Holding sports exercises in a hall beneath the mosque
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa number ( 6094 )
Q: In cooperation with the people of knowledge, virtue, and thought among the men of Zarqa in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , we established an association called the "Islamic Book Association." Its goal is to establish Islamic libraries for free lending, placing these libraries in places frequently visited by youth and others, such as mosques and clubs, as well as in places where some Muslims may spend a long time, such as hospitals and prisons. It focuses primarily on books of Islamic thought that combat atheism and the disbelieving innovations, and all ideas contrary to Islam, as well as periodic Islamic magazines. With the help of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), the association purchased about half a dunum of land and built a two-story structure on it. The upper floor consists of a mosque and three rooms, and the lower floor consists of a hall and three
rooms and four offices, and the disagreement arose over the use of this hall: some proposed limiting it to a major library for reading, while the opinion of the rest, who were all but one, was that al-Zarqa has a major Islamic library with very few visitors, first due to the scarcity of readers, and second due to the readers' desire to acquire books, and if acquisition is not possible, then to borrow them, third. So this opinion was that the library should be in the upper rooms adjacent to the mosque, where there is more quiet for readers, and that it should focus, on the other hand, on distributing books for lending in the branch libraries, so that books would be within the public's reach. As for the hall, it is to be prepared for teaching sewing to girls in the morning, along with teaching them the fundamentals of religion and virtue, since sewing centers where vice and evil are rampant are also spreading. In the evening, courses in printing for young men, remedial courses in school subjects, and sequential lectures in all aspects of Islamic sciences are to be held there, as well as seminars where the attendees are of a certain level or profession each time, and any suitable cultural activities. Also, a scout team and sports activities, some of which are practiced inside the hall and some outside. All of this under appropriate preparation and direct supervision. It is known to your Excellency that people's inclinations and desires differ. Not all the Companions were like Abu Hurayrah in narrating hadith, nor were they all like Khalid in knowledge of war, but everyone
is made easy for what he was created for. And as a result of the overwhelming inclination of the youth toward sports, they joined missionary clubs, which are numerous for the purpose of hunting Muslims under the guise of sports, to the extent that Muslims reach 90% of the members in these clubs. The clubs of the Christians in this city alone number four, in addition to sports activities practiced in the same manner in eleven schools belonging to them, as well as in (14) churches, which are their churches. They found the young men to be an easy pasture, and you know what is intended in these hateful missionary clubs. Also, a narrow, fanatical nationalistic sport spread on another line, their matches resembling wars between tribes with the intent of invasion and plunder. From here, the search began for a means to prepare the Muslim physically as he is prepared intellectually, meaning that he should do exercises and strength games that lead to strengthening his body, and that this should be in the hall described to you under the mosque. Physical education in this concept is directed and under direct supervision, so that it is free from the forbidden in clothing, performance, or speech, and so that it does not come at the expense of acts of worship, Islamic sciences, and the Islamic seminars that will also be held in the hall. Under these circumstances, most of the scholars of Jordan have issued a ruling permitting this sport, as long as it is not practiced with the forbidden and is free from forbidden clothing. In this state, the sport becomes a means to strengthen the bodies of the young worshippers, strengthen their bonds and attachment to the mosque, and also
a means to attract some sports enthusiasts for whom one hopes for rectification, so that the sport becomes a path to their guidance. This group also sees that neglecting this directed Islamic sport, under these conditions, and neglecting a proven and successful method for saving our youth from frequenting the Christian clubs, is a neglect of the interest of Islam and the interest of the call, as long as Islam does not prevent there being a sport that contains no sin, even if it is under the mosque, as long as it is not during prayer times. While the other opinion sees that the presence of sports under the mosque is not appropriate, and it fears the sport by analogy to the sport at the other aforementioned entities. Finally, both parties agreed to seek your fatwa on this sensitive issue so that you may guide them to what is most beneficial for Islam and Muslims, trusting in your knowledge, sincerity, and breadth of vision
A: If the reality of the facilities you mentioned is as you explained regarding the purposes, then we hope that Allah will reward you for the good work you have done, and thank you for your good care of the Muslim youth and directing them to what is in their well-being, and protecting them from trials and false propaganda, and crown your work with success. As for what you asked about regarding performing exercises and sports activities in a hall under the mosque: if this hall is not needed for something more important than sports exercises, and the exercises are under the supervision of trustworthy Muslims, free from committing any forbidden act, and not occupying them from
