In some countries, on special occasions
and on Fridays there are bullfights, where the owner of the winning bull receives an
amount of money. Is there anything Islamically forbidden in such contests?
Is it
permissible for the owner of the winning bull to take this money?
Praise be to Allaah.
If these contests between bulls result in harm to the bulls, then they
are haraam, because it is not permitted to harm animals or treat them cruelly. But even if
no harm is done, these contests are a form of idle entertainment that contain nothing of
good or benefit, and are just a waste of time, and buying bulls for the purpose of these
contests is a waste of money. In any case, competing for prize money is also haraam.
The ruling on bullfighting is as follows: if the bulls are harmed, or
if the contest is for prize money, it is haraam. If that is not the case, it is still a
waste of time and money, and it does not befit the decent, wise person to take part in it.
We advise our brothers who enjoy these contests and who waste lots of time watching them
on TV: time is too precious to be wasted in this idle entertainment that contains nothing
of good. (Liqa’ al-Baab al-Maftooh, Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 52/46). May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.
