Islam and Judo: Guidance on Bowing

You may have read that our club, like most clubs around the world, maintains the Japanese tradition and courtesy of bowing. In judo, we bow when entering the dojo, we bow before stepping on or off the tatami (mat), we bow to one another as a class before and after each session, and we bow to our partners before and after each practice, whether that be Uchi Komi (drilling) or Randori (Sparring).

However, we are aware that for some students, bowing to another person is forbidden. Therefore, instead of a full bow, students who follow Islam should instead perform a visible nod of their head in place of a bow.

Read below to learn more about the significance of bowing in Judo, in Islam and how this compromise respects both religious beliefs without compromising Japanese tradition.

Bowing (Rukuʿ) and Prostration (Sujood) in Islam

In Islamic worship, bowing (rukuʿ) and prostration (sujood) are sacred acts reserved for Allah alone. During the Muslim daily prayers (salah), believers bow by bending at the waist in rukuʿ and then prostrate by placing the forehead to the ground in sujood.

These postures are powerful symbols of humility, submission, and reverence. By bowing and prostrating in prayer, Muslims glorify Allah. Because these actions express worship, Muslims are not allowed to direct them toward any human being or creation – they are acts due to Allah alone. Directing such acts toward a fellow human is seen as crossing the boundary into shirk (associating partners with God) or at least imitating worship of others, which Islam strictly forbids.

Bowing in Judo as a Cultural Sign of Respect

Being a Japanese martial art, Judo has a rich tradition of etiquette that includes bowing. In Japanese culture, bowing (お辞儀, ojigi) is a common gesture of greeting and respect, comparable to shaking hands in Western culture. It is used to show politeness and gratitude - for without training partners, one could not practice judo.

In the context of judo, bowing serves as a sign of mutual respect, discipline, and sportsmanship between practitioners. Judo students bow to instructors (sensei), training partners, and the dojo space to show respect and gratitude for the opportunity to train.

As Kano himself said, “Bowing is an expression of gratitude and respect. In effect, you are thanking your opponent for giving you the opportunity to improve your technique.”

Furthermore, bowing to one another fosters a sense of equality between training partners. It reinforces the idea that no one person is greater than another, regardless of race, origin, background, or beliefs. Everyone deserves the same level of respect, and all are there to practice the same martial art and work toward self-improvement.

Using a Respectful Nod as a Substitute

Because Islam does not allow bowing to people, our judo club has adopted a respectful nod of the head as a substitute gesture. This means you do not have to bend your back or perform a deep bow. Instead, students can perform a visible nod of the head to preserve the spirit of respect in judo without involving an act that may resemble worship.

Based on our research, scholars have clarified that a nod which does not resemble a full bow (rukuʿ) and is permissible as a greeting. In other words, as long as you are not bowing deeply in a way that imitates the prayer posture, a nod or tilt of the head is not problematic in Islam. It’s viewed as a normal gesture, like waving or shaking hands, rather than a religious ritual.

To further put minds at ease, some fatwas recommend combining a gesture with quiet verbal greetings. For example, one may nod the head while quietly saying “Assalamu alaykum” (peace be upon you) or an appropriate greeting, to ensure it’s clearly a social courtesy. The key is intention and form: our intention is merely to show respect, and the form (a nod) is clearly distinct from the rukuʿ or sujood of prayer.

Conclusion

It’s important to understand that a head nod is not the same as a bow:

• A bow involves bending at the waist, which is the same movement Muslims make during prayer (rukuʿ), and is therefore religiously sensitive.

• A nod is a minimal, brief movement of the head that does not resemble worship or submission, and is not part of Islamic ritual prayer.

• Our research indicates that in Islamic teachings, gestures that do not mimic acts of worship and are free from the intention of glorification or submission are generally considered permissible.

Because nodding is culturally neutral and carries no religious significance, it is viewed by many Islamic scholars as an acceptable way to show mutual respect in secular or non-religious settings, such as sports.

We hope this information helps ease any concerns you may have about the tradition of bowing in judo. However, please be aware that at our club, it is expected that all students either bow or offer a visible nod of the head as a gesture of mutual respect. If a student is unwilling to perform either of these actions, they will be withdrawn from practice. Should a student remain unwilling to nod their head as an alternative after reading this article, then we would recommend seeking an alternative club that places less emphasis on traditional Japanese etiquette.

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Sources and References:

• Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Salah (Book of Prayers), hadith no. 482 – “The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating”sunnah.com.

• Life With Allah – Taste the Sweetness of Salah: Explanation of rukuʿ as a pillar of prayer symbolizing servitude and humilitylifewithallah.com.

• Islam Q&A (fatwa no. 20198) – Ruling that bowing to greet (as done in some martial arts) is forbidden; bowing is likened to rukuʿ and sujood, which are acts of worship for Allah alone. Also cites the hadith where the Prophet ﷺ forbade bowing in greeting and permitted handshakes.

• IslamWeb Fatwa No. 84964 – States that the majority of scholars prohibit bowing even as a form of respect, as it imitates an act of glorification reserved for Allah. Some termed it haram or at least an undesirable innovation to be avoided.

• Hadith of Muʿadh ibn Jabal prostrating to the Prophet: Narrated in Ibn Majah (hadith 1853) – The Prophet forbade it, affirming that no one should prostrate to anyone other than Allah.

• Judo Etiquette – Oregon State University Judo Club guidelines: Explains that bowing in judo shows respect and gratitude, and “is not religious in any way… analogous to the ‘American handshake.’”.

• Quote of Jigoro Kano (founder of Judo) – “Bowing is an expression of gratitude and respect... you are thanking your opponent for the opportunity to improve your technique.”judoinfo.com. This highlights the cultural and sportsmanship value of bowing in judo.

• Darul Ifta Texas – Fatwa clarification that a slight head nod as greeting is permissible, as long as it does not resemble a bowing posture and is ideally accompanied by a verbal salutation. This gesture is not considered an act of worship in Islam.