Sports & Games

Making wrestling into a sport

Q: What is the ruling regarding wrestling? Some argue that it is a sport which Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) wrestled but did Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) make wrestling a sport which is recommended or well permitted? What are the rules for wrestling? Did the Sahaabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum) practice wrestling? Did wrestling become the reference sport of Islam? What is the field of application of wrestler?

Playing games like Brawl Stars, Fortnite, and Roblox

Q: Are games like Brawl Stars, Fortnite, and Roblox haraam?

I believe so because there's music in them and 3d images/sculptures of living beings which is haraam. Even if we're not the ones making them, we can change them and when we play them, we give money and popularity to them which is haraam because we should be spreading good, not publicizing haraam in a good way.

Sports betting

Q: Is it acceptable to engage in sports betting?

Sports betting involves wagering money on predictions of sports outcomes, such as a player's performance or a team's victory. If the prediction is correct, the better's money can potentially be doubled or tripled. In essence, sports betting revolves around forecasting sports results and staking money on those predictions.

Not fasting in the month of Ramadhaan on account of taking part in a soccer event

Q: The company I work for hosts a soccer event once a year for all African countries and this year the event falls in Ramadaan. They have tried their best to look for alternate dates but because there will be 700 participants they cannot get get accommodation at any other time. They are very concerned about the +/- 15 Muslim participants and the ruling regarding fasting for these travellers from Senegal and Ivory Coast.

Please can you advise on the correct ruling regarding exemption in this regard.

Playing cricket and earning from it

Q: I have some question related to cricket, professional cricket and earning from it whether it is halaal or haraam.

1. Today, league cricket is going on all over the world, these countries are non-Muslim countries, so sponsors, advertisements, etc. are not according to Islamic Sharia. My question is that these team owners take money from sponsors, advertisements, etc. Is the money they are getting from there forbidden according to Islamic Sharia? All Muslim players are aware of how the money is coming and it is illegal, yet the salaries they are getting or the contract with the team owners is also haraam or not?

2. In Pakistan and India also the team owners get sponsorship from betting companies and with this money they pay the salaries of the players and staff members so as a Muslim we should not play league cricket according to Islamic Sharia? Players who are receiving salaries or contracts with team owners is also forbidden or not?

3.Pakistan and India cricket board receives budget from the government but also contracts with sponsors and advertisements which is forbidden according to Islamic Shariah, with this money they pay the salaries of players and staff, so with this money taking a salary is also forbidden for players or not? ICC (International Cricket Council) also gives money to all cricket boards and since ICC is not following Islamic Shari'ah, so money from ICC is also haraam or not?

4.Under these circumstances, can a Muslim play professional cricket or not?

5. The player proudly says that we are playing for our nation and the fans also support him as a national hero, so what does Islam say about nationalism?

Padel Tennis

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.

Yoga

Q: IS YOGA PERMISSIBLE AS PHYSICAL EXERCISE?

I've been diagnosed with ovarian failure and it's been difficult for me to get periods. I was prescribed to do yoga, and have got periods by doing them before too. But there's been many contradictions regarding yoga. I've tried normal exercises instead of yoga but didn't get any results, except for weight loss.

Would it be permissible for me to practise yoga poses without doing anything against the Islamic aqeedah? I take special care to ensure I don't do any doubtful poses like sun salutation (I just ended up doing it onetime without knowledge, that too I didn't complete it properly because it looked doubtful) and all. I also avoid taking it as anything except for prolonged physical movement.