Islam offers a holistic approach to life and encourages its followers to remain healthy and fit. Islam puts great emphasis on staying strong mentally, spiritually, and physically. In a hadith, the Prophet PBUH said:
“The strong believer is better to Allah and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, although both are good.” [Sunan Ibn Majah 79]
This strength refers to both the strength of faith and the strength of the physical body. If one looks at the life of the Prophet PBUH and his companions, he will find that many physical engagements kept the Prophet and the companions extremely fit. Other than wars, long journeys, and manual labor, they had other exercises that kept them in the best shape.
Prophet’s Strength: The Way Of Islam
Our bodies are an amanah from Allah. This means that our bodies are entrusted to us by Allah, and it is our responsibility to treat and nourish them in the best way possible. The Prophet PBUH said:
“Your body possesses a right over you.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 5199]
Moreover, Islam encourages good physical health because strong believers can spread Islam by engaging in activities that allow them to call people to the right path. They are an asset to the Muslim community, and they can use their strength to help the unfortunate and grow closer to Allah. They can support the religion and earn their own living.
Prophet PBUH About Good Health
The Prophet PBUH has emphasized the importance of good health on many occasions, one of which is mentioned below:
Mu’adh bin ‘Abdullah bin Khubaib reported from his father that his paternal uncle said