performing an obligatory prayer in its time in congregation, and studying what is necessary of the rulings of Islam and the like, then there is no harm in it; because of the benefit it brings to them and their attraction to Islamic groups, and the connection of their souls to the people of good and their prevention from the gatherings of the people of evil, and their protection from the pitfalls of deviant propaganda and destructive trials, without them suffering any harm or negligence in the affairs of their religion. We ask Allah for safety from all evil for everyone, and steadfastness on the straight path. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q: In cooperation with the people of knowledge, virtue, and thought among the men of Zarqa in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , we established an association called the "Islamic Book Association." Its goal is to establish Islamic libraries for free lending, placing these libraries in places frequently visited by youth and others, such as mosques and clubs, as well as in places where some Muslims may spend a long time, such as hospitals and prisons. It focuses primarily on books of Islamic thought that combat atheism and the disbelieving innovations, and all ideas contrary to Islam, as well as periodic Islamic magazines. With the help of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), the association purchased about half a dunum of land and built a two-story structure on it. The upper floor consists of a mosque and three rooms, and the lower floor consists of a hall and three
rooms and four offices, and the disagreement arose over the use of this hall: some proposed limiting it to a major library for reading, while the opinion of the rest, who were all but one, was that al-Zarqa has a major Islamic library with very few visitors, first due to the scarcity of readers, and second due to the readers' desire to acquire books, and if acquisition is not possible, then to borrow them, third. So this opinion was that the library should be in the upper rooms adjacent to the mosque, where there is more quiet for readers, and that it should focus, on the other hand, on distributing books for lending in the branch libraries, so that books would be within the public's reach. As for the hall, it is to be prepared for teaching sewing to girls in the morning, along with teaching them the fundamentals of religion and virtue, since sewing centers where vice and evil are rampant are also spreading. In the evening, courses in printing for young men, remedial courses in school subjects, and sequential lectures in all aspects of Islamic sciences are to be held there, as well as seminars where the attendees are of a certain level or profession each time, and any suitable cultural activities. Also, a scout team and sports activities, some of which are practiced inside the hall and some outside. All of this under appropriate preparation and direct supervision. It is known to your Excellency that people's inclinations and desires differ. Not all the Companions were like Abu Hurayrah in narrating hadith, nor were they all like Khalid in knowledge of war, but everyone
is made easy for what he was created for. And as a result of the overwhelming inclination of the youth toward sports, they joined missionary clubs, which are numerous for the purpose of hunting Muslims under the guise of sports, to the extent that Muslims reach 90% of the members in these clubs. The clubs of the Christians in this city alone number four, in addition to sports activities practiced in the same manner in eleven schools belonging to them, as well as in (14) churches, which are their churches. They found the young men to be an easy pasture, and you know what is intended in these hateful missionary clubs. Also, a narrow, fanatical nationalistic sport spread on another line, their matches resembling wars between tribes with the intent of invasion and plunder. From here, the search began for a means to prepare the Muslim physically as he is prepared intellectually, meaning that he should do exercises and strength games that lead to strengthening his body, and that this should be in the hall described to you under the mosque. Physical education in this concept is directed and under direct supervision, so that it is free from the forbidden in clothing, performance, or speech, and so that it does not come at the expense of acts of worship, Islamic sciences, and the Islamic seminars that will also be held in the hall. Under these circumstances, most of the scholars of Jordan have issued a ruling permitting this sport, as long as it is not practiced with the forbidden and is free from forbidden clothing. In this state, the sport becomes a means to strengthen the bodies of the young worshippers, strengthen their bonds and attachment to the mosque, and also
a means to attract some sports enthusiasts for whom one hopes for rectification, so that the sport becomes a path to their guidance. This group also sees that neglecting this directed Islamic sport, under these conditions, and neglecting a proven and successful method for saving our youth from frequenting the Christian clubs, is a neglect of the interest of Islam and the interest of the call, as long as Islam does not prevent there being a sport that contains no sin, even if it is under the mosque, as long as it is not during prayer times. While the other opinion sees that the presence of sports under the mosque is not appropriate, and it fears the sport by analogy to the sport at the other aforementioned entities. Finally, both parties agreed to seek your fatwa on this sensitive issue so that you may guide them to what is most beneficial for Islam and Muslims, trusting in your knowledge, sincerity, and breadth of vision
A: If the reality of the facilities you mentioned is as you explained regarding the purposes, then we hope that Allah will reward you for the good work you have done, and thank you for your good care of the Muslim youth and directing them to what is in their well-being, and protecting them from trials and false propaganda, and crown your work with success. As for what you asked about regarding performing exercises and sports activities in a hall under the mosque: if this hall is not needed for something more important than sports exercises, and the exercises are under the supervision of trustworthy Muslims, free from committing any forbidden act, and not occupying them from
performing an obligatory prayer in its time in congregation, and studying what is necessary of the rulings of Islam and the like, then there is no harm in it; because of the benefit it brings to them and their attraction to Islamic groups, and the connection of their souls to the people of good and their prevention from the gatherings of the people of evil, and their protection from the pitfalls of deviant propaganda and destructive trials, without them suffering any harm or negligence in the affairs of their religion. We ask Allah for safety from all evil for everyone, and steadfastness on the straight path. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.