The Importance of Being Active

[Pure]

The Importance of Being Active

By Nafisa Qasim Mohammad


21/07/2004

Playing sports is a much better alternative to movies and television! When we play sport we are strengthening our bodies and relaxing our minds as well as mixing with friends and having a good time. So that is four good things at one time! A quiet game of tennis with a friend, a football game with a group, a quiet walk in the park with a good friend, swimming, basketball, volleyball…the list goes on and on. But don’t get carried away and forget your Islamic obligations; don’t forget the One who gave you that healthy body and the ability to play and have fun. Without Allah’s mercy and bounty on us, we would have nothing! Also don’t forget your family. In other words, put everything in its proper perspective.

So this summer vacation is an opportunity to help yourself, your family, and your friends. If you have younger brothers and sisters, take them out. If you don’t, suggest to your friend who has younger brothers and sisters that you and he/she should take them out! Spend time with them and get to know them. Teach them some skills like throwing and catching; run some races with them. Build up a relationship with them so you can help and guide them in their lives. They may be young now but time passes quickly and before you know it they’ll be teenagers like you and then you’ll understand how they feel and advise them correctly inshaa Allah.

Be active. Go and visit your grandparents, go out with your mother, help your family to fix something, buy something or go somewhere. Use your imagination.

But as you’re romping around the tennis court, football field or wherever it is you are, remember to protect your eyes, and I am not talking about wearing sunglasses. I'm talking about lowering your gaze.

Allah says:

"Do not go near fornication and adultery, it is an abomination and an evil way." (Al Isra’, 17: 32).

This sin is so hateful in the sight of Our Lord, that He commanded us to not even go near it and illicit affairs begin with a lustful glance. Such a glance leads to lustful talk and flirting, then meeting…and we are all aware of what comes next.

So you have a number of challenges facing you this summer. Lowering your gaze is just one of them. Don’t let satan win. He wants to destroy you and remove your happiness and turn it into misery. Don’t listen to his whisperings. Seek refuge with Allah and trust in Him.

[O you who believe! Do not follow Satan's footsteps: if any will follow the footsteps of Satan, he will command what is shameful and wrong] (An-Nur, 24: 21).

Looking at another man or woman in an indecent manner is following in Satan's footsteps.

The Prophet further explained the idea of keeping chaste. he said, "…the adultery of the eyes is looking (at [that] which is not allowed)…" (Bukhari, Muslim).

So when you are taking out those younger kids or playing sport with your friends try to go to the park or the football ground or whatever at a quiet time when not many people are there. After all, the intention is to exercise, be with your friends and have some fun, right?

At the same time, lowering your gaze doesn’t mean being rude or anti-social. You should go out, have fun, and even make Dawa (inviting others to Islam). A Muslim is decent and pure and this means all of his or her body must be decent and pure. A natural consequence of this is lowering the gaze.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commands us saying: “Teach your children swimming, archery and horse-riding.” So we know it is really important to play sports and doing so trains the Muslims and makes their bodies healthy and sound. “A sound mind is in a sound body.”

In a Hadith, we read: “A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak one.” (Muslim) A sound strong body is capable of fulfilling both the religious and the worldly duties.

But don’t be a bad sport. Islam stresses the importance of spiritual and moral training and these things should accompany playing sport so that everyone gets along together well and goes home feeling satisfied and happy, not disturbed and upset.

In contests, a true Muslim never forgets the etiquette of treating his opponent well. If we cast aside morals in contests and competitions this is a form of hypocrisy. May Allah protect us from that.

Here are some tips for when you play sport.

*

Don’t become so preoccupied that you neglect your religious and other duties.
*

Don’t play sport to the point that it involves harming yourself or others.
*

Don’t blindly favor one team over another because Islam is built on unity and love.
*

Don’t use foul words or behave badly and don’t slander other people. If you play sport but lose your good deeds, you’ve really lost the target!
*

Don’t play games that involve both sexes as this opens the way for temptation and corruption. May Allah protect us.

May Allah bless our activities and keep us all on His straight path.

[jzcasejz]

:sl:

JAZAKALLAH for this article, was a great read :happy: :brother:

btw...this article is one week old and no replies :ooh:

[Aminah_92]

some good points, especially how not to be too adicted to sports and stuff like that. sometimes i want to carry on with what im doing but my mum usually tells me to stop and pray namaz. it's hard at times especially if its a fun game or a good movie but after you pray u feel much better 2.

