Please authenticate this Hadith.
Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Engage in playing and enjoying yourselves, for I dislike harshness to be seen in your religion.”
Answer
Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith in Shu’abul Iman. The chain is weak due to an omission as stated by Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah), as well as a weak narrator.
(Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 6122 and Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 1582)
Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) says, ‘This chain is ‘munqati’ [i.e contains an omission]. If it were authentic, the meaning of play/enjoyment would be Halal and permissible ways which we have mentioned in the beginning of this chapter.’ [i.e. Hadiths regarding swimming, archery etc].
See here for more examples of permissible ways of play/enjoyment.
Also see: Al Mudawi, vol. 2 pg. 180, Hadith: 788
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar