3/19/2019 0812-Physical Activity and Exercise: An Islamic Perspective

Home

ISLAMIC MEDICAL EDUCATION RESOURCES-05

0812-Physical Activity and Exercise: An
Islamic Perspective
Paper presented at The Annual Training for Better organization and Islamic Health Conference organized by the
Islamic Medical Faculties of Indonesia at Universitas Islam Sultan Agung Semarang on 20th December 2008 by
Dr Omar Hasan Kasule Sr. MB ChB (MUK), MPH (Harvard), DrPH (Harvard) Professor of Epidemiology and
Islamic Medicine Institute of Medicine Universiti Brunei and Visiting Professor of Epidemiology Universiti
Malaya. EM: omarkasule@yahoo.com, EM: http://omarkasule.tripod.com

ABSTRACT
The paper defines physical activity and explains its physiological, health, social, and religious
benefits. It then describes Islamic guidelines for various types of physical activity such as walking,
running, sitting, and standing as well as Islamic guidelines on physical sports.

OVER-VIEW OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Definition
Physical activity is any physical movement involving the musculo-skeletal system. Physical activity
is a type of physical activity that is undertaken for the specific purpose of improving fitness,
promotion of health, or prevention of disease.

Benefits
Being physically active has many religious and social benefits. The physically active have the
strength to undertake physical acts of ‘ibadat like salat or hajj. They have the energy to undertake
work to be economically productive and thus support themselves and their community. The
physically active are able to travel and engage in social activities such as visiting relatives, visiting
the sick, and participating in social activities. All these have social and psychological benefits that
would not be achieved in the absence of physical fitness.

Physical activity while doing useful work

In the modern technological society, physical exercise is undertaken as an end in itself with the
result that most activities benefit the individual physiologically and in health promotion but have no
contribution to society. We need to change the concept of exercise to be able to accrue maximum
advantage. This can be achieved if people exercise while doing some socially beneficial work. This
will be an appropriate return to the start of human history when people were active physically in
hunting, gathering, and agriculture that were direct social benefits.

Legal rulings on physical activity

Physical activity is mustahabb or manduub for its physiological and health benefits. It is waajib
when it is required as part of disease treatment. It is also mustahabb as a recreation. Participative
sports are preferred over spectator sports. Males and females should be separated in sports activities.
Sports involving show of cruelty, high risk for participants or spectators, or gambling are either
haram or makruuh.

http://omarkasule-05.tripod.com/id295.html 1/5
3/19/2019 0812-Physical Activity and Exercise: An Islamic Perspective

WALKING
Types of walking:
Bipedal walking of humans has enabled humans build a sophisticated civilization. The Qur’an has
mentioned walking in various instances: walking on earth, mashyu ‘ala al ardh[1], walking in the
earth, mashyu fi al ardh[2], walking in the markets, mashyu fi al aswaaq[3], and walking in homes,
mashyu fi al masaakin[4]. Allah made the roads[5] to enable humans work in comfort. He also
provided landmarks for them to know the way and to know the direction of the road. The road is not
always easy and Allah in His mercy made hajj obligatory only for those who have the ability to
travel, istitaa’at al sabiil[6]. It is not permitted to travel in order to visit mashahid and qubuur. It is
not permitted to make a specific travel to visit any mosque except the three mosques. Tourism
without any purpose is forbidden, al siyaahat fi al ardh biduun gharadh shara’e manhiyu ‘anhu.
Walking may take the form of jogging, hiking, mountaineering, competitive speed running.

Purposes of walking
Humans unlike animals should not walk and wander aimlessly. Walking can be for any of the
following worthy purposes: work and employment, ‘ibadat, seeking knowledge, physical exercise
for fitness, recreation or race walking, and social visits. Walking for purposes of ‘ibadat is the most
worthy purpose. The reward is increased according to the number of steps taken to the masjid.

Etiquette of walking
The Prophet taught the importance of walking as a physical exercise by walking around Madina on
foot even when he could have ridden a horse or a donkey. The prophet taught by example that the
best manner is walking is taking quick and big steps, harwalat. The Prophet’s walk is described as
form of jogging, harwala, as he was always in a hurry. He never walked lazily. He used to walk
around Madina with his wives or his companions. He also used to walk in the open desert. He
climbed mountains. One day in Madina he climbed Mount Uhud accompanied by Abubakar, Omar,
and Othman. The mountain quaked and he calmed it saying ‘ithbut ya uhud. ‘alayka rasul al llaah
wa siddiq wa shahiidaan. The Qur’an has described several etiquettes of walking: firm steps,
thubuut al aqdaam[7], walking on feet[8], walking straight, mashyu sawiy[9], and walking with
etiquette, mashy wa al adab[10]. The etiquette of walking is more emphasized for a woman:
walking with shyness, mashyu bi hayaa[11] and not making audible attractive sound patterns with
the feet.

