Question:
Hello
In my previous job i have had a very hard time performing my salah on time Dispite trying very hard to perform my salah on time there were times i missed my salah. Even looking into other jobs i find i will have the same problem and miss some salah. Based on this I would like to know if it would be permissible to become a pro boxing so i wouldn’t miss my salah. I would also like to know what would happen if i end up dying in the ring or my oppenent dies in the ring accidentally, would Allah punish me for this? I would only adopt this sport so i can perform my salah on time. If you can please answer it would be greatly appreciated.
(Question published as received)
Answer:
In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-raḥmatullāhi wa-barakātuh
Your attitude towards performing ṣalāh timeously is encouraging. We make du‘ā’ Allāh grants you a flexible means of income in which you can perform your ṣalāh on time, āmīn.
It is not permissible to adopt boxing as a means of income as boxing is not permissible.
Consider the following Aḥādīth of Rasūlullāh (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam):
عن أبي هريرة، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: وفي حديث ابن حاتم، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: إذا قاتل أحدكم أخاه، فليجتنب الوجه، فإن الله خلق آدم على صورته
Abū Hurayrah (raḍiyallāhu ‘anhu) has narrated that Rasūlullāh (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “If somebody fights (or beats somebody) then he should avoid the face.” [1]
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: لَا ضَرَرَ وَلَا ضِرَارَ، مَنْ ضَارَّ ضَارَّهُ اللَّهُ، وَمَنْ شَاقَّ شَاقَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ
“An individual should not harm others or be harmed by others in return.” [2]
It is clear from the above that it is not permissible for you to choose boxing as a career. However, if one learns boxing merely to stay fit and to defend oneself, this will be permissible with the condition referred to in the ḥadīth, i.e. avoid hitting the face.
And Allah Ta‘āla Knows Best
(Mufti) Bilal al-Mahmudi
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
[1] Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
[2] Al-Mustadrak li l Ḥākim