Is it permissible to participate in an ethics competition solely out of desire for the prize? And what is the interpretation of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: "There is no prize except for an arrow, or a hoof, or a paw"?

It is impermissible to offer a prize in competitions except in the case of archery (nassl), camel racing (khuff), and horse racing (hafir), and what has been analogously attached to them from that which aids in jihad, or that which contains a general benefit. As for religious competitions such as memorizing the Quran, Hadith, and Fiqh, some scholars have permitted offering prizes therein. The preponderant view is that the participant's primary intention must be to seek knowledge for the sake of Allah, and the intention of obtaining the prize should be secondary to this primary intention.