Are animal fighting sports haram?

Yes, animal fighting sports are haram. The Prophet ﷺ forbade setting animals against each other, and Islam forbids cruelty to animals. That covers dog fighting, cockfighting, bullfighting and similar blood sports, as well as betting on them or watching them for fun.

The Prophet ﷺ forbade making animals fight

Hadith reported by Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi say the Prophet ﷺ prohibited inciting animals to fight one another. Scholars from all four schools (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali) agree that provoking animals to injure each other for entertainment is forbidden. It causes pain and fear for no real benefit, only human amusement.

Animals have rights in Islam

The Quran describes animals as communities like ours:

وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَـٰٓئِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّآ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم "And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you." Quran 6:38

The Prophet ﷺ told of a man who was forgiven for giving water to a thirsty dog, and said there is a reward for kindness to every living being (Sahih al-Bukhari 2363). He also told of a woman who was punished because she locked up a cat and neither fed it nor let it find food (Sahih al-Bukhari 3482). If neglecting one cat is that serious, deliberately making animals tear each other apart is far worse.

What this covers

Dog fighting and cockfighting: clearly haram, and illegal in the UK, the EU and all US states.
Bullfighting: the bull is wounded and killed for show, which is the kind of cruelty Islam forbids.
Camel wrestling, ram fighting, bird or fish fights: the same rule applies.
Betting on any of these: double sin, cruelty plus gambling. See Is sports betting haram?
Watching or sharing videos of these fights for fun supports the industry and should be avoided.

What isn't included

Halal hunting and fishing for food, horse and camel races, herding trials and dog shows are different, because the animal isn't made to hurt another animal. They still have to be done humanely. See Can Muslims go hunting and fishing?

How you can help

If you know of animal fighting, report it to the RSPCA (UK), the police, or the ASPCA and local authorities (USA). Supporting rescue work is a real good deed. See Can I donate to an animal shelter as a Muslim?

Key points

The Prophet ﷺ forbade setting animals against each other.
Dog fighting, cockfighting and bullfighting are haram.
Betting on or watching them for fun is also wrong.
Kindness to animals is rewarded; cruelty is punished.

Tip: If a friend shares an animal fight clip, don't just scroll past. Report it on the platform, and if you feel comfortable, tell them kindly that Islam teaches mercy to animals.