Etiquette of the road, adab al tariiq

When walking or sitting by a public highway, the following rights of the road, haqq al tariiq, must
be observed: lowering the gaze, ghadh al basar; avoiding causing any annoyance, kaff al adha, and
returning greetings, radd al salaam[12]

Etiquette of the journey:

The dua on start of a journey is ‘subhaana alladhi sakkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu
muqriniin wa inna ila rabbina lamunqalibiin. Allahumma inna nas aluka fi safarina hadha al birr
wa al taqwah wa min al ‘amal ma tuhibbu wa tardha. Allahumma hawwin ‘alayina safarina hadha
wa itwi’ina bu’udahu. Allahumma anta al saahibu fi al safar wa al khaliifat fi al ahl. Allahumma
inni a ‘uudhu bika min wa’athaai al safar wa kaaabat al mandhar wa suui almunqalab fi al maal
wa al ahl[13].
During the journey takbir is recited at high places or when ascending a hill and tasbiih on low
places. The dua at the end of the journey is ‘aaibuun taaibuun ‘aabiduun li rabbina
haamiduun’[14].

RUNNING
Running is a sport. It is undertaken for recreation or for physical fitness or for both. It can take any
of the following forms: short distance sprints at high speed, long distance marathons requiring

http://omarkasule-05.tripod.com/id295.html 2/5
3/19/2019 0812-Physical Activity and Exercise: An Islamic Perspective

physical endurance over a long time, or the easy-paced jogging. Foot racing, musabaqat, is allowed
when wearing leather socks, khuff, or bare footed[15]. The prophet is reported to have engaged in
foot-racing with his wife Aisha. Early in their marriage Aisha was small and light and she used to
win the race. Later in her life she put on weight and the prophet used to win the races.

SITTING
Sitting companion, jaliis:
A Muslim must be very careful whom he chooses for a sitting companion. The compassion may be
good, jaliis al khayr, or bad, jaliis al suu. The bad companion may be a source of bad peer
influence. It is recommended to seek the company of the righteous, al qu’uud ma’a al saalihiin, and
to avoid the company of the transgressors, al qu’ud ma’a al dhaalimiin[16]. Sitting on graves, al
juluus ala al qubuur, is forbidden and visits to the cemetery should be brief.

Physiological purposes
Sitting down serves the purposes of resting and relaxation. While standing muscle tension maintains
an upright posture. On sitting down, the muscles can relax. Sitting is also psychologically relaxing.
The prophet recommended sitting down in a calamity, al juluus ‘inda al musiibat[17]

Sitting in assemblies of ibadat, majlis al ibadat wa al dhikr

Sitting is a form of ‘ibadat. A believer remembers Allah sitting down, dhikr al llaah qu’udan[18].
Sitting in the mosque waiting for salat has the reward of being in salat

Sitting for learning, majlis al ‘ilm

Sitting in a study circle to study Qur’an and other religious sciences has been part of Muslim
tradition for centuries. The study circles are usually held in the mosque.

Etiquette of the assembly, adab al majlis

The prophet taught the etiquette of sitting in an assembly. Priority of sitting is given to the first-
comer. A person cannot be forced to stand up and give his or her seat to a newcomer however is
considered good manners and charity to do so. If a person goes out of the assembly for a short
interval he has the right to reclaim his or her seat. There are special rights of sitting for the elderly,
the learned, and the handicapped. Children should sit behind the adults. Women have to sit separate
from men and their manner of sitting should respect the shyness expected of a woman.

STANDING
Physiological purposes
Standing is preparation for walking. Standing helps venous return due to the action of muscle
pumping.

The unique human upright posture

The human upright posture is a bounty from Allah. Humans are able to maintain stationary
equilibrium and dynamic equilibrium against forces of gravity and other forces like the wind or the
push of other humans. The upright posture is maintained by muscular stretch reflexes to counteract
the force of gravity. Several muscles have to act in unison to maintain the balance needed to stay
upright. Different muscles are involved in different ways as the person stays stationary of starts
moving. The upright posture is maintained only if the center of gravity is above the base connecting
the 2 feet. If the center of gravity moves out of this base, the balance is lost and the person falls. The
only way to prevent a fall is to move forward, an action that involves leaning forward to bring the
center of gravity back to base. Maintaining an erect posture requires a sophisticated neural
coordination that is best developed in humans.