[Ghazi]

:sl:

“A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak one.” (Muslim) A sound strong body is capable of fulfilling both the religious and the worldly duties.

This isn't physical strength but Iman wise.

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[Aminah_92]

yeah but if someone was a big fat lump then hes not goin to b a very good servant cos he is all crap at stuff like doin namaz and goin 2 da mosque.

[Ghazi]

yeah but if someone was a big fat lump then hes not goin to b a very good servant cos he is all crap at stuff like doin namaz and goin 2 da mosque.

:sl:

lol Anyone can do that, that can walk.

[Aminah_92]

but som1 i kno is real fat and hes sooo lazy and he hates movin around to go mosque and stuff (not iqram bhaya)

[Ghazi]

but som1 i kno is real fat and hes sooo lazy and he hates movin around to go mosque and stuff (not iqram bhaya)

:sl:

They're people like that two who are physicly fit but don't prey it could be for other reasons like lack of iman ect.

[Pure]

lol.. the hadith does refer to Eman. The point of referring to the hadith was that a Muslim who keeps him or herself healthy will be able to fulfill the Islamic obligations more successfully.

[Asyur an-Nagi]

:sl:
yep! i agree! inside healthy body live a healthy mind .

[Looking4Peace]

plus fat people sweat more and stink more, not just a little overweight but those morbidly obese people reak like old milk

[Asyur an-Nagi]

plus fat people sweat more and stink more, not just a little overweight but those morbidly obese people reak like old milk

:sl:
well, maybe the morbidly obese people are having their test from Allah. and sweat or stink more is just a humanly comment (Allah loves us all :) )may Allah bless them all! (old milk was milk anyway, it could be cheese or butter:happy: )

[Tilmeez]

Nice read, :mashallah:

:sl:


This isn't physical strength but Iman wise.

don't agree. Prophet (SAW) would love martial activities that envolved physical excercise.

:?

[Ghazi]

Nice read, :mashallah:


don't agree. Prophet (SAW) would love martial activities that envolved physical excercise.

:?

:sl:

And, by that logic a man who' iman isn't that good who's got strength is better then a man who isn't that strong but his iman is so high such as an iman,scholar ect, now by that logic it suggests that he's better then him just by his strenghth how can that be fair, didn't the prophet say the better among you people is the one who is more pious in his last sermon, the hadith is used in the wrong context I asked a shiek about this he also said that it's iman not strenghth but both are importent.

[Looking4Peace]

wow that comment was crude of me, i am sorry if i offended anyone, i shouldnt of came on here last 2 days in the mood i was in.

[seek.learn]

Salaam o alaikum,

JazakAllah for the great article.

May we all have a great healthy and active summer, one that would be pleasing to Allah. Aameen.

Alaikum Salaam

[Asyur an-Nagi]

wow that comment was crude of me, i am sorry if i offended anyone, i shouldnt of came on here last 2 days in the mood i was in.

:sl:
nay...i am sorry if i make u sound crude:)

[Umar001]

yeah but if someone was a big fat lump then hes not goin to b a very good servant cos he is all crap at stuff like doin namaz and goin 2 da mosque.

Not really, becuase I know alot of fat people who pray in front rows in masjids. plus for some its painful to walk and they do it so wouldnt that be a bigger reward?

[DAWUD_adnan]

“A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak one.”

wow, I need to go to the GYM


subhanAllah

[Pure]

And, by that logic a man who' iman isn't that good who's got strength is better then a man who isn't that strong but his iman is so high such as an iman,scholar ect, now by that logic it suggests that he's better then him just by his strenghth how can that be fair, didn't the prophet say the better among you people is the one who is more pious in his last sermon, the hadith is used in the wrong context I asked a shiek about this he also said that it's iman not strenghth but both are importent.

Brother... exactly...
What I meant was that a believer is able to fulfill their Islamic duties more successfully when he/she is healthy. That does not mean a healthier person is better than a person who is a highter eman. If a person keeps him or herself fit and and in good health, the person will be able to do more for the sake of Allah.

[Taqiyah]

wow, I need to go to the GYM

;D U read my mind:giggling: looooooool

subhanAllah[/QUOTE]

[...]

Brother... exactly...
What I meant was that a believer is able to fulfill their Islamic duties more successfully when he/she is healthy. That does not mean a healthier person is better than a person who is a highter eman. If a person keeps him or herself fit and and in good health, the person will be able to do more for the sake of Allah.

Yup that's way true sis! :thumbs_up And btw thanx for the great article :)

[Pure]

wa iyyaki sister!