Dar Al Iftaa Rules TikTok ‘Boiling Tea’ Challenge as Haram

Dar Al Iftaa has ruled that a circulating TikTok challenge involving the pouring of boiling tea on people’s hands is prohibited under Islamic law, citing the deliberate infliction of harm and the risk it poses to bodily safety.

The challenge, which appears in short videos shared online, involves two people holding their hands together while a third person pours a cup of hot tea over them to “test” the strength of their friendship by measuring how long they can endure the pain.

Dar Al Iftaa said the act constitutes intentional injury and exposure to danger without any legitimate purpose, placing it firmly outside what is permissible in Islam. Dar Al Iftaa also warned that normalising such behaviour through online trends trivialises physical safety and may encourage imitation, increasing the likelihood of serious burns and lasting injuries.

It stressed that social media challenges which rely on pain or danger can have real-world consequences that extend beyond the individuals directly involved. The institution urged young people in particular to act with awareness and responsibility online, avoid frivolous or harmful challenges, and seek guidance from qualified scholars on religious matters.