It is literally impossible to find a subject on which Islam has no ruling.
Let’s take sports as an example
The Messenger of God, peace be upon him, said: “A strong believer is better and more beloved to gad than a weak believer, and in both there is good.”
Going to the gym to exercise your biceps, triceps, or mastering your bench press, with the intention of becoming a better, stronger, and more capable Muslim for God’s sake ..is – an act of worship in Islam.
A daily 20 minute track routine with the same intention.. keeps you in a state of worship and seeking closeness to God.
45 minutes … increases your reward from God even more.
This is because worship in Islam is not just prayer and meditation.. It is a comprehensive term which entails every single thing that God loves and is pleased with.
And God loves for Muslims to take care of their health.
Also, the Prophet Mohamed said:
“Your body has a right over you”
and your body’s right is that you keep it in its best condition… through proper nutrition, exercise, etc.
But if you spend your life eating pizza and McDonald’s with liters of sugars and salts in the form of carbonated water… Soon enough, those destructive habits will take a toll on your health, and your whole eating pattern will fall within the scope of…haram. (Meaning forbidden by God)
That is why the Prophet, Peace be upon him, said:
“The son of Adam doesn’t fill a vessel more to his detriment… than his stomach.”
And for Muslims, the Sunnah of the Prophet to be followed is not only from his statements… but also from his actions
For example, The Prophet, Peace be upon him, used to participate in horse and camel racing.
He also, encouraged boys to race on foot, and would reward the winners.
Regarding the sport of archery, he said,
“Verily! Strength is in archery”
Also, when he passed by boys learning archery, he praised them.
Islam encourages strengthening the body and acquiring skills to lead a better life… This applies even to modern sports.
For example, Squash is one of the sports that strengthens the heart muscles most, due to the rapid continuous movement in a narrow range, when you are playing Squash there is no stopping till one of the players scores. So if you practise squash with the intention of taking care of your body… you are in a state of worship… a state of worship while you are on the field?
Yes. Everything is based on intention.
In fact, if you go to sleep with the intention of giving your body its right to recuperate, to continue in Allah’s pleasure..then even your sleep is worship..
The Prophet said that when a man spends intimate time with his wife, he is rewarded for it?
What?
How?
Shouldn’t reward only be for things that we wouldn’t do voluntarily?
Who said that? Islam includes every aspect of life… not just the stressful parts of it..
Practising sports improves your psychological state and the overall quality fo your life, . Hence raising your level in paradise as well, if you practice it with that intention.
The problem begins when these positive practices are mixed with things like
Gambling… wasting time… inappropriate dressing.. Fanaticism.. Etc
Putting evil components inside something positive, such as sports, makes it Haram.
And if thst evil components is an integral part of a sport… then the whole sport becomes Haram.. Example: (Extreme sports that endanger one’s life)
Question: What about betting on matches?
Answer: totally Forbidden in Islam.
Islam doesn’t change to appease anyone.
and it doesn’t change with the changing “trend” that the United Nations announces on April 6th of every year during International Sports Day.
What about watching sports on TV?
It’s permissible, as the basic principle in islam, is that everything is permissible unless forbidden by sacred law.
But… watching sports also enters dangerous waters if someone neglects prayer as a result, or overindulges to the point of it becoming a blameworthy waste of time.
Islam has a framework, that can be applied to everything in modern life.
Therefore, don’t be surprised when you hear that nearly two billion Muslims worldwide recognise the commands of the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet, as the proper guideline for their lives.
They live within the ‘framework’ of the commands of the ‘Sharia’.
and strive to make their lives a constant state of worship.
Islam is the perfect mix for living a balanced, and fulfilling life, which leads you, towards an everlasting paradise.
