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It is
permissible to watch
competitors and support them
to win if the competition
itself is lawful according to
the Shari`ah. This is some of
the evidence:
1. `Urwah
narrated that `A'ishah (may
Allah be pleased with her)
said: It was the day of `Eid,
and the Abyssinians were
playing with shields and
spears, so either I requested
the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) or he
asked me whether I would like
to see the display. I replied
in the affirmative. Then the
Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him) made me stand
behind him and my cheek was
touching his cheek and he was
saying "Carry on! O
Bani Arfidah" till I
got tired. The Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him)
asked me, "Are you
satisfied (is that sufficient
for you)?" I replied
in the affirmative and he told
me to leave (Ahmad).
This
indicates that the Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon
him) watched them and allowed
his wife `A'ishah to watch
their playing, after placing
her behind his back to cover
her from them. Furthermore, he
encouraged them to continue
their playing. Also, some of
his Companions watched them
[the Abyssinians], as some
narrations state that `Umar
(may Allah be pleased with
him) wanted to scold them and
to prevent them from playing,
but the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him)
prevented him and said, "Leave
them in order that the Jews of
Madinah know that our religion
is spacious [and has room for
relaxation] and I have been
sent with an easy and
straightforward religion"
(Ahmad).
2.
Salamah ibn Al-Akwa` (may
Allah be pleased with him)
narrated that the Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon
him) passed by some people of
the tribe of Banu Aslam who
were practicing archery. The
Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him) said, "O
Banu Isma`il! Practice archery
as your father Isma`il was a
great archer. Keep on shooting
arrows and I am with Banu
so-and-so." So one of
the parties ceased shooting.
Allah's Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) said, "Why
do you not shoot?" They
replied, "How should we
shoot while you are with them
(i.e., on their side)?"
On that the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) said, "Shoot,
and I am with all of you"
(Ahmad).
This
denotes that the Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon
him) watched and encouraged
them; moreover, he (peace and
blessings be upon him)
participated with them.
Hence,
these two hadiths and many
others indicate that it is
permissible to watch lawful
competitions and to encourage
the competitors to win.
However, this is on condition
that the watching does not
lead to neglecting an
obligatory worship or act, and
that the watcher does not look
at the `awrah (the
parts of the body that are not
meant to be exposed in public)
of the competitors. If the
watching leads to something
unlawful, it becomes
prohibited for men and women
alike.
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