Excerpt Source: Aḥkām wa Masā’il fī Ḍaw’ al-Kitāb wa al-Sunnah
By: Shaykh Mubashshir Aḥmad Rabbānī
What is the Shar‘i ruling on playing sports and computer games?
Islam is a comprehensive religion that provides the best guidance for every aspect of our temporary worldly life. It not only offers means to attain success in the Hereafter, but also addresses the proper management of worldly affairs.
However, there are two extremes observed among people:
① Some dedicate their entire lives to games and entertainment, chasing fame and rewards.
② Others, under the guise of asceticism and devotion, have even abandoned permissible recreation.
The life of the Prophet ﷺ and the Companions was:
We are taught to value our health and free time, as the Prophet ﷺ said:
"نِعْمَتَانِ مَغْبُونٌ فِيهِمَا كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ: الصِّحَّةُ وَالْفَرَاغُ"
“There are two blessings which many people squander: health and free time.”
Allah says:
﴿وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ ۖ وَلَلدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ﴾
“The life of this world is nothing but play and amusement. But the home of the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allah. Will you not then understand?”
[Surah al-An‘ām: 32]
﴿وَمَا هَٰذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَهْوٌ وَلَعِبٌ ۚ وَإِنَّ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ لَهِيَ الْحَيَوَانُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ﴾
“This worldly life is nothing but amusement and diversion. The real life is in the Hereafter—if only they knew!”
[Surah al-‘Ankabūt: 64]
A believer avoids vain and useless activities:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ﴾
“And those who avoid vain talk and actions.”
[Surah al-Mu’minūn: 3]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"مِنْ حُسْنِ إِسْلَامِ الْمَرْءِ تَرْكُهُ مَا لَا يَعْنِيهِ"
“Part of a man’s excellence in Islam is that he leaves what does not concern him.”
Islam allows purposeful entertainment and games that bring about:
✔ Good health
✔ Energy
✔ and do not distract from the remembrance of Allah or Islamic obligations.
The Prophet ﷺ would seek protection from laziness:
"اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ..."
“O Allah! I seek refuge in You from incapacity and laziness…”
The following are praised and encouraged in the authentic Sunnah:
“Allah will admit three persons into Paradise due to a single arrow: the one who made it for reward, the one who shot it, and the one who handed it.”
“Every game a person plays is falsehood except for: his archery, training his horse, and playing with his wife — for these are truth.”
“All things not involving the remembrance of Allah are idle play — except for four: a man playing with his wife, training his horse, walking between two targets (archery), and learning to swim.”
‘Ā’ishah رضي الله عنها said:
“I raced with the Prophet ﷺ and beat him, but later when I gained weight, he beat me and said: This is for that.”
Including singing by girls with duff during weddings – this too is authentically proven.
✔ The game must not hinder Islamic duties (e.g., prayer, fasting).
✔ It should have benefit — either physical, mental, or spiritual.
✔ Avoid games that promote nudity, gambling, music, or intermingling.
✔ Computer games, cards, ludo, kite flying, etc., fall under time-wasting with no real benefit.
✔ Harām games include gambling-based games, musical games, and immodest entertainment.
“Every form of amusement is futile if it distracts from obedience to Allah.”
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar explained:
Even if a person is engaged in nafl prayers or Qur’an, but misses fardh obligations, it falls under this warning — how much more for lesser activities!
✖ Backgammon (nards)
“Whoever plays nards, it is as though he dipped his hand in the flesh and blood of swine.”
“Whoever plays it has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger.”
✖ Pigeon Racing
“A devil is chasing after a devil.”
✖ Animal Fighting
“The Prophet ﷺ forbade provoking animals to fight each other.”
⚠ Excessive sports have led to:
① Neglect of Salāh, even Jumu‘ah
② Fasting missed during Ramadan (e.g., during cricket tournaments)
③ Intermingling of sexes, immodest dressing
④ Wastage of wealth and time
⑤ Idolization of sports stars over Sahabah and Mujāhidīn
⑥ Nationalism disguised as religion — matches treated as holy wars
⑦ People make vows and offerings for team victories
⑧ Jeopardizing Islamic values and weakening the spirit of Jihād
✔ Islam permits beneficial, purposeful recreation.
✔ But forbids vain, immodest, or time-wasting games.
✔ Games like archery, swimming, running, horse-riding, and play between spouses are from the Sunnah.
✔ Avoid all that distracts from the remembrance of Allah, leads to sin, or involves harām elements.
By: Shaykh Mubashshir Aḥmad Rabbānī
❖ Question:
What is the Shar‘i ruling on playing sports and computer games?
❖ Balanced Perspective in Islam
Islam is a comprehensive religion that provides the best guidance for every aspect of our temporary worldly life. It not only offers means to attain success in the Hereafter, but also addresses the proper management of worldly affairs.
However, there are two extremes observed among people:
① Some dedicate their entire lives to games and entertainment, chasing fame and rewards.
② Others, under the guise of asceticism and devotion, have even abandoned permissible recreation.
The life of the Prophet ﷺ and the Companions was:
- Full of taqwā, zuhd, fear of Allah, and worship,
- Yet also included moments of joy, happiness, and permissible delight.
We are taught to value our health and free time, as the Prophet ﷺ said:
"نِعْمَتَانِ مَغْبُونٌ فِيهِمَا كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ: الصِّحَّةُ وَالْفَرَاغُ"
“There are two blessings which many people squander: health and free time.”
Reference: Bukhārī: 6412, Tirmidhī: 2304
❖ The Purpose of Life vs. Meaningless Pastimes
Allah says:
﴿وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ ۖ وَلَلدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ﴾
“The life of this world is nothing but play and amusement. But the home of the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allah. Will you not then understand?”
[Surah al-An‘ām: 32]
﴿وَمَا هَٰذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَهْوٌ وَلَعِبٌ ۚ وَإِنَّ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ لَهِيَ الْحَيَوَانُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ﴾
“This worldly life is nothing but amusement and diversion. The real life is in the Hereafter—if only they knew!”
[Surah al-‘Ankabūt: 64]
A believer avoids vain and useless activities:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ﴾
“And those who avoid vain talk and actions.”
[Surah al-Mu’minūn: 3]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"مِنْ حُسْنِ إِسْلَامِ الْمَرْءِ تَرْكُهُ مَا لَا يَعْنِيهِ"
“Part of a man’s excellence in Islam is that he leaves what does not concern him.”
Reference: Ibn Mājah: 3976, Aḥmad: 17370, Tirmidhī: 2318
❖ Permissible and Beneficial Recreational Activities in Islam
Islam allows purposeful entertainment and games that bring about:
✔ Good health
✔ Energy
✔ and do not distract from the remembrance of Allah or Islamic obligations.
The Prophet ﷺ would seek protection from laziness:
"اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ..."
“O Allah! I seek refuge in You from incapacity and laziness…”
Reference: Muslim: 2706
❖ Games Praised in the Sunnah
The following are praised and encouraged in the authentic Sunnah:
➊ Archery & Marksmanship
“Allah will admit three persons into Paradise due to a single arrow: the one who made it for reward, the one who shot it, and the one who handed it.”
“Every game a person plays is falsehood except for: his archery, training his horse, and playing with his wife — for these are truth.”
Reference: Aḥmad: 17433, Abū Dāwūd: 2513
➋ Horse-Riding
➌ Swimming
“All things not involving the remembrance of Allah are idle play — except for four: a man playing with his wife, training his horse, walking between two targets (archery), and learning to swim.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi‘: 534, Sunan al-Kubrā: 8889, 8890, Silsilah al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah: 315
➍ Running (Racing)
‘Ā’ishah رضي الله عنها said:
“I raced with the Prophet ﷺ and beat him, but later when I gained weight, he beat me and said: This is for that.”
Reference: Abū Dāwūd: 2578, Aḥmad: 26807
➎ Reciting Good Poetry at Joyous Occasions
Including singing by girls with duff during weddings – this too is authentically proven.
❖ Guidelines for Permissibility of Modern Games
✔ The game must not hinder Islamic duties (e.g., prayer, fasting).
✔ It should have benefit — either physical, mental, or spiritual.
✔ Avoid games that promote nudity, gambling, music, or intermingling.
✔ Computer games, cards, ludo, kite flying, etc., fall under time-wasting with no real benefit.
✔ Harām games include gambling-based games, musical games, and immodest entertainment.
Imam Bukhārī wrote:
“Every form of amusement is futile if it distracts from obedience to Allah.”
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar explained:
Even if a person is engaged in nafl prayers or Qur’an, but misses fardh obligations, it falls under this warning — how much more for lesser activities!
❖ Games Explicitly Prohibited in Hadith
✖ Backgammon (nards)
“Whoever plays nards, it is as though he dipped his hand in the flesh and blood of swine.”
Reference: Muslim: 2260
“Whoever plays it has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger.”
Reference: Abū Dāwūd: 4938
✖ Pigeon Racing
“A devil is chasing after a devil.”
Reference: Abū Dāwūd: 4940
✖ Animal Fighting
“The Prophet ﷺ forbade provoking animals to fight each other.”
Reference: Abū Dāwūd: 2562, Tirmidhī: 1708
❖ Harmful Effects of Modern Sports
⚠ Excessive sports have led to:
① Neglect of Salāh, even Jumu‘ah
② Fasting missed during Ramadan (e.g., during cricket tournaments)
③ Intermingling of sexes, immodest dressing
④ Wastage of wealth and time
⑤ Idolization of sports stars over Sahabah and Mujāhidīn
⑥ Nationalism disguised as religion — matches treated as holy wars
⑦ People make vows and offerings for team victories
⑧ Jeopardizing Islamic values and weakening the spirit of Jihād
❖ Conclusion
✔ Islam permits beneficial, purposeful recreation.
✔ But forbids vain, immodest, or time-wasting games.
✔ Games like archery, swimming, running, horse-riding, and play between spouses are from the Sunnah.
✔ Avoid all that distracts from the remembrance of Allah, leads to sin, or involves harām elements.
