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Following the Prophet’s example, his noble and pure Companions also enjoyed humor and laughter, play
and sport, which relaxed their bodies and minds and prepared them the better to travel on the long, arduous
path of striving in the cause of truth and justice. ‘All bin Abû Talib said, “Minds get tired, as do bodies, so
treat them with humor,” and “Refresh your minds from time to time, for a tired mind becomes blind.” And
Abû al-Darda said, “I entertain my heart with something trivial in order to make it stronger in the service of
the truth.”
Accordingly, there is no harm in the Muslim’s entertaining himself in order to relax his mind or refreshing
himself with some permissible sport or play with his friends. However, the pursuit of pleasure should not
become the goal of his life so that he devotes himself to it, forgetting hie religious obligations. Nor should he
joke about serious matters. It has been aptly said, “Season your conversation with humor in the same
proportion as you season your food with salt.”
The Muslim is forbidden to joke and laugh about other people’s values and honor. Allâh Ta‘ala says: O you
who believe, let not some people mock at other people; it may be that they are better than thee...(49:11) Nor
is it appropriate for the Muslim to tell jokes based on what is untrue in order to make people laugh. The
Prophet (s.a.w.s.) warned against this, saying, “Woe to the one who says something which is false in order
to make people laugh! Woe to him, woe to him!” (Reported by al-Tirmidhî)
Permissible Sports
There are many kinds of games and sports which the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) recommended to the Muslims as a
source of enjoyment and recreation which, at the same time, prepare them for worship and other obligations.
These sports, which require skill and determination, and which also involve physical exercise and
bodybuilding activity, are related to the martial arts, training Muslims for the battlefields of jihad in the cause
of Allâh. Among them are the following:
Foot Racing
The Companions of the Prophet (May Allâh be pleased with them) used to race on foot and the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) encouraged them in this. It is reported that ‘All was a fast runner. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) himself
raced with his wife ‘Aishah in order to please her, to enjoy himself, and to set an example for his
Companions. ‘Aishah said, I raced with the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and beat him in the race. Later, when I had put
on some weight, we raced again and he won. Then he said, ‘This cancels that (Reported by Ahmad and Abû
Daoud.), referring to the previous occasion.
Wrestling
The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) once wrestled with a man called Rukanah who was well-known for his strength,
throwing him down more than once. (Reported by Abû Daoud.) In another report of this incident, the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) started wrestling with him. As the fight was hard, Rukanah said, “A sheep for a sheep.” (This
must have occurred before the prohibition of gambling, or perhaps the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) did not accept the
bet and hence did not enforce its terms.) The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) then threw him. The man said, “The same
again.” The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) threw him again, and the man said, “The same again.” The Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) threw him a third time. The man then said, “What shall I tell my wife? One sheep was eaten by the
wolf, one ran away, but what about the third” Then the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, “We are not going to defeat
you and take something from you as well. Take your sheep!”
From these reports concerning the Prophet (s.a.w.s.), jurists have deduced the permissibility of foot racing,
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whether it be between men against each other or between men and women who are their muharammat or
wives. They have also concluded that foot racing, wrestling, and sports of this type do not compromise the
dignity of scholarship, piety, or age.The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) was more than fifty yearold when he raced with
‘Aishah.
Archery
Among the permissible sports is competition in archery or with other weapons. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) once
passed by a group of his Companions who were competing in archery. He encouraged them, saying, Shoot,
and I am with you. (Compiled by al-Bukhâri) He realized that archery was not just a hobby or a sport but,
more importantly, constituted that kind of force which Allâh has commanded to be mustered: And make
ready for them all thou art able of (armed) force....(8:60) The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, “The missiles (arrows)
are the force,” repeating it three times. (Compiled by Muslim.) He also said, “Practice archery; that is good
for you.” (Reported by al-Bazzar and by al-Tabarani on good authority.)
However, the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) warned archers against using chickens and the like as targets for practice,
as the Arabs of jahiliyyah used to do. Once ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar saw a group of peoples doing this and he
told them, “The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) cursed the one who takes anything possessing life as a target.’‘ (Compiled
by al-Bukhâri and Muslim.)
He cursed such an individual because this sort of act involves the torturing and unnecessary killing of an
animal, and a human being has no right to have fun and sport at the expense of a living creature. For the
same reason the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) forbade making animals fight each other. (Reported by Abû Daoud and
al-Tirmidhî) Some Arabs used to laugh and find it amusing to see two rams or bulls fight each other until one
of them was gored to death. Scholars have said that the prohibition of making animals fight recognizes that
such a practice causes them unnecessary suffering merely for the fun of it, without any benefit.
Spear Play
Spear play is similar to archery. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) allowed some Abyssinians to display their skill with
spears in his mosque; he let his wife ‘Aishah watch their show and encouraged them by saying, “Carry on, O
Bani Arfidah,” (as the Abyssinians were known to among the Arabs). ‘Umar, with his serious disposition,
wanted to stop them but the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) prevented him from it. It is reported in the two Sahibs of al-
Bukhâri and Muslim from Abû Hurairah that while the Abyssinians were performing their show with spears in
the presence of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.), ‘Umar entered. He picked up some pebbles and started throwing
them at them but the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, “Leave them alone, O ‘Umar.”
This indulgence on the part of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) in permitting and encouraging such a sport in his
mosque was to demonstrate that the mosque serves both worldly and religious purposes. Muslims
congregate in the mosque not only to worship but also to play. However, this play is not to tee merely for fun
but should involve physical exercise and some sort of training. Commenting on this hadith, scholars have
said that the mosque is the center of the Muslim’s community affairs, and any activity which combines
benefits for religion and for the Muslims may be carried out in it. Muslims of the present time should note
how devoid mosques today are of vitality and strength, often having become havens for the elderly and the
lazy.
The above incidents also provide an example of the Prophet’s concern for his wife’s amusement and
recreation. ‘Aishah, his wife, said, “Allâh’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) covered me with his cloak while I watched
the Abyssinians play in the mosque. He then stood (in his place) for my sake until I was the one who got
tired, so estimate the time a young girl eager for amusement would wait.” (Compiled by al-Bukhâri and
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