What is the ruling on racing for a reward?
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The questioner : O honorable Shaykh! What is the ruling on racing for a reward?
The Shaykh : Racing for a reward is forbidden except in what has been exempted by the Shari'ah, and this is clarified by the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1700Hasan (Darussalam).
That is, there is no reward for racing except in these three: the arrow, the hoof, and the hoof.
As for the arrow, it means the arrows, i.e., shooting with a rifle or the like. The hoof refers to camels, and the hoof refers to horses. These three were exempted because practicing them and racing with them aids in jihad in the path of Allah. Accordingly, we say that racing for a reward on what is specific to war, whether a mount or otherwise, is permissible by analogy to camels, horses, and arrows.
Some scholars extended this to racing in Islamic sciences, saying: because seeking knowledge is jihad in the path of Allah. Accordingly, racing for a reward on matters of the Shari'ah is permissible. Among those who chose this opinion is Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him). Based on this, racing for a reward on foot is not permissible, racing for a reward in wrestling is not permissible, and racing for a reward on the quality of handwriting or dictation is not permissible, because that does not fall under the text, either in wording or in meaning.
There is a third type of racing, which is racing on what is forbidden, such as backgammon, chess, and the like. This is forbidden, whether for a reward or without one. Accordingly, racing falls into three categories:
The first category is forbidden. The second is lawful without a reward but forbidden with a reward. The third is lawful with a reward and without one. So, the three we mentioned—the arrow, the camel's hoof, and the horse's hoof—racing in them is lawful with a reward and without one. Racing on foot and the like, which is lawful to race on, is forbidden with a reward and lawful without one. And racing on a forbidden thing is forbidden in all cases.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Racing for a reward is forbidden except in what has been exempted by the Shari'ah, and this is clarified by the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
No stake is acceptable except in archery, racing a camel, and racing a horse.
لا سبق إلا في نصل أو خف أو حافرThat is, there is no reward for racing except in these three: the arrow, the hoof, and the hoof.
As for the arrow, it means the arrows, i.e., shooting with a rifle or the like. The hoof refers to camels, and the hoof refers to horses. These three were exempted because practicing them and racing with them aids in jihad in the path of Allah. Accordingly, we say that racing for a reward on what is specific to war, whether a mount or otherwise, is permissible by analogy to camels, horses, and arrows.
Some scholars extended this to racing in Islamic sciences, saying: because seeking knowledge is jihad in the path of Allah. Accordingly, racing for a reward on matters of the Shari'ah is permissible. Among those who chose this opinion is Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him). Based on this, racing for a reward on foot is not permissible, racing for a reward in wrestling is not permissible, and racing for a reward on the quality of handwriting or dictation is not permissible, because that does not fall under the text, either in wording or in meaning.
There is a third type of racing, which is racing on what is forbidden, such as backgammon, chess, and the like. This is forbidden, whether for a reward or without one. Accordingly, racing falls into three categories:
The first category is forbidden. The second is lawful without a reward but forbidden with a reward. The third is lawful with a reward and without one. So, the three we mentioned—the arrow, the camel's hoof, and the horse's hoof—racing in them is lawful with a reward and without one. Racing on foot and the like, which is lawful to race on, is forbidden with a reward and lawful without one. And racing on a forbidden thing is forbidden in all cases.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.