Topic: Martial Arts, Yoga and other forms of excercise.


Umm.Eeasa.Beg    -- 26-04-2003 @ 12:00 AM
  Bismillah-hirahmaan-niraheem
Asalamu aleykum wa rehmatullah
There are different forms of excercise we engage in, i.e. martial arts, yoga, classes, gym etc.  To what extent are we allowed to do these, especially as some of them come from Kuffar practises, i.e. Yoga.
Does intention have anything to do with it, i.e. if you have the intention to do it just for excercise then it is viable, what about the mental effects, i.e. mentally preparation in Martial Arts?
Even if we change the excericse so as not to resemble the kuffar, is it still not allowed as its origins are from the kuffar?
Also are brothers allowed to go to the gym when there are no 'men only' sessions?
Wasalamu aleykum


Umm.Mariam    -- 14-08-2003 @ 5:28 PM
  Bismillah,

Assalaamu alaikum,

With regards to martial arts then i remember a few years ago this question was asked in B'ham conference to whilst Shaykh Fawzee and Shaykh Abdul Aziz al-Bur'aee were there - during a question and answer session.  And it was said that it is permissible to learn martial arts and such techniques of fighting.  InshaAllah i will try and find the tape and type the question and answer up as soon as possible.

With regards to Yoga then having briefly looked through one of these such exercise books whilst shopping, then what i saw was that many of the exercise positions were named after their idols and had in their title - 'such and such (idol) worship position/stance'.  This was sufficient for me to forget about Yoga.  
And from what i am aware of re: Hinduism  - then Yoga was a part of their religion that (in a mystical and spiritual sense) was a way of enabling them, with meditation (e.g. chanting words of Shirk) getting closer to their idols and eventually reaching their foolish ideology of reaching 'enlightenment'and nirvana and become one with their ultimate deity!  - a'oothoobillah.

So i would advise sisters to stay far from this practise, as it is unimaginable that any muslim woman would make such poses of shirk and evil worship - even for exercise purposes without the words of meditation!

And basic things like walking are excellent for exercise purposes as it exercises the majority of muscles in the body.  Or maybe buying some form of exercise machine at home (which is easily attainable and affordable in this day and age)would be greatly beneficial also - and easy to do without having to leave the home inshaAllah.  Such things are easily purchasable from on-line sites aswell as most home stores and sports shops.  

I hope this has helped in some small way inshaAllah.  

Wassalaamu alaikum

Umm Mariam


Umm.Eeasa.Beg    -- 14-08-2003 @ 8:34 PM
  Asalamu aleykum wa rahmatullah my sister
Jazakallahu khair for this information.  
It is useful.  I didnt actually ever think about the origins of Yoga or indeed what the stances represent.  I never thought to research it either.  So Jazakallahu khair for putting the effort in to let me know, I didnt think that anyone was going to respond to this email.
I have resolved that forms of excercise at home are a good idea- a running machine is good for weight loss and increasing fitness levels and lung capacity etc.
InshaAllah if any sisters have been looking for ideas then InshaAllah these represent some and abstain from the YOGA.
May Allah reward you for your efforts my sister.
wasalamu aleykum wa rahmatullah


rickg    -- 15-08-2003 @ 9:48 AM
  As-salaam-u-alaykum,
  Although this forum is not for advertisements, I hope the admin will forgive my post as I'd rather benefit my salafi brothers/sisters instead of others. I have a running machine for sale (only used about 3 times as I found that 3 children give you far more exercise than any machine, lol) and an exercise machine that looks a bit like a cross between a bike and a rowing machine. This one has been used a lot more but is still in good condition. If anyone in the Birmingham area is interested, PM me and we can discuss price.
Was-salaam
Abu Hamza Ya'qub Gungadoo


ibrahim.bukhari    -- 22-12-2003 @ 4:10 AM
  بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم


In reference to the above post where Shaykh Fawzee al-Atharee and Shaykh Abdul-Azeez  al-Bur'ee stated that it was permissible to learn martial arts:

Does anyone recall if the issue of bowing to one's instructor was discussed?  As it is the custom in many martial arts and especially the Korean arts of Tae Kwon Do, Hap Ki Do and Moo Sool, for the student to bow not only to ones instructor, but also to the flags in the Do Jang (Korean word for place of training).  This is done by lowering the head and looking at one's belt.  Would that constitute a type of ruku?  I was just curious if the mashaykh touched on that issue at all?



السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

إبراهيم

This message was edited by ibrahim.bukhari on 12-22-03 @ 4:27 AM


Zamuri    -- 12-02-2004 @ 12:57 AM
  Bismillaah

Assalamua'laikum waRahmatullaahi waBarakaatuh

With regards to bowing:

It was narrated that Anas ibn Maalik (radhiAllaahu'anh) said: ?A man said, ?O Messenger of Allaah, when one of us meets his friend, can he bow to him?? The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu'alaihi-wassallam) said, ?No.? He said, ?Can he hug him and kiss him?? He said, ?No.? He said, ?Can he shake hands with him?? He said, ?Yes, if he wishes.?? (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2728; he said it is a hasan hadeeth. Also narrated by Ibn Maajah. 3702. The hadeeth was classed as hasan by Imaam al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 160).

Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: ?With regard to bowing in greeting, this is forbidden as narrated in al-Tirmidhi from the Prophet (sallallaahu'alaihi-wassallam), that they asked him about a man who meets his brother and bows to him, and he said no to that. That is because it is not permitted to bow or prostrate for anyone except Allaah.? (Majmoo? al-Fataawa, 1/377).


Allaahu 'alam

Abu Rashideen Zamuri bin Muhammad Zain

Whosoever contends with the Messenger, even after guidance has been clearly conveyed, & follows a path other than the Believers', We shall leave him in the path he has chosen & land him in Hell, what an evil destination.[An-Nissa:115]

This message was edited by Zamuri on 2-12-04 @ 1:20 AM


Jilbaab    -- 06-05-2004 @ 1:59 AM
  In regards to yoga, the response was?

?It is not permissible because the aqeedah behind it is Shirk.  Even if for medical reasons, there are alternatives to yoga.?

Answer given by Shaykh ?Ubayd ibn ?Abdullah al-Jaabiree (Hafitha-hullaah)
Translated by Umm ?Abdir-Rahmaan Hanim Say
Telelink from Toronto, Canada
14 Rabi? Awwal 1425  |  4 May 2004

______________________________
ام خديجة شحيدة
Umm Khadijah Shahidah

This message was edited by Jilbaab on 5-7-04 @ 3:39 PM


abdul-moqueet.murad    -- 07-05-2004 @ 2:44 PM
  Assalaam-u-alikum,

About the bowing, first the martial arts is strictly an art, in other words, the teacher does not look at the religion of his pupil. The bowing is the only act which is prohibited by the hadeeth mentioned by the brother in this page. As the shaykhs basically have called it permissible it is better to learn the art from Muslim teachers where one can not lower his head and simply feign bowing. It is more beneficial in the light of the shaykhs' ruling.    

Assalaam-u-alikum,

Murad ibn Muhammad Abdul Moqueet

  


NuffinButDaHaqq    -- 12-05-2004 @ 3:03 PM
  as salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullah

now with regards to exercising whether alone or with other women(muslim) what is to be done with regards of covering in front of eachother?

also, if anyone is aware of aerobic exercise, it is very fast paced , the sisters were wondering what can be done in terms of keepin up the pace of the exercise... the kuffaar use high paced music, so that is a no no...

so can we clap our hands, or have a tape where only drums ar being played, like african drums, or anaasheed?

your assistance would be appreciated in this regard.

written:Umm Azeezah , not Abu Azeezah


Abu.Yaqoob.Jhangir    -- 13-05-2004 @ 4:23 PM
 
quote:


Bismillah wasalaatu wasalaam ala rasoolulaah

Salaam alaykum,

?How salaah helped heal my back!?

For over 3 years I was suffering from extreme lower back pains, and the pain would travel down either of my legs causing me to be almost useless to walk without having to sit down every few steps I would take. I could not run due to the pain of it and neither could I take part in physical activities. Salaah was a burden at times only the standing was difficult sitting down was ok.

I would take painkillers but that would only last until the body became ?used? to them, as some of you may know, so I would make du?aah as much as I can.

During my school years when the kuffar would ask why we would pray, the common answer from the Muslims would be that ? through prayer we become closer to Allaah and do more good deeds, and that the physical part of the salaah keeps our body healthy?.

At college my Design Technology teacher taught us about the use of ERGONOMICS (the relationship between man and machine). During these lessons we learnt about the natural state of the human body when standing, sitting or any posture we go into.

He gave an example how bad posture would cause severe effects to the body, and told us that sitting with our back straight would reduce the pains from bad posture. He also said that his daughter had always sat with her back straight even as a child, when she was able to sit.

Coming nearer towards my departure date, I met one of the brothers? fathers and he gave me some advice about my back pains. He said that the heat from the sun and the mountain walks would do well for my back. I took his advice and applied it with what I learnt from college.

I spent 6 months in Pakistan and during my time I learn that if I could keep a straight back at all times the pressure would lessen on me. Also reading from Sheikh Al-Albaanees Rahimullaah book on salaah (Prophets Prayers Described...) I visualised the posture of the body and how it would be at each position. I applied this to what I had learnt previously about being in salaah i.e. that standing was difficult for me but sitting down was not, why?

