Abstract

This article deals with “basic Principles of recreation in Islam” A critical evaluation and analysis of the topic concludes in the article that whether for males or females the opportunities for recreation are permissible in Islam be it for the purpose of entertainment, sports or physical exercise to keep one physically active and fit. The Prophet (SAW) has himself praised and encouraged physical activities like horse riding and racing, aiming and swimming etc. as such physical activities not only keep one fit and healthy. However, like other fields, Islam has laid certain principles for recreation.
This article discusses such principles and limitations in detail that although recreation in itself is permissible for men and women provided they do not become ends in themselves or do not cause one to waste one’s time or make one go astray and keep one from performing what one is supposed to and providing that the limitations imposed by sharia are not violated such as use of music, gambling, spendthrift, unislamic dress code or mixing of males and females so that Islamic laws of veil are violated.
Summarily, Islam does not prohibit either sex from recreation, however, one must keep in the mind that time is an important asset to be utilized in performing the deeds worth doing for one for one’s temporal and eternal success rather than wasting such a precious asset in wasteful activities making them ends in themselves rather than as means.