Legitimate Entertainment
Our religion opposes meaningless and useless games and entertainment that are away from the purpose of life. Our Prophet attracted attention to our important and eternal aims: "I have no connection with games. Games have no connection with me, either. I have no connection with meaningless things; and meaningless things have no connection with me." (Jamius-Saghir: 7241)
However, our religion does not regard it appropriate to display lofty and ideal attitudes all the time because man has feelings and desires. Therefore, the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Entertain and play games within legitimate boundaries. I do not like the religion of Islam to be seen as a strict religion." (Jamius-Saghir: 1582)
Therefore, all kinds of games and entertainment that do not contradict the principles of our religion and that are not within the prohibited area are legitimate. However, the amount of games and entertainment is determined by the abilities, age and responsibilities of a person. Man who is sent to this world with a short lifespan to deserve eternal Paradise should not go to extremes in entertainment even if it is legitimate.
Therefore, we can say that
1- The types of entertainment that our young people prefer must not contain alcohol, gambling, and violation of privacy and tasattur rules.
2- Games and entertainment must not prevent our worship and essential duties.
3 The time spent on games and entertainment must not be so much as to be regarded as waste. Time is our most important thing; it should not be wasted.
4- One aspect of our games and entertainment should be educative and didactic and should serve the cause of belief.
The dinners, trips, picnics, music programs to be organized for this purpose should entertain us and they should be a means of useful talks and scholarly discussions; they should also cause some young people to meet and learn Islamic life.
Then, entertainment will also gain us rewards.
The dinners, trips and picnic programs organized by our young people in order to make their friends like the service of belief and Quran and to encourage them are regarded as worship. The Prophet (pbuh) often gave dinners to Makkans in order to tell them about Islam.
It is a legitimate and reward gaining kind of entertainment for young people to come together with their friends and to have religious talks, to read poetry and to perform legitimate music.
Sketches, theater plays and films that are about our religion's eternal messages are nice means of entertainment and conveying the message of Islam.
Besides, day and night programs, youth and friendship feasts, competitions and music programs that aim both to entertain and to convey the message of Islam are also very useful and important.
The period of youth is a period of emotions and excitement. It is necessary not to ignore enthusiasm and excitement while serving the religion of Islam during this period.
Besides, it is necessary to maintain alternative legitimate entertainment today when forbidden entertainment is abundant.
Not everyone has the same nature and properties. The young people who are always busy with serious and intensive work can be suppressed by the desire for entertainment and relaxation. The best way is the wide and peaceful way of our Prophet (pbuh) where a person can walk without having much difficulty.
May Allah protect our young people from the illegitimate entertainment of our time!
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