How does Islam view sports?

ISLAM sanctions anything that is pure and beneficial for man, and sports is not an exception. It encourages a Muslim to be strong and to seek the means of strength. In his Hadith, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commands us: “Teach your children swimming, archery and horse riding.” This direct call to practise sports shows the great importance Islam places on sports in training the Muslims and making their bodies healthy and sound. It is no wonder also to hear the saying: “A sound mind is in a sound body.”

Shedding more light on the issue of sports and their etiquette, Sheikh ‘Atiyyah Saqr, former Head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, states that: “From time immemorial, people have sought means of physical training and invented all kinds of sports to make their bodies strong, but each to its purposes and conditions. A nation where fighting and battles were the norm, sports like weightlifting, archery and duelling would be very common, while swimming became the favourite sports to people living on seashores. In the Arabian Peninsula, people got used to hunting and horse riding due to their conditions of frequent travelling and moving from one place to another.

Islam does not oppose having a strong body via practising sports. Muslims are commanded to be of sound bodies and sound minds, in addition to having sound morals. In the Hadith, we read: “A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak one” (reported by Muslim). A sound, strong body is capable of fulfilling both the religious and the worldly duties. Islam never accepts anything that leads to neglecting these duties, save in some cases where some exemptions are made so as to make matters easy for believers.

In his well-known book “Zad-Al-Ma’aad,” Imam Ibnul-Qayyem states that movement is the core of sports. It helps the body get rid of waste food in a very normal way. It makes it active, enhances its immunity and protects it from diseases. Each organ has its own sport that suits it. As for horse-riding, archery, wrestling and racing, they are sports that benefit the whole body.

In Islam, we see that many Islamic rituals contain sports that help the body attain physical fitness once they are practised properly. The rituals of pilgrimage, paying visits to Muslim brothers, visiting the sick, going to and fro the mosque and participating in many social activities are no more than sports.

The fact that Islam encourages the practising of sports makes one realise how great, flexible and comprehensive this course of Allah given to mankind is. In this context, Islam stresses the importance of spiritual and moral training that should accompany physical training so that the latter yields its desired effects.

In supporting a team, hooliganism should be avoided. Also, there is no place for gloating. Having an upper hand in games does not warrant jeering at a defeated opponent. Islam views sports as a means of enhancing mutual love and cooperation among people, not a means of hurting feelings. That is why the winning party should never be carried away with joy to the extent of insulting the opponents, nor must the defeated party be eaten up with envy at his counterpart’s advantage. He must keep in mind that his loss today will pave the way for his success tomorrow if he keeps patience and tries to improve himself.

This reminds us of the occasion when a nomad’s camel outpaced the Prophet’s she-camel which was known to be ever-first in racing, Muslims felt sad. Commenting on the issue, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him said: “Almighty Allah has decreed that nothing shall have a permanent glory (meaning that every situation has its ups and downs and no condition is permanent).” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, made this statement to cool down the feelings of those who found his camel being outpaced a difficult thing to swallow.

In contests, a true Muslim never forgets the etiquette of giving the counterparts good treatment. Casting aside morals in contests and competitions is a form of hypocrisy to which the Prophet referred when saying: “There are four characteristics if found in a person, he is a pure hypocrite. If one of them is found in a person, it gives him a characteristic of hypocrisy until he drops that: if trusted with something, he breaches trust, if talks, he tells lies, if makes a promise, he does not keep his word and if is in a quarrel with someone, he proves deviant (resorts to vile speech and corrupt conduct.)”

The following are tips for a Muslim practising sports:

• A Muslim should not occupy himself with sports to the extent that leads to neglecting religious and other duties.
• A Muslim is not permitted to give himself loose rein in practising sports in a way that involves inflicting harm on others. Practising sports in crowded streets, for example, thus causing traffic jam is not an Islamic way for example.
• Blind fanaticism in favour or against a team has nothing to do with Islam, for this really contradicts the Islamic teachings calling for unity and love.
• While practising sports, there should be no room for foul words, bad behaviour and slandering.
• Islam does not allow matches or games that involve both sexes, in a way that opens channels for seduction, temptation and corruption.
• Islam rejects also all games and sports that stir sexual urge or encourage moral perversion such as women practising dancing and being watched by the public.
• Males are to practise sports that suit their nature and vice versa. In Islam, it is not allowed for females to practise sports that are unique for men.

It is to be made clear that upon declaring something permissible, Islam places some stipulations that aim at maintaining morality and that cope with the general wisdom of legislation. Sports are to be practised following these stipulations so as to avoid any undesired harms. The general rule of Shari’ah is that any act that involves transgressing limits whether in eating, drinking, clothing or anything else is prohibited. The Qur’an declares: “O ye who believe! Forbid not the good things which Allah hath made lawful for you, and transgress not. Lo! Allah loveth not transgressors.” (Al-Ma’idah: 87).

Culled from www.themuslimvoice.net