Racing on foot, or with any other animals or vehicles, is likewise lawful.

Imam al-Qurtubi said, “There is no disagreement that competing with horses and other beasts of burden, racing on foot, practicing archery, and handling weapons are all permissible, for they train one for war.”

The Prophet ﷺ once raced with ʿĀʾishah, wrestled Rukānah and threw him, and Salamah ibn al-Akwaʿ raced a man from the Anṣār in the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Setting prize money is not permissible except for contests involving camels, horses, or arrows, because the Prophet ﷺ said, “No prize is to be awarded except in a blade, a cloven hoof, or a horse’s hoof,” a hadith narrated by the Five from Abū Hurayrah.

In other words, prize money may only be taken for races or contests involving camels, horses, or archery, for these are instruments of war whose mastery has been enjoined.

By implication, however, the hadith allows prize money for other competitions as well; some scholars have understood it to mean that these three are simply the most deserving of prize awards because of their great benefit and widespread utility. Consequently, every lawful contest that brings religious benefit—such as the bouts involving Rukānah and Abū Bakr—would fall under the same ruling.