Is participation in a horse beauty pageant considered a luxury, and what is its ruling?
A Muslim is responsible for their time and money. Horse beauty pageants involve wasting time and money, and the winnings from them are forbidden (haram). This is because Islamic law (Shari'ah) permits compensation in competitions only for horses, camels, and archery, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "There is no prize (sabaq) except for a hoof (horse), or a camel's hoof, or an arrow (archery)." Horse beauty pageants do not benefit the nation or the religion. A Muslim should make their horse competitions about racing rather than beauty, so that the nation can benefit from horses in ways that are advantageous to it and its religion, in accordance with the Almighty's saying: "And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allah knows."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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