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Fatwa CenterTeaching martial arts to non-Muslims
Question
Assalamu alaikum.My friend runs a Kunfu Centre.Can he teach in this institute Kungfu to non muslims?Prophet Muhammed allowed Aysha(peace and blessings of Allah be upon them)to watch Abysinians play with their swords.Were they non muslims?Can this incidence be taken as proof?Hope you will answer Insha Allah with proofs from Fiqh whether nonmuslims also can be taught Kungfu in a Muslim Kungfu centre.Thank you
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
First of all, it should be mentioned that kung fu is one of the martial arts and using it to protect oneself or defend oppressed people is permissible, especially that the people who practise this kind of sport cover their 'Awrah (parts of the body that must be covered in Islam) and do not allow harmfull and dangerous strikes during training.
However, some prohibitions should be avoided in such a sport, like hitting the face, because this is prohibited. The Prophet 
said: “If one of you were to fight, he should avoid hitting the face.”
Another prohibition is that the contenders salute each other by bowing to one another, and this is also forbidden. Moreover, one should avoid any prohibition like neglecting an obligation or committing what is forbidden.
Therefore, if the trainees, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, abide by the above conditions then it becomes permissible otherwise no.
As regards teaching this sport to non-Muslims, then this sport is about teaching how to fight as we mentioned. However, we have not come across a text from the jurists 
about the ruling on teaching non-Muslims the techniques of fighting.
In our view, if it is known or it is predominantly thought that the non-Muslims are not going to use this sport against the Muslims, then it is permissible to train them otherwise it becomes forbidden. This is in inference with what the jurists mentioned about the permissibility of selling weapons to the non-Muslims who are living freely in a Muslim land; however, this is a controversial issue.
As regard the story of the Abyssinians playing inside the mosque, then it appears that they were Muslims. Some narrations stated that they used to sing: “...Abul-Qaasim [i.e. the Prophet] is kind and good-hearted...”
Therefore, this story has no relation with training a non-Muslim.
Allaah Knows best.
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