Sporting spirit in Islam
SPORT plays a vital role in keeping a man mentally sound and physically fit. One, who plays games that include different types of physical exercises, remains more energetic, active and highly productive in comparison with one whose life is devoid of a sport.
It is for this very reason Islam requires its adherents to indulge into different sporting activities to remain healthy and strong.
We find umpteen allusions with respect to sports in Quranic text and prophetic traditions. The Quran, in Surah Yusuf verse 17, has the brothers of the Prophet Yusuf saying to their father, Prophet Y’aqub, “O father, we went racing with one another…”
The term “nastabiq” in the original Arabic clearly refers to a type of competition the brothers claimed they participated in. In the same Surah, verse 12 states: “Send him (Yusuf) with us tomorrow so that he may revel and play with us.”
In the Hadith collections of both Bukhari and Muslim the fact is recorded that when the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) entered Madinah after the Hijrah from Makkah, the Ethiopians (Habasha) celebrated his arrival with a display of their prowess at spear-throwing.
Furthermore, Bukhari also records that Aisha (RA) narrated that both she and the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) watched the Ethiopians playing with their spears in the Mosque. Umar (RA) tried to stop them whereupon the Prophet (SAW) intervened and ordered them to continue.
The Prophet also said: “Everything not linked to the remembrance (dhikr) of Allah is mere frivolity and play except four things: for a man to play with his family, to train one’s horse, to practice archery, and to learn how to swim.” (Suyuti).
It is also recorded in the books of traditions that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “The strong (active) believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, while there is good in both.”
The Prophet himself participated in swimming, archery, running and horseback riding, and was said to have encouraged parents to involve their children in these sports.
Additionally, The Prophet himself was also an excellent wrestler as evidenced by the fact that he had overpowered Rukana, the master of wrestling during his time, in a wrestling match. The fascinating consequence of this dual was that Rukana, after being outclassed, embraced Islam.
This is a striking example of the effect that excellence in performance can have on the minds and hearts of people.
It is pertinent to mention here that the four types of sport originally encouraged by Islam viz. archery, horse-riding, fencing, and swimming, are largely known for their elements of grace, beauty, and skill – elements of character and conduct which are generally encouraged by Islam itself.
However it would do us well to remember that in Islam sport has a certain number of very specific functions. Firstly, it has a military function whereby the discipline of sport may be harnessed to prepare the individual for the exacting task of fighting a legitimate battle.
Allah says in Surah Anfaal, verse 60: “Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war…”
Secondly, it has a social function in bringing people together which is in keeping with one of the chief purposes of Islam and that is to foster a spirit of mutual love, co-operation, respect, and friendship amongst all members of society.
In Islam the spirit of sport is one of seeking the general uplift of everyone, and not a spirit which encourages competition against the other – where the “other” is imagined to be different in race, religion, or nationality.
Hitler’s attempt at the Berlin Olympic Games to show the superiority of the “Aryan Race” over everyone else is one example of what the Islamic spirit is most decidedly not. Barbarous discrimination in sport, apartheid style, is another.
Thirdly, and closely linked to the second, is the recommended attempt at developing mastery and control of the self. While to win might be a commendable achievement, in Islam to overcome and conquer the lower self is even more commendable.
It was Lao Tzu who correctly observed that “he who overcomes others is strong; [but] he who overcomes himself is mighty.”
Fourthly is the relationship between the body and soul. In Islam divisions between the sacred and secular hold little meaning.
Everything we do here in the earthly domain has an immediate impact on the sacred and spiritual domain. A healthy body can act as nothing less than a healthy home for the numerous challenges and demands made upon the soul.
Ghazi ibn Muhammad in his work, “The Sacred Origin of Sport and Culture” says: “Indeed, a proper balance of work and relaxation is the way to strengthen the soul’s capacity and endurance for work, just as a proper balance of physical exercise and rest makes the body strong and fitter. Thus one of the companions of the Prophet (SAW), Abu Darda, explained: ‘I entertain my heart with something trivial in order to make it stronger in the service of the truth.’
”Nevertheless, it is a regrettable fact that so little has been written about sport in Islam in contemporary Islamic literature, particularly in the light of the fact that Muslims are such keen sports people.
The contemporary scholars are, henceforth, supposed to speak and write about the importance of a sport so that we could create a society consisting of healthy people, enjoying sound health and a peaceful state of mind.
— The writer is contributing columnist, based in Quetta Balochistan.
