By Jamie Murphy (Yusuf)
As A Muslim I can’t exaggerate enough the importance of maintaining physical strength and health. Our Beloved Prophet (S.A.W) told us that our bodies have a right over us, therefore keeping it in good condition is not only a personal benefit, but a religious obligation.
As Muslims it is our duty to perform the obligatory actions such as; fasting, praying salah, gaining knowledge, working to provide for our loved one and so on.
Much of the Ummah see these tasks as a burden or daunting. However with good health and strength these actions become much easier to perform and the ‘daunting’ feeling becomes null.
As men, we especially have an important role to keep our bodies and minds in good shape. We are the ones who are the providers for our families, and we are the ones who are protectors for our families.
I have had a passion for health and fitness from a young age, it all started after joining a boxing club in Oldham at the age of nine or 10.
The intense training and friendly competition between the people in the gym kept me motivated and made me strive harder and go that extra mile, whether that was with dieting, mental training or physical training.
From the few years of experience I gained from the boxing gym it engraved a mindset of ‘working hard’ and ‘pushing myself that extra mile’ as a teen and young adult. I believe having this mindset has been a beneficial factor in keeping me motivated and striving in the path of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala)
I encourage everyone old and young to take up some sort of physical activity, be it a sport, walking/hiking or lifting weights in the gym.
Even better is wrestling. Wrestling is a full body workout which builds fantastic stamina and strength.
Aswell as the physical benefits it has, it also has spiritual benefit, with it being a Sunnah of our Prophet (S.A.W).
By enjoying a competitive wrestling match we are earning reward from Allah for following the Sunnah. Along with other Sunnah activities like horse riding or archery.
We should also consider the way of the Prophet when it comes to dieting. Our beloved Prophet (S.A.W) encouraged eating a balanced diet, plenty of vegetables and fruit, and enjoying meat on occasions.
He (S.A.W) told us about the detriment of overeating and gluttony. Over-eating leaves us feeling sluggish which in turn affects our performance, energy levels and spiritual focus.
One Hadith states: “Verily, the people who ate to their fill the most in this world will be the hungriest on the Day of Resurrection.”
Another Hadith is: “One should fill one-third of their stomach with food, one-third with water, and leave one-third for air”
The Prophet’s most favoured food was dates. The benefits of this delicious fruit is unmatched because they are:
-High in fibre to promote healthy digestion.
-Improved bone, organ and brain health due to their mineral content (calcium, potassium, magnesium etc.)
-Anti-Oxidant which protects the body from oxidative stress, prevents development of chronic illnesses and improved skin health.
-Weight Management. With their well rounded nutrient content keeping you fuller for longer.
The Prophet and his Companions dedicated plenty of time to train and sharpen their skills to keep them primed and ready for any situation, be it protecting their families or fighting battles to protect the religion of Allah.
Although most of us in the West do not face constant threat of combat in war, with the escalations around the world we are better being ‘Safe than sorry’ as the saying goes.
If the situation arises I would much rather be fit, healthy and strong minded to deal with conflict, rather than sluggish, weak and incapable.
Some Hadith that emphasises the importance of maintaining good health and wellness are:
– “There are two blessings which many people do not appreciate: health and leisure”
– “The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer”
– “Your body has a right over you”
– “And make not your own hands contribute to (your) own destruction (harm)”
With advances in technology and science, all of the dietary and wellness teachings from our Prophet are being proven effective which affirm that following his steps is the most beneficial for a good, prosperous life.
