Videos of what is known as the ‘boiling water challenge’, the ‘new tea’ challenge or the ‘friendship test’ have returned to circulation on social media platforms in Egypt at the start of the school year, despite the health risks and warnings from Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta. The videos show two people holding each other’s hands while a third person pours very hot water or boiling tea over them to see who can tolerate the pain for longer.
The videos present the behaviour as a test of loyalty and the strength of the relationship between friends. The person who pulls their hand away first is portrayed as less able to endure the pain or less attached to their friend, while continuing to withstand the heat is presented as an alleged sign of strong friendship.
Scalds can cause tissue damage
However, contact with very hot liquids can cause injuries within seconds, ranging from superficial to deep burns. Injuries caused by hot liquids are known as scalds. They are common thermal injuries and can affect the hands and arms or other parts of the body.
According to the American Burn Association, symptoms may include redness, pain, swelling and blisters, while deeper burns can cause long-term damage to the skin and tissue. The severity of the injury depends on several factors, including the temperature of the liquid, how long it remains in contact with the skin and the size of the area burned.
Deep burns can leave permanent scars, while severe cases may require specialist treatment and some patients may need skin grafts. Burns affecting the hands are of particular concern because of the nature of the area injured.
Cooling burns and assessing hand injuries
The World Health Organization recommends cooling burns with water and avoiding putting ice or household substances such as oils and pastes directly on the injured skin. Rings, watches and any tight items around the injured area should also be removed before swelling begins. By contrast, clothing or objects stuck to the skin should not be removed.
After cooling, the burn can be covered gently with a clean dressing to protect it. Medical care is necessary when a burn is deep or extensive, and when it affects the hands, joints or face. Seeking medical help in such cases aims to assess the severity of the injury and address possible damage to the skin and tissue, particularly as the initial appearance of a burn may not always reflect how serious it is.
Dar al-Ifta bans exposing the body to harm
Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta had warned against this behaviour after earlier videos spread showing people holding hands while a third person poured boiling tea over them, supposedly to test their pain tolerance or the strength of the bond between friends. The institution said that harming oneself and exposing oneself to danger in such challenges is «religiously forbidden».
Dar al-Ifta based its position on the principle of preserving life and the prohibition against casting oneself into destruction, and also cited the rule «There should be neither harm nor reciprocating harm». Sheikh Muhammad Kamal, a fatwa secretary at Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta, stressed that exposing the body to harm in this way is not a valid measure of friendship or affection between people.
The challenge resurfaces at the start of the school year
The videos began circulating again in September 2026 after the idea spread widely at the start of the same year, when ‘boiling water challenge’ videos sparked anger and condemnation for presenting pain as a measure of loyalty. Their repeated appearance reflects the continuation of a pattern of social media challenges that turn physical risk into a scene to be filmed and shared.
The effects of this challenge do not necessarily end when filming stops or the video disappears from the platform. Boiling liquids can cause injuries requiring treatment, or leave scars and damage that persist for a long time. Enduring pain remains a false measure of relationships, while taking part in the challenge poses a direct risk to participants’ safety.
