Is it permissible to take performance enhancing supplements?
The answer
One should consider the law relating to this in whichever country you reside in. From an Islamic perspective, it is not permissible to take performance enhancing drugs.[1] Commonly referred to as steroids, performance enhancing drugs have serious side effects.
Explanation
Potential risks and side effects2 of using steroids include:
Men may develop:
- Prominent breasts
- Baldness
- Shrunken testicles
- Infertility
Women may develop:
- A deeper voice
- An enlarged clitoris
- Increased body hair
- Baldness
Both men and women might experience:
- Severe acne
- Increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture
- Liver abnormalities and tumors
- Increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol)
- Decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol)
- Hypertension
- Heart and circulatory problems
- Suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis
- Prostate gland enlargement
- Aggressive behaviours, rage or violence
- Psychiatric disorders, such as depression
- Drug dependence
- Infections or diseases such as HIV or hepatitis if you’re injecting the drugs
- Inhibited growth and development, and risk of future health problems in teenagers
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Faraz Adam
References
1اعلم أن المضرات للبدن من المأكولات، والمشروبات ثلاثةُ أقسام:
قسم ضرره ظاهر مُهْلك – كالسُّم، والزجاج، والحديد، والزيبق، والجص، وما أشبه ذلك – فيحرم أكله جامداً، وشربُه مائعاً.
وقسم ضرره ظاهر، ولكنه غير مُهْلك – كالتراب، والحجر، ونحوهما – فيكره أكلها جامدة، وشربها مائعة، إلا قليلَ تراب في ماء.
وقسم ضرره غير ظاهر وهو: ما يضر الأمزجة المستعدة لضرره، دون غيرهما (كالمبرودين يضرهم أكل السمك، وشربُ اللبن، والمحرورين يضرهم شربُ العسل، والزيت، وأكلُ الفلفل ونحو ذلك) فلا يحرم ولا يكره، غير أن من عَرف تغيرَ مزاجه به، ينبغي أن يتركه، لئلا يؤدي إلى المرض الشديد (الدرر المباحة ص 44 دار ابن حزم).
2http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/performance-enhancing-drugs/HQ01105 (last accessed 6/11/12)
Based on the Hanafi school and on the question as it was asked. Another mufti may reach a different conclusion. Read the disclaimer.