Standing and ‘ibadat

http://omarkasule-05.tripod.com/id295.html 3/5
3/19/2019 0812-Physical Activity and Exercise: An Islamic Perspective

Standing is involved in several acts of ‘ibadat. Night prayer is called qiyaam al llayl[19] because of
the prolonged standing involved. Humans stand in remembrance of Allah, qiyaam li dhikr al
laah[20]. There is standing in the 5 obligatory prayers, qiyaam al salat. During hajj there is standing
at Arafat, wuquuf Arafat, and at Muzdalifat, wuquuf muzdalifat. Care must be taken to make sure
that prolonged standing in salat does not cause postural hypotension due to venous pooling of blood
in the lower extremity.

Etiquette of standing, adab al qiyaam

A Muslim can stand up to show respect to another person, qiyaam al ihtiraam. The respect to
humans in extended even to the funeral bier. It is recommended to stand up when a funeral
procession passes by, qiyaam li al janazat. It is however forbidden to stand for any human or any
object for the purpose of ‘ibadat.

SPORTS, riyadhat
Playing
The term play, la’ib can be used in a positive and negative sense. Play of children is useful for their
social and physical growth. Play as in physical sports for making the body strong and healthy is
positive. Play is used in a negative way to refer to adult activities that lack a purpose. Such play is
condemned, la’ib madhmuum[21]. Earthly life can be considered play, al duniya la’ib[22] if it lacks
purpose and direction.

Purposes of sports
Sports provide a healthy way of releasing aggression that is naturally found in humans. It also helps
exercise the body to achieve optimal health. Islam encourages physical sports for the purposes of
building the body’s strength to stay healthy and be able to undertake obligatory duties like salat.
Sports are forms of entertainment on joyous occasions like eid[23]. From the Islamic point of view
participation in sports is what is preferred. Just being a spectator although entertaining, is less
favored. Competitive sports is encouraged if it is associated with more people participating in the
quest for victory. If it is done for any other purpose then it is frowned upon. Group sports help in
forging a spirit of team work.

Sports and addiction:

When sports becomes the only pre-occupation of an individual to the exclusion of many other
beneficial activities such as ‘ibadat, it has become harmful. Many youths who are fans of various
clubs and players fall into this trap. What is needed is for the individual to participate in sports for
his or her bodily benefit but in moderation.

Commercialization of sports:
Sometimes sports becomes big business. The commercialization of sports undermines the very
Islamic essence of participative sports. Islam wants people to be participators and not spectators.

Sports and gambling:

Gambling in its various forms is associated with competitive sports. Gambling is an addiction that is
difficult to get out of. It is related to many other evils such as alcohol, drugs, and crime. It is a type
of social failure. The victim loses control over his actions and his own behavior and usually ends up
failing socially.

Some legal rulings

Nakedness, ‘awrat, must be covered all the time during sports. Violent sports such as boxing and
wrestling and risky sports such as car racing may fall under the rubric of makruuh.

[1] Qur’an 25:63

http://omarkasule-05.tripod.com/id295.html 4/5
3/19/2019 0812-Physical Activity and Exercise: An Islamic Perspective

[2] Qur’an 17:37, 17:95, 31:18

[3] Qur’an 25:7
[4] Qur’an 20:128
[5] Qur’an 16:15; p558 20:53, 21:31; P 558 43:10
[6] Qur’an 3:97
[7] Qur’an 2:250
[8] Qur’an 7:195, 24:45
[9] Qur’an 67:22
[10] Qur’an 25:63, 31:19
[11] Qur’an 28:25
[12] Bukhari
[13] Muslim
[14] Muslim
[15] Ahmad
[16] Qur’an 4:140, 6:68
[17] Abudaud
[18] Qur’an 3:191, 4:103
[19] Qur’an 25:64, 39:9, 52:48-49, 73:20
[20] Qur’an 3:191, 4:103
[21] Qur’an 7:98, 9:65, 21:2, 43:83, 70:42
[22] Qur’an 6:32, 29:64, 47:36, 57:20
[23] Muslim

©Professor Omar Hasan Kasule, Sr. December, 2008

http://omarkasule-05.tripod.com/id295.html 5/5