Question:
Assalamualaikum ustaz,
Can SS Mufti explain regarding cockfighting practice especially in our Malay community and the gambling involved in it as well as the rulings of it according to the Quran and hadith?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrt. wbt.
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Cockfighting is prohibited in Islam. Narrated from Ibn Abbas R.Anhuma:
نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ التَّحْرِيشِ بَيْنَ الْبَهَائِمِ
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited to provoke the beasts for fighting.”
Sunan Imam Abu Daud (2562)
Imam al-Syaukani commented on the above hadith:
وَوَجْهُ النَّهْيِ أَنَّهُ إيلَامٌ لِلْحَيَوَانَاتِ وَإِتْعَابٌ لَهَا بِدُونِ فَائِدَةٍ بَلْ مُجَرَّدُ عَبَثٍ
“The point of prohibition (in the hadith) is the act of provoking animals to fight each other which will lead to the animals being harmed or tired where the act is unbeneficial (according to Syarak) and meaningless.” (See Nail al-Autar, 8/99)
The act of instigating fights between animals which will result in injuries on the animal is a form of cruelty on animals. While Islam taught us to be compassionate towards all creations of Allah SWT, which also includes not harming animals. The Prophet PBUH said:
إِنَّ اللهَ كَتَبَ الْإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَإِذَا قَتَلْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الْقِتْلَةَ، وَإِذَا ذَبَحْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الذَّبْحَ
Verily Allah has prescribed ihsan (proficiency, perfection) in all things. So, if you kill then kill well; and if you slaughter, then slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters.”
Sahih Imam Muslim (1955) in his Sahih
Second, this is a bad tradition from transgressing people of the Prophet Noah AS and also a practice of non-Muslims in several countries. Furthermore, it is also considered as undignified and immoral in Islam.
Regarding the ruling for gambling, its prohibition is clearly stated in the Quran without any khilaf among the scholars on its prohibition. Allah SWT state:
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنْصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.”
Surah al-Maidah (90)
Commentary scholars said, one should study the verse and see the words and phrases; “indeed” “defilement” “work of Satan” “so avoid it” clearly proves the tremendous danger and sin gambling is.
Let us all leave this act and replace it with other beneficial actions or hobbies that will be rewarded by Allah SWT and increase the weight of our good deeds in the hereafter as stated by Allah SWT:
يَوْمَ لَا يَنْفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ
“The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children. But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart."
Surah al-Syuara’ (88-89)
Wallahua’lam.