What types of wagering are permissible without compensation (no stakes)?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Racing and Archery

Book 58 · Issue 2 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

Wagering without compensation is absolutely permissible without restriction to specific activities. This includes racing on foot, with boats, birds, mules, donkeys, elephants, and darts (mazariq). It also includes wrestling (musara'ah) and lifting stones to ascertain strength. Evidence for this generality includes the Prophet (PBUH) racing 'Aisha, and wrestling Rukana, whom he defeated. Furthermore, he passed by people testing strength by lifting stones and did not object.