Islamic law regarding sports and entertainment.
Islam has given due importance to sports and entertainment. Islam is a
practical religion and as such it does not ignore any genuine human
requirement. The Prophet of Islam Muhammad (peace be upon him) liked
happiness and disliked grief. In this connection, the following
tradition has been reported in Abu Daud, a famous book of tradition of
the Prophet of Islam:
"O Allah! I seek refuse in you from distress and grief."
Accordingly there is no harm if a person entertains himself to relax his
mind or refresh himself with some permissible sports or play with his
friends. However, so sport, which obstructs or hinders religious
obligations is permissible in Islam. Racing, wrestling, archery,
spear-play, horse riding and hunting are some of the sports in which the
Prophet (Sm) and the companions of the Prophet (Sm) used to participate.
Of course, many other new types of sports and games have been introduced
after the advent of Islam. All these sports and games can be treated as
permissible in Islam if such sports or games do not involve anything
which is prohibited in Islam, such as betting of money, undue mixing of
the sexes, etc.
Any sort of game played with money, which has an element of gambling, is
prohibited in Islam. Playing cards with money is therefore not
permissible is Islam. Similarly, playing backgammon while betting with
money is also prohibited in Islam. As regards playing chess, which is a
popular game, the opinion of jurists concerning it varies. Some of the
companions of the Prophet (Sm) and some of the second-generation
scholars, such as Ibne-Abbas, Abu Hurairah, Ibne Shirin and Said Bin Al-Musayyib upheld the permissibility of chess. They have interpreted
the traditions against chess as applicable when played with money. (Ref.
"The Lawful and Prohibited in Islam"; by Yusuf Al Qaradawi).
Islam also permits humour and jokes in proper proportion. The Muslim is,
however, forbidden to joke and laugh about other people's values and honour. Allah says,
"O you who believe! Let not some mock at other people; it may be that
they are better than you." (49:11)
It is also not permissible for Muslim to cut jokes on what is untrue in
order to make people laugh.
As regards singing and music, Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi in his book "The
Lawful and Prohibited in Islam", after a discussion of the traditions of
the Prophet has concluded as follows:
"Islam permits singing under condition that it must not be in any way
obscene or harmful to Islamic morals. There is no harm in its being
accompanied by music." (Ref. First edition of "The Lawful and Prohibited
in Islam" by Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, page-300).
He has, however, mentioned the following limitation to be observed in
the matter of singing:
- The subject matter of songs should not be against the teachings of
Islam;
- The singing must not be accompanied by suggestive sexual movement;
- There should not be excessive involvement in singing;
- It must not accompany any other harmful activity, for example
drinking wine.
There is however differences among scholars as regards permissibility of
singing and music.
As regards movies Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi has given the following opinion
on the basis of teachings of Islam
Movies may be regarded as permissible and good, in fact, desirable if
the following conditions are met:
First: The content must be free of sin and immorality indeed, of
anything, which is against the Islamic beliefs, morals and manners.
Portrayals, which excite sexual desire or greed, glorify crime, or
propagate deviant ideas, false beliefs, and the like are Haram, and it
is not permissible for the Muslim to watch or to encourage them.
Second: The enjoying of movies should not result in the neglect of
religious obligations or worldly responsibilities. The five times daily
prayers constitute the foremost of the religious obligations; hence it
is Haram for the Muslim to miss any prayer, for example, salat al-Maghrib in order to enjoy movie. Allah Ta'la says,
"Then woe to the worshippers who are neglectful of their prayers."
(107:4-5)
From the foregoing discussion it is evident that Islam has given due
importance to entertainment and sports. However, Islam has put
limitations on entertainment and sports and has freed these from
indecencies, excesses and harmful practices.
