People require rest and recreation. This is something
completely natural. Without it, a person cannot be
productive in life. The Companion Abû al-Dardâ’ said: “I
seek recreation in something that is neither useful nor
unlawful, and this makes me stronger on the truth.”
Islam is complete and comprehensive, addressing all aspects
of our lives and all of our needs, including our need for
diversions and for recreation. It provides for us lawful
means to fulfill this need.
We read in the Qur’ân how the brothers of Joseph (peace be
upon him) appealed to their father, the Prophet Jacob (peace
be upon him), on the basis of this fundamental human need.
They said: “Send him along with us tomorrow so he may engage
in revelry and play. We will indeed keep him safe.” [Sûrah
Yûsuf: 12]
The judge Abû Bakr b. al-`Arabî, commenting on this verse,
observes:
There is no real objection to this type of recreation. A man
engages in play with his family, as well as engaging in
horse riding, archery, and in any other form of recreation
sanctioned by the sacred texts. It is authentically related
to us that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Jâbir
when he married a mature widow: “Why did you not marry a
virgin whom you could play with and who would play with
you?” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim] The recreation
that these brothers were referring to was either foot racing
or archery. This we can understand from the verse: “We went
off to compete with each other.” [Sûrah Yûsuf: 17]
`Â’ishah relates the following about her husband, the
Prophet (peace be upon him):
I swear by Allah that I saw Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon
him) standing at the door of my room while the Abyssinians
were engaged in spear play in the mosque of Allah’s
Messenger (peace be upon him). He screened me with his cloak
so I could watch them perform. He stood there for my sake
until I decided that I had had enough. Now just imagine how
much time a young girl eager for entertainment would stand
there watching. [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]
At the end of this story, she relates that the Prophet
(peace be upon him) said: “The Jews know that in the world
there is time for rest. And I have been sent with the true
and pure religion..”
Qarazah b. Ka`b and Abû Sa`ûd al-Ansârî both said: “The
Prophet (peace be upon him) permitted us to engage in
recreation during weddings.” [Sunan al-Nasâ’î]
In the Sunnah, we see the Companions participating in many
different forms of lawful entertainment and play. They
engaged in sports like footraces, horseracing, wrestling,
and archery. They spent time in telling jokes and in
lighthearted conversation.
Salmân al-Fârisî said to Abû al-Dardâ’: “Your own self has a
right over you, your Lord has a right over you, your guest
has a right over you, and your family has a right over you.
So give everyone his due.” When the Prophet (peace be upon
him) heard about what Salmân had said, he approved of it,
saying: “Salmân has spoken the truth.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and
Sunan al-Tirmidhî]
The scholars of Islam have attested to the importance of
lawful recreation to the healthy development of a person’s
character. Al-Ghazâli writes:
After completing his bookwork, a child should be allowed to
play in a nice manner so that he can relax from the fatigue
of his studies. His play should not tire him out. If the
child is forbidden to engage in play and forced to spend his
time in perpetual study, this will result in his heart
dying, his intelligence waning, and his manner of living
becoming so wretched that he will seek from it any escape he
can find.
Ibn Miskawayh writes:
A child should be permitted on occasion to engage in nice
play so that he can relax from the fatigue of his proper
upbringing. His play should neither cause injury nor be very
tiring..
Ibn Jamâ`ah observes:
There is nothing wrong with the student resting himself, his
heart, his mind, and his eyes – if any of these grows tired
or languid – with play and recreation. This will return him
to his proper state so that his time will not be wasted.
There is nothing wrong with it being strenuous and
exercising his body, for it has been said that this
refreshes the ****bolism, rids the system of excess toxins,
and revitalizes the body.
Though recreation and entertainment is essentially lawful in
Islam, it is necessary for us to keep the following in
mind:
1. Time is precious. We must always be acutely aware of how
valuable the time is that we have been given in our brief
lives on Earth. Islam teaches us to place a premium on our
time and to get as much out of it as we can, defining for us
the various ways we can employ it.
