Does the Hadith that appears in Bukhari regarding Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) and Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (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 wasallam) 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: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar