Question

Does the Hadith that appears in Bukhari regarding Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and Sayyidah ‘Aishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) looking at the Abyssinians playing with their spears prove that: watching sports (with no haram) is not classed as futile?

Answer

The Abyssinians that were demonstrating their spears to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) were actually training for war. This was not a futile act.

Modern day sport cannot be equated to this.

Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) writes in his commentary on Sahih Bukhari:

“Demonstrating the spears isn’t a mere [futile] act of play, rather it is a way of the brave practising [their skills] and preparing for the enemy.”

(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 455)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar