque. Wasting time is a relative thing for a person to person and Islam nowhere says that watching movies or entertainment is a waste of time or that it is haram. This is what happens when Muslims become puritanical and try to go beyond the understanding of the Sahaba and the Salaf. The Ansar Sahaba are among the most closed companions of the prophet (Sal) and loving them is a sign of faith. The Ansar Sahabah were fond of entertainment and the prophet (Sal) said:
“O Aisha, do you have any entertainment? Verily, the Ansar are fond of entertainment.”
(Sahih Al Bukhari)