During salaah I would keep my back straight as possible, of course after a couple of days your back becomes straight like second nature, so there was little effort needed to put into. The salaah it self has major benefits to the body as ill will show u from the ahadiths below.

I would lengthen my salaah in each position as the ahadiths state and I could feel the pressure being relieved mashallah.

I would walk on hilly and rocky surfaces, would go trekking on the local mountains whilst keeping my back straight as possible.

When I would sleep I would try and keep my back and neck straight as you will find when you place your hand under your cheek (the hadith about sleeping)

After a few days of this I couldn?t believe that I was not feeling any pains alhamdulillaah, I continued till this day to keep my posture correct.


I suffered from severe back and leg pains; the cause was bad posture and being overweight.

The remedy was Salaah, good posture (removes strain and incorrect pressure), exercising and trekking (builds up the muscle and helps breathing) and the heat from the sun (loosen muscles and sweats up the body).

Subhanallaah when you think about salaah is our very own yoga that?s our alternative, good for the soul, body and mind! And we get rewarded for it!!

And that?s how salaah healed my back!


Some ahadiths I was on about earlier: taken from ?The Prophet's Prayer From The beginning To The End As Though You See It?


He also ordered "the one who prayed badly" likewise, saying to him, Indeed, the prayer of one of you is not complete until he makes an excellent ablution as Allaah has commanded him to ... then he celebrates Allaah's greatness, praises and glorifies Him, then recites the Qur'aan as much as is easy for him from what Allaah has taught him and allowed him, then says takbeer and makes rukoo' [and places his hands on his knees] until his joints are at ease and relaxed25


The Rukoo' Described

"He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would place his palms on his knees"26, and "would order them to do likewise"27, as he ordered "the one who prayed badly" in the afore-mentioned hadeeth.
Ordering "the one who prayed badly" likewise, saying: When you make rukoo', place your palms on your knees, then space your fingers out, then remain (like that) until every limb takes its (proper) place.30
"When he made rukoo', he would spread his back and make it level"32, "such that if water were poured on it, it (the water) would stay there (i.e., not run off)."33
  He also said to "the one who prayed badly", When you make rukoo', put your palms on your knees, spread your back (flat) and hold firm in your rukoo'.34  

"He would neither let his head droop nor raise it (i.e. higher than his back)"35, but it would be in between.36

The Obligation of Being at Ease in Rukoo'  

He used to be at ease in his rukoo', and ordered "the one who prayed badly" to be so, as has been mentioned in the first section on rukoo'.
Once, "he was praying, when he glanced out of the corner of his eye at a man not settling his backbone in rukoo' and sujood. When he finished, he said, O assembly of Muslims! Verily, the prayer is not valid of the one who does not settle his spine in rukoo' and sujood."42
He said in another hadeeth, The prayer of a man does not count unless he straightens his back in rukoo' and sujood.43
The Sujood (Prostration)

He said to "the one who prayed badly", When you prostrate, then be firm in your prostration91; in one narration: When you prostrate, put your face and hands down firmly, until all of your bones are relaxed in their proper places.92

He also ruled that the prayer of one who does not straighten his spine fully in rukoo' and sujood is invalid, as has been mentioned under "Rukoo'", and ordered "the one who prayed badly" to be at ease in his sujood, as mentioned before.

Wallahu ta?ala alaam , subhanakalahuma wa bihamdik ash hadu laillaaha ill aant astaghfiruka atoobu ilaayk

Wasalaam alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakathu




Abu Yaqoob


Abu.Yaqoob.Jhangir    -- 17-05-2004 @ 1:03 AM
  salaam alaykum

just something that i remembered as i was checking the forum.

some time back i went into a sports shop selling various sports equiptment and martial arts gear. I got into a conversation with one of the workers and he asked me what i was into and stuff like that. as the conversation progressed we was on the point of learning various forms of martial arts and wheres the best place for them. He came up with an intresting point in that instead of spending £5-25 per lesson learning only the basic form of that martial arts, your better off buying a video (VHS/DVD)and learn from that, you can at least fast forward or rewind everytime, as much as you want and is a one off payment. plus the fact that it is in the privacy of your own homes and a huge money saver. i cant remember if he mention the same from books but i would think that it be quite the same. but at least you wouldnt be wasting anyone elses time except your.

the only drawback regarding martial arts from a book or video is that you cant interact with it or ask question but he assured me that there are very good formats available out there that can really benefit us. the other problem is that T.V.'s and Videos will no doubt tempt us to watching other things too.

can any of the members help us on this matter

jazakallaahu khairan

wasalaam alaykum wa rahamatullaah

Abu Yaqoob Muhammad Jahangir Ibn Ramadhaan Ibn Himat Ibn Raheem Khan


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