Sports and Islam
By Samar Yahya
October 24, 2014
Since far back in
history, people have always sought out and invented various kinds and categories
of sports.
Islam encourages
Muslims to be strong and to continuously strengthen one’s faith, and also their
physical strength.
Islam’s holistic approach to living a balanced
life encourages practices, which help maintain the body’s health and strength.
There is a well-known, old saying: “A sound
mind is in a sound body”.
Playing sports helps the body remain active
and fit and enhances its immunity and protects it from diseases, and also
promotes mental and emotional health.
From a social perspective, Islam views sports
as a means of bonding and enhancing cooperation among people, and it should not
reach a level of unhealthy competition and hatred.
Exercise in general and playing sports
elevates energy levels, improves one’s attitude, which in turn will improve
one’s energy level at work as well. The physically active are better able to
travel, play with their children, and engage in social activities such as
visiting relatives, visiting the sick, or coaching a youth sports team.
From a religious standpoint, a healthy,
strong, and fit body makes it much easier to perform many of the rituals in
Islam. Going for Umrah and Haj, the pilgrimage, are physically demanding tasks
that sometimes involve long hours of walking, and being physically active will
make the whole experience easier.
Many recommended practices in Islam actually
keep the body moving: praying 5 times a day with a preference given for prayer
in the mosque, walking to and from the mosque, and participating in many social
activities. Fasting, in addition to the fasting in Ramadan, is highly valued in
Islam, and fasting in itself is an exercise of all the organs in our bodies.
Islam places great importance on sports in
training the Muslims and making their bodies healthy and sound. Muslims must
take care of their spiritual, emotional, and physical health. We should not
neglect our bodies, and regular physical exercise is an essential part of
maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
General Benefits of Exercise and Sports
Exercise increases muscle tone, improves
flexibility, enhances endurance, strengthens the heart, and fights depression.
Exercise helps achieve significant weight loss. Aerobic exercise fights heart
disease and high blood pressure, and reduces the risk of diabetes, while weight
training increases muscle strength and reduces fat, increases bone density, and
can alleviate back pain and arthritis.
Exercise and fitness play an integral part in
the life of a Muslim; Islam encourages anything that promotes revitalizing the
mind and body.
Exercise trains the brain
Exercise affects many sites within the nervous
system and sets off pleasure- inducing chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine
that make us feel calm, happy, and euphoric. When one exercises, one can think
more clearly, perform better, and experience a sense of well-being.
Sports Practiced By Early Muslims
A famous saying attributed to Omar ibn
Al-Khattab highlights the sports practiced by early Muslims. He said, “Teach
your children swimming, archery and horse-riding.”
Swimming:
Swimming is a healthy activity and is gentle
on the body so it is the exercise of choice for people with joint pain.
Swimming works practically every muscle of the body. Swimming can develop a
swimmer’s general strength, cardiovascular fitness, and endurance.
Archery:
It is a form of sport that was popular during
the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Boys and men were given
training on handling bows and arrows. The physical benefits of archery include
increasing flexibility in hands and fingers and developing arm strength.
In addition, hand-eye coordination improves,
as does mental concentration and mental strength. Archery is a beneficial mind
exercise as well as a great form of physical exercise.
Horse Racing:
At the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
him) young men were taught how to rise horses, women rode too, and it was a
skill the Arabs excelled.
Horseback riding improves respiration and
blood circulation. It promotes balance and coordination during the movement of
the horse and the motor function of the rider improves as a result.
Other forms of sports can be practiced. Pick
an activity that you enjoy and stick to it; the key to good health is regular
exercise. Remember the famous Arabic saying, “A little which is consistent is
better and far more in quantity than a lot which suddenly stops.”
Etiquette Of Sports In Islam:
Islam stresses the importance of spiritual and
moral training that should accompany physical training, in order to achieve the
desired effects.
Islam places some stipulations in regards to
sports.
Tips For A Muslim In Practicing Sports:
• A Muslim should not occupy himself with
sports to the extent that leads to neglecting religious and other essential
duties and responsibilities towards school, work, or family.
• A Muslim is not permitted to practice sports
in a way that inflicts harm on others.
• Blind fanaticism in favor or against a team
has nothing to do with Islam, for this really contradicts the Islamic teachings
calling for unity and love.
• While practicing sports there should be no
room for slandering, misbehavior, hostility, or cheating.
Source:
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20141024222144
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