Competing in boat racing

Question

In some places boats are raced in order to see who can bring his boat out in front; whoever comes out ahead is given a prize. And sometimes boats are raced even without a prize, to see who comes out ahead in a boat. What is the ruling on this act according to the Shariʿa?

Answer

If they do this merely for amusement and play (lahw wa laʿib), it is prohibited by the Shariʿa. But if the purpose is that in jihad there is sometimes occasion for travel by water and for steering boats, and that one should practise for this, then it is not prohibited — rather, it is commendable, on condition that the prize is given by some third party.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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