Why Kampala is crazy (1): Islam and boxing

I think I owe you some stories about Kampala, and why it is one cRaZy city.

I want to tell you a story about boxing, boxing and Islam, and boxing and Uganda.

Boxing and Islam have an interesting (if not entirely consistent) connection. - Remember Cassius Clay, the most famous of all boxers, who converted to Islam and became Muhammed Ali? - Did you know that Mike Tyson, famous or infamous boxer that he was, also converted to Islam? - Now I have met a pair of twins in Kampala, Hassan and Hussein Khalil, who both are devout Muslims and former boxing champions. They tell me that boxing is considered the ultimate sport in Islam. It requires strength, but also strategy. You need to have speed, but also stamina. As a sport for individuals, it tests personal fortitude and self-sufficiency. Discipline. Timing. Dedication. Both physically and mentally, boxing is - to be brief - JUST PLAIN HARD.

I was curious about the history of boxing and Islam, so I did a quick Google search. I was surprised to find a web-world of questions about whether boxing is even allowed in Islam. Allowed? Really? Again to my surprise, many Muslim scholars are of the opinion that competitive boxing is not compatible with Islam:

• Sayeth Abo Muhammed Samir Faid, on allexperts.com:

According to a juristic rule in Islam stating “Taking a lawful act as profession is permissible, save what’s made exceptional by a clear proof”, sport is basically permissible in Islam, if not obligatory. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, urged his followers to practice some sort of sport and exercise that help keep the body fit, as long as that it doesn’t entail harm. 

As for boxing, it is permissible if it’s taken as a mere hobby to train oneself on how to practice this sport, without taking a human being as a target (i.e., one should direct the fists to a punch bag and not to a person). But, one should not think of adopting it as profession. This is not permissible, due to the great harm and untold risk it involves, especially to the body and life of the victim. Islam never allows inflicting harm on any person; Muslim or non-Muslim. This is based on the juristic rule: “There should be neither harm nor reciprocating injury”. 

Besides, boxing entails directing blows to the head and face. This is forbidden in Islam, according to the Hadith of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: “If anyone of you fights (or, in another version, beats) a person, he should not hit him in the face." (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) 

• Sayeth Mas'ud Ahmed Khan, on masud.co.uk:

Looking at the evidence against boxing, it is not hard to realise that boxing must be considered haraam(forbidden) or undesirable to the point of being haraam (Makruh al-Tahrim). The object of boxing is knocking an opponent unconscious by physically hitting him with excessive force about the head, the intent is physical damage to your opponent. At the end of all fights that I have seen, the face is left severely damaged and scarred, we know from ahadith that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) forbade hitting the face: 

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "If somebody fights (or beats somebody) then he should avoid the face." [Sahih al-Bukhari Vol III Hadith 734.] 

and also 

Narrated Salim: Ibn 'Umar said, "The Prophet forbade beating (animals) on the face." [Sahih al-Bukhari Vol VII Hadith 449] 

[...] When the damage to a person is so severe such as brain damage or worse, fatal, then this has to be considered haraam, for there is no reason to suffer such injuries. Our bodies and lives are anamanah (trust) from Allah ta'ala given to us for safe keeping, they do not belong to us to do as we choose, so we have no right to participate in a sport or any other activity that violates the amanah and whose objective is intense physical damage. 

It is sad to see such people as Muhammad Ali, who once "floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee" now a shadow of his former self (although still has a remarkable dignity about him), Muhammad Ali once one of the finest examples of masculinity coupled with charisma, physical beauty and elegance, an object of pride for the entire Muslim Ummah, now an object of pity and a distant memory of bygone glory. Ironic isn't it considering the current downtrodden predicament of our Ummah? Should a man have to be reduced to this through his own doing? 

[...] Any parent whose child takes an interest in boxing should bear in mind the severe dangers and consider answering for their decision on the Day of Judgement, since our children are also an amanah from Allah ta'ala. The physical training and discipline offered by boxing is excellent and children should be encouraged into physical exercise. Rather than encourage them to do boxing, parents should encourage children to learn semi-contact Karate or Kung-Fu, since the object of semi-contact is not physical damage but to score points by minimum contact, anyone one using excessive force is penalised. Semi-contact Kung-Fu and Karate also teach vital self-defence techniques that are needed in an increasingly violent society and parents should instill discipline and good adab (manners) in their children not to show off the skills they may have learned.  

This seeming disconnect, between embraced boxing among Muslims in Kampala and forbidden boxing in various Islamic online communities, is explained by the next subject:  boxing and Uganda. The love of boxing in this country is so strong, it seems to overwhelms any religious controversy about boxing in Islam. Four of Uganda's 6 Olympic medals have been in boxing. This country has also won boxing medals in international competitions like the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships. Children train at boxing gyms around the city. Boxing is even revered as a peace-making sport, because it channels fighting energy from the streets into organized, supervised activities of self discipline. The Eye (local coupon book/city guide/magazine) writes, "[Boxing is] the perfect outlet for that favourite sporting tale:  rising up from rough surroundings with nothing but yourself and perhaps a little support, putting in your work and making something of yourself".

Now for one final surprise:  I have gotten swept up in the Kampala boxing craze. No joke. I bought my own wrapping, and am semi-serious when I say I hope to spar one day! My trainers are Hassan and Hussein, former champions I told you about; the place is East Coast Gym, a very modest but renowned boxing establishment attached to a mosque on Naguru Hill.

Up the hill, past the gospel church, behind the mosque, say hi to the kids, mind that you don't step on a goat

East Coast Gym! (outside...

...and in)

Between prayer calls, the brothers are dedicated coaches. They take us on grueling hill runs, count out jumping exercises and calisthetics until our muscles go numb, and withstand practice blow after practice blow, with pads on their hands, in the newly-roped boxing ring.

Hassan, ready for the punch

Helping us to get the wrapping right - must cover knuckles several times, and make sure to support the wrist

If it's not already obvious from the photos, East Coast Gym is not a boutique Mzungu attraction. This is a hard-core training center.

On any given day at East Coast, I may find myself jumping and punching next to the likes of:  runner-up at last year's heavyweight World Championship (and Olympic hopeful); a member of Uganda's 8-person national team; neighborhood heroes and role models; the one and only female boxer in Kampala; and a blind boxer who bravely returned to the sport after losing his sight in 1995. It is a total trip - and honor - and fright - to be in the ring with these guys and gal. The 5,000 Ugx (less than 2 USD) that I pay for each session helps to maintain the gym, buy equipment, and support competitions for these local boxers.

Just an example of the kind of musculature you can witness at East Coast Gym

My fellow Fogarty in Kampala, Devan, hits hard and runs even harder

POW! BAM! POWPOW! BAM! POWPOWPOW! BAMMM! - it's a busy place

Finally, I should mention that this is the best and toughest workout I have ever experienced. So much adrenaline and exhilaration cannot be found anywhere else - except perhaps on the end of a bungee cord, which I'm just not willing to try.

I know that Uganda supports my new love. In view of the fact that I'm a long way from hitting anyone in the face - and even farther from being able to pack a punch that inflicts any kind of harm - I hope that Islamic scholars, my own religious leaders, and other pacifists everywhere in the world can accept my new love, too.

BAM!