Allah says: “It is He who has made the night and the day in
succession for whoever desires to remember or show
gratitude.” [Sûrah al-Furqân: 62]
Our lives should be spent in the remembrance of Allah and in
thanks to Him. Indeed, Allah says: “I created neither
humanity nor the jinn except to worship Me.” [Sûrah
al-Dhâriyât: 56]
This is the ultimate purpose of life, and it should be what
preoccupies our time. The Prophet (peace be upon him) speaks
to us about how much we lose when we waste our time, saying:
“There are two blessings that many people squander: health
and time.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî]
He also says as a warning to us: “Allah leaves no more
excuses for a person once he has given him sixty years to
live.”
We all know that we will be standing before Allah and
questioned about how we spent our time. The Prophet (peace
be upon him) said: “No one will be permitted to turn his two
feet away on the Day of Resurrection until he is questioned
about four matters: about his life, how he spent it; his
youth, how he employed it; his work, what he did with it;
and his wealth, how he earned it and spent it.” [Sunan
al-Tirmidhî]
2. Our work and our efforts are important in Islam, and as
Muslims, we are encouraged to be industrious. Allah says:
“Say: Work, for Allah will see your deeds as will His
Messenger and the believers.” [Sûrah al-Tawbah: 105]
Allah makes clear to us the effect that our works have on
our recompense in the Hereafter. He says: “Are you
recompensed except for the work that you used to do?” [Sûrah
al-Naml: 90]
He also says: “Is the recompense for goodness anything but
goodness?” [Sûrah al-Rahmân: 60]
There are many verses in the Qur’ân that mention good works
in conjunction with faith. Moreover, the importance of
diligence and being responsible in our work is specifically
emphasized. Allah says: “O John, take the ******ure with
determination.” [Sûrah Maryam: 12]
He also says: “Take what We have given you with
determination.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 63]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The believer who is
strong is better and more beloved to Allah than the believer
who is weak.” [Sahîh Muslim]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: “Allah loves that
when you engage in some work, you do so with proficiency.”
[al-Bayhaqî, Shu`ab al-Îmân]
He also emphasized the importance of continuing with our
deeds throughout the duration of our lives, saying: “If the
Final Hour arrives and one of you has a sapling in his hand,
if he can finish planting it before standing up, then he
should do so.” [al-Bukhârî, al-Adab al-Mufrid]
A Muslim alternates from his worldly work to his work for
the Hereafter, being equally diligent in both. Allah says:
“Therefore, when you are free from your immediate task,
still labor hard. And strive to please your Lord.” [Sûrah
al-Sharh: 7-8]
3. Islam stresses the importance of striving to reap
benefits for both this world and the next. The life of this
world is the harvesting ground for the Hereafter. It is but
a passing phase and the life to come is the eternal abode. A
Muslim, therefore, should expend his efforts for the sake of
the Hereafter and at the same time bring about benefits in
this world. He should excel in cultivating and developing
the Earth while gearing his efforts towards achieving
felicity in the Hereafter.
Allah says: “And He has made of service unto you whatsoever
is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the Earth; it is all
from Him. Lo! Herein are signs for a people who reflect.”
[Sûrah al-Jâthiyah: 13]
Allah says: “He it is who has made the Earth subservient
unto you, so traverse its paths and partake of His
providence.” [Sûrah al-Mulk: 15]
The Muslim world today is behind everyone else in knowledge,
enterprise, and productivity. One of the reasons for this is
that Muslims are not making productive use of their time and
generally do not have a positive work ethic. We must resolve
to stop wasting time, to stop falling short in our work, and
to put an end to our unproductive habits.
In light of all of this, we can place recreation and
entertainment in the proper context: We must observe the
following guidelines:
1. Recreation must never cause us to neglect our obligatory
worship and our obedience to Allah.
2. Recreation and entertainment should not take up too much
of our time. We should not engage in it to the point where
it ceases to be beneficial.
3. It should not become our habit to perpetually seek
recreation and diversion.
4. Recreation should not keep us from activities that will
benefit us in our worldly or spiritual lives.
5. Our means of recreation and our entertainments must be
completely free from anything that is unlawful in Islam.
____________________________________________________________
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