The distance must be specified, both its starting point and its endpoint, and it must be a distance that can reasonably be covered. If one were to say, “I will race you on foot from Unayzah to Mecca,” this would not be valid, because it must be confined to a customary distance. It used to be the practice of boys to race on foot; when one of them beat the other, he would say to him, “Carry me on your back from the finish of the race to its starting point.” Is this permissible? It is not permissible, because it involves a consideration—namely, a benefit—for carrying him from one place to the other is a benefit, and so it is not allowed. It may be said, however, that this is overlooked for minors who have not reached puberty, even though it is not overlooked for adults; that is, children are allowed forms of play that adults are not.

But it must be understood that when something originally permissible entails harm, it becomes prohibited. Thus, if such a race were held at the time of the congregational prayer, the race would be unlawful. Likewise, if it led to enmity, hatred, factionalism, and partisanship, it would be unlawful.

Issue: Football belongs to this category; that is, it is permissible without a prize but not permissible with a prize, because it provides recreation for the soul, strengthens the body, and trains one in overcoming an opponent. This is subject to the condition that it not involve blameworthy factionalism, as occurs among some people who become partisan for a particular club, until discord arises and reaches the point of people striking one another with their hands, sticks, and stones.

The scholars differed over racing on foot: is it permissible with a prize or not? The established school of law holds that it is not permissible with a prize, as