Is Training and Sparring in Boxing Impermissible?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
With gloves and helmets on and with the intent for both people who are sparring to become stronger (but still going hard), is training and sparring in boxing impermissible?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
Boxing is impermissible. However, moderate sparring on pads with a partner or a coach where one completely avoids the face would be permissible. This way, there is no harm to either side, so it would be permitted as a means of training someone for strength, speed, and self-defense.
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “If somebody fights (or beats somebody) then he should avoid the face.” [Bukhari]
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I pray this helps with your question.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.
He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.
He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.
He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.
