Is Wrestling Halal in Islam? Ruling on Participating and Organizing Matches

Question:

What is the ruling regarding wrestling or arranging wrestling bouts, and what is the ruling regarding one who initiates such a session?

Answer:

The (kind of) wrestling which is done as entertainment and in which they give no regard to Namaaz etc. and in addition to this, they do not take care regarding the ‘Satr’, i.e. the proper covering of the body, and their bodies are thus exposed in front of one another, then, in this case, it is impermissible and Haraam. However, if it (wrestling) is done to build strength, and the Namaaz is performed in their appointed times, and it is done within the limitations of the etiquettes of the Shari’at, then in such a case, there is no objection to it.

References:

1. Ordinance of Sayyidi Taj ush Shariah, page. 34-35

[ English Translation ]

Mufti Afthab Cassim al-Qadri Ridawi Noori,

Imam Mustafa Raza Research Center,

Durban, South Africa.