Is boxing haraam

[Hafeez]

Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

Imam saab i hope this question reaches you in good health, you are the shinning light of this wonderfull forum, by all please take your time whilst replying to my question.

i was in Muslim establishment when this young man was "bragging" in a way about his ametuer boxing career. An elder then informed him that boxing is haraam on the basis that you are striking someone on the face, to hit one on the face is forbidden in Islam the evidence is in the hadith Qudsi.

Therefore, is this true? could you please provide of that hadith as well please, jazakallah khair

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu


Praise be to Allah who is the Lord of the Worlds, and may Endless Blessings be showered upon His Most Beloved, and Final Messenger of Islam, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam).


Jazak-Allah for your question. I would'nt necessarily say that boxing is haram, as it would state specifically, in the Qur'an al kareem or hadith, for an activity/object to become haram. However, there has in the Mishqat Shareef, appeared a warning from hitting people on the face, while in a fight. It states:


'It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (Radi Allahu anhu), who said that the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) said, that when any (one) of you who fights, he should prevent from (hitting) the face, because Allah the Almighty has created the human from His best beauty.'

[Mishqat al Masabih, 306, Qasamat]


We see that none should strike the face, even when performing Jihad. The face is created from the Beauty of the Almighty, and reflects in every face. Therefore, it would niether be permissable, to be engaged in a sport such as boxing, where the face is struck, or is stricken so often, that it spoils the way how one looks.


May Allah the Almighty help us to engage in our lives, that, which He has deemed permissable, and prevent from that, which He has deemed impermissable.


Wallahu A'lamu Biththawaab


M. Waseem Ashrafi