al-Shāfiʿī and Aḥmad. Some Shāfiʿī jurists (1) nevertheless allow the contest to be held with a wager, and this is also the position of Abū Ḥanīfa’s followers (2).
As for swimming, wagering on it is impermissible according to the majority (3), though one opinion within the Shāfiʿī school permits it (4). The same school has two opinions regarding contests in which the opponents lock hands (5).
The proofs for both allowing and prohibiting such wagers are exactly the same as those already cited for foot-racing. Hence, whoever deems it permissible (6) must likewise permit wagering on ʿilāj (strength training), for there is no difference between the two: ʿilāj is a lawful activity, like wrestling and foot-racing, and it even has a precedent in the Sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ once passed by some people who were raising (7) a stone to find out who among them was strongest, and he did not