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