Module 8 – Circle 1 Health and Fitness

Is it part of your Deen to try to maintain good health? The Prophet pbuh said: “The most beloved by Allah of things He is asked to grant is (Al-aafiyah) good health (Tirmidhi) Module 8 – Circle 1 “The strong believer is better and more loved by Allah than the weaker one” (Muslim and Ahmad)

Module 8 – Circle 1 Does your body have a right over you? Allah's Apostle pbuh said, "O 'Abdullah! Have I not been formed that you fast all the day and stand in prayer all night?" I said, "Yes, O Allah's Apostle!" He pbuh said, "Do not do that! Observe the fast sometimes and also leave them (the fast) at other times; stand up for the prayer at night and also sleep at night. Your body has a right over you, your eyes have a right over you and your wife has a right over you." (Bukhari)

Why should we eat healthy food? Allah swt says: “Eat of the good things which We have provided for you.” (Quran 2:173) “Eat of what is lawful and wholesome on the earth.” (Quran 2:168) Module 8 – Circle 1 On the authority of Al-Miqdaam ibn Maadiy-Karib who said: I heard the Holy Prophet pbuh saying: “No human ever filled a vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient for any son of Adam are some morsels to keep his back straight. But if it must be, then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath.” [Ahmad, Tirmidhi, An- Nasaa'I, Ibn Majah]

Module 8 – Circle 1 Why is it not good to be Obese? On seeing an obese man, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him said: “If you did not have a paunch (belly fat), it would be better for you. He also said: Overeating does not go with good health.” [Al-Haythami]

Module 8 – Circle 1 Is Alcohol permitted? “O you who believe! Intoxicants, gambling, idolatry, and diving arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. So avoid that so that you may be successful.” (Quran 5: 90) Ibn Abbas (ra) reported that the Messenger pbuh said’ "If a habitual drunkard dies, he will meet Allah like the one who worships idols." (Ahmad, Ibn majah from Abu Hurrairah)

Module 8 – Circle 1 Can Muslims take Drugs? “Satan’s plan is to sow hatred and enmity amongst you with intoxicants and gambling, and to hamper you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Will you not give up?” (5:91)

Module 8 – Circle 1 Can Muslims Smoke? Now that it is a proven fact that smoking kills, over 400 scholars agree that smoking is prohibited (haraam) due to the following Quranic Verse: And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for Allah loves those who do good. [Quran, 2: 195]

Module 8 – Circle 1 Are men and women allowed Piercings? The proof of this permission for women is based on the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, when he prayed on the day of `Eid and came with Bilal, his Companion, he ordered the women to pay Zakah, and some of them took their earrings off and threw it (donated it) to the Prophet. (Bukhari) Islam forbids men from copying styles that are distinctively feminine. “The Messenger of Allah pbuh cursed men who make themselves look like women and women who make themselves look like men.” (Bukhari)

Module 8 – Circle 1 Are Muslims allowed Tattoos? The Prophet pbuh specifically prohibited tattoos in a number of Hadiths. Narrated Abu Huraira: "Allah's Apostle said, 'The evil eye is a fact,' and he forbade tattooing. (Bukhari, Dress, Volume 7, Book 72, Number 827)"

Module 8 – Circle 1 What does Islam say about sleep? “And We have appointed your sleep for repose. And We have appointed the night as a cloak. And have appointed the day for livelihood ” (78:9-11)

Module 8 – Circle 1 What does Islam say about Cleanliness? Cleanliness is part of Iman (faith) as stated in Bukhari, and Allah is pure and He loves purity (Muslim).

Module 8 – Circle 1 Are Muslims allowed to Self Harm? And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for Allah loves those who do good. [Quran, 2: 195]

Module 8 – Circle 1 Can Muslims Commit Suicide? “Nor kill or destroy yourselves: for verily Allah has been to you Most Merciful!” (Quran, 4:29) The Prophet pbuh said, "Whoever purposely throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, will be in the (Hell) Fire falling down into it and abiding therein perpetually forever; and whoever drinks poison and kills himself with it, he will be carrying his poison in his hand and drinking it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever; and whoever kills himself with an iron weapon, will be carrying that weapon in his hand and stabbing his abdomen with it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever." (Bukhari)

Module 8 – Circle 1 Is Sickness a good thing? “Whenever a Muslim is afflicted by harm from sickness or other matters, God will expiate his sins, like leaves drop from a tree.” (Bukhari and Muslim) Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil); but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. (2:155)

Module 8 – Circle 1 Do all illnesses have cures? The Prophet pbuh said: Every disease has a medication: If the medication for a particular disease is found, it will be cured with Allah's (swt) permission. (Muslim)

Module 8 – Circle 1 Is running recommended? The Prophet Muhammad’s pbuh beloved wife Aisha (ra) mentions their love of games and sports. She said, “I raced with the Prophet and I beat him. Later when I had put on some weight, we raced again and he won. Then he said, ‘this cancels that (referring to the previous race). (Ahmed and Abu Dawud)

Module 8 – Circle 1 Are Muslims allowed to wrestle? The Prophet pbuh wrestled with a number of men, one of whom was Rukanah ibn `Abd Yazid ibn Hashim ibn `Abdul-Muttalib, who lived in Makkah and was a skillful wrestler. People used to come to him from distant territories and challenge him in wrestling. Ibn Ishaq narrated the story of Rukanah: Once the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) met him in one of the mountain paths of Makkah, whereupon he said to him, "O Rukanah! Will not you fear Allah and accept what I am calling you to?" Rukanah replied, "O Muhammad! Do you have a witness to verify your truthfulness?" So the Prophet said, "If I beat you in wrestling, will you believe in Allah and His Messenger?" The man replied, "Yes." The Prophet wrestled him and defeated him. Rukanah was astonished with that, and he asked the Prophet to acquit him of their agreement, which is belief, and to have a rematch. So they had a second and a third rematch where the Prophet also defeated him. Rukanah was astonished and said, "This is very strange indeed!" Then he immediately embraced Islam. Other narrations state that he embraced Islam after the conquest (fath)of Makkah" (Al-Hakim, Abu Dawud, and At-Tirmidhi).

Module 8 – Circle 1 Is it recommended to practice archery? Salamah ibn Al-Akwa` narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by some people of the tribe of Banu Aslam who were practicing archery. The Prophet said, "O children of Ishmael! Practice archery as your father Ishmael was a great archer. Keep on shooting arrows and I am with (the team of) Banu so-and-so." So one of the parties ceased shooting, whereupon the Prophet said, "Why do you not shoot?" They replied, "How should we shoot while you are with them (i.e., on their side)?" On that the Prophet said, "Shoot and I am with all of you" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Module 8 – Circle 1 Are Muslims allowed to Swim? Any action without the remembrance of Allah is either a diversion or heedlessness excepting four acts: walking from target to target (during archery practice), training a horse, playing with one’s family, and learning to swim. (Al-Tabarani)