Q: Padel tennis is taking our society by storm. It is being promoted as a family game. There are some Padel tennis courts being developed in the Muslim communities for women in pardah to come and enjoy a game without compromising on their pardah. They call it pardah friendly courts. Some are going to the extent of building female only courts.
I fear that this new craze is going to be a huge fitna. The bats are also being sold at ridiculously high prices. Please advise as how to not despise, but conscientise.
A: At the onset, it should be understood that a believer's object in life is not amusement, recreation and entertainment. Rather, a believer has been created for higher goals and greater objectives. A believer's endeavour should constantly be aimed towards earning the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala and the rewards of the Hereafter. He should not while away his time in amusement and vain activity emulating the ways of the kuffaar. It does not behove a believer to stoop so low and make the goals of the kuffaar his goals in life, thereby being consumed by their culture of sport and entertainment.
If one studies the lives of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum), one will not find any incident where they made the dunya their goal and chased after entertainment and amusement. Instead, they always aimed towards earning the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala through emulating the mubaarak lifestyle of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Hence, we find that their lives personified the sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) in assisting the creation at the time of difficulty, taking part in jihaad against the enemy, fulfilling the rights of their families and the Muslims in general, and carrying out good deeds to acquire the lofty stages of the Hereafter.
In certain Ahaadith, it is mentioned that the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) would practice archery and horse riding, but this was not done as a pastime or for entertainment. Rather, it was done in the spirit of preparing for jihaad. In essence, whatever actions they did was in order to gain the closeness and proximity of Allah Ta'ala and for the preservation and upliftment of deen.
On the contrary, when one examines the various sports which are promoted by the kuffaar e.g. padel tennis, soccer, cricket, etc. then apart from these sports being a waste of time, in most cases, they also contravene many laws of shari'ah. For example, salaah is not performed on time with jamaat in the musjid, inappropriate clothing is worn at the time when engaged in the sport, and at times, part of the satar area is exposed, often there is intermingling between males and females, the environment where these types of sports are played is not conducive to the value system of Islam, exorbitant amounts of money are spent to purchase equipment and hire the court, etc. whereas this is israaf and the money could be spent to assist one's poor relatives or the Muslims in need, and in many cases, one does not fulfil the rights he owes towards his parents, wife, children or family due to getting involved in these sports.
In the case where the whole family wishes to take part in this type of activity, then one is guilty of giving the wrong direction to his family and creating within them the inclination towards the kuffaar culture and sport. A father, being the head of the family, is supposed to act responsibly and make a concerted effort to instill the correct Islamic values within his family and steer them towards the path of deen and the sunnah.
Even though one may feel that there are purdah facilities available for the womenfolk, however, by taking them out of the home for the purpose of sport and exposing them to such an environment, one will be contravening the laws of shari'ah. Shari'ah commands that women should remain within the confines of their homes and not leave their homes without a valid need. Hence, for one to take his wife, daughters and family out of the home for this type of purpose goes against the Islamic teachings as well as opposes the very fabric of hayaa and shame.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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