Exercising in Ramadan

Exercising in Ramadan

Exercising in Ramadan

Question

A colleague runs a campaign to promote exercise and fitness in Ramadan which involves twenty minutes of exercise daily. Is there anything wrong with this from an Islamic perspective?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

Answer

Exercise and general fitness are encouraged by Islam. The Prophetﷺ  said, “Indeed, your body has a right over you”. The Prophetﷺ  also said, “There are two blessing wherein many people are at a loss: Health and free time”. The Prophetﷺ  also said, “The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer.”

There is therefore no harm in exercising for twenty minutes in the month of Ramadan as long as this does not have an adverse impact on the fast from a physical or spiritual perspective. In addition, a person who exercises in Ramadan or otherwise should intend to please Allah by fulfilling the rights of the body which has been entrusted to him and keeping fit so that he can remain more active in the worship of Allah.

قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: فإن لجسدك عليك حقا، الحديث، رواه البخاري (١٩٧٥). وقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: نعمتان مغبون فيهما كثير من الناس: الصحة والفراغ، رواه البخاري (٦٤١٢). وقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: المؤمن القوي خير وأحب إلى الله من المؤمن الضعيف، وفي كل خير، الحديث، رواه مسلم (٢٦٦٤)۔

Allah knows best

Yusuf Shabbir

13 Ramadan 1442 / 25 April 2021

Approved by: Mufti Shabbir Ahmed and Mufti Muhammad Tahir