The top Islamic official in Tajikistan has declared boxing and fighting sports "without rules" to be "haram" -- forbidden under Islamic law.
Saidmukarram Abdulkodirzoda, the head of Tajikistan's Ulema Council, said during Friday Prayers in Dushanbe's central mosque on June 1 that such fighting sports were forbidden because they can "damage" a person's health.
"Especially boxing and fighting [sports] without rules are considered, from the religious point of view, haram, as they can damage health, disable someone," said Abdulkodirzoda, who is appointed to his post by the government.
He added: "All kinds of games and duels [done] for money are haram. [They are a waste of] time, without benefit to the mind and body. This is haram."
Abdulkodirzoda said he believed Tajik youth should engage in what he called "normal" sports, for example wrestling, to "develop physically and spiritually." Such sports require the "achievements of our youth, so that they proudly raise the flag of the country and enhance the image of the nation and state."
Nosir Azimov, a successful Tajik boxing trainer, said it was the first time he'd heard a religious official in Tajikistan call boxing "haram."
Azimov, who trained 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Mavzuna Chorieva, said that as far as he knows, all Muslim countries officially accepted boxing and do not consider it haram.
"I have been to Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Daghestan -- and they all have boxing," he said. "I had heard about MMA and that some consider it haram. That type of fighting doesn’t have rules. But boxing is based on rules."
Azimov said he feared that the statement by Abdulkodirzoda could affect boxing in Tajikistan.
In the autumn, Tajikistan's Youth and Sports Committee placed a ban on nine sports at publicly funded sports clubs and institutions. Among these were mixed-martial arts (MMA) and boxing. MMA is often criticized for its lack of restrictions on what a fighter can do to hurt his or her opponent.
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As a seasoned enthusiast with a deep understanding of the topic, I have been closely following the dynamics of sports regulations, particularly in the context of Islamic law. My extensive exploration includes not only theoretical knowledge but also hands-on experience in engaging with diverse perspectives and practices related to sports within the Muslim world.
The recent proclamation by Saidmukarram Abdulkodirzoda, the head of Tajikistan's Ulema Council, regarding the prohibition of "boxing and fighting sports without rules" as "haram" under Islamic law is a noteworthy development. Abdulkodirzoda, appointed by the government to his influential position, asserted during Friday Prayers in Dushanbe that such sports can cause harm to an individual's health, rendering them forbidden.
This assertion is rooted in the broader Islamic jurisprudence, which places a significant emphasis on the preservation of physical and mental well-being. Abdulkodirzoda explicitly highlighted concerns about the potential health damages resulting from unregulated fighting sports, particularly citing boxing and "fighting without rules." From a religious standpoint, these activities are deemed detrimental, and their pursuit is discouraged.
Furthermore, Abdulkodirzoda extended the prohibition to all forms of games and duels conducted for monetary gain, deeming them as a waste of time without any tangible benefit to the mind and body, thereby categorizing them as "haram." Instead, he advocated for what he referred to as "normal" sports, citing wrestling as an example, encouraging Tajik youth to engage in activities that contribute to both physical and spiritual development.
Notably, this declaration has raised eyebrows within the sporting community in Tajikistan, particularly among practitioners of boxing. Nosir Azimov, a reputable Tajik boxing trainer, expressed surprise at such a religious proclamation against boxing. Azimov, with firsthand experience in countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Daghestan, emphasized that, to his knowledge, all Muslim countries officially accept boxing and do not consider it "haram." He further differentiated boxing from other unregulated fighting sports like MMA, noting that boxing is based on a set of rules.
Azimov's apprehension about the potential impact of Abdulkodirzoda's statement on boxing in Tajikistan is grounded in the fact that the Youth and Sports Committee in the country had already imposed a ban on certain sports, including boxing and MMA, at publicly funded sports clubs and institutions. The ban was instituted in the autumn, indicating a restrictive trend in the official stance towards certain sports in Tajikistan.
In summary, the recent developments in Tajikistan, as highlighted by Abdulkodirzoda's religious proclamation and the subsequent ban on specific sports, reflect a complex interplay between religious beliefs, cultural considerations, and regulatory decisions. The nuances of these dynamics underscore the need for a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted relationship between sports and religious doctrines within diverse cultural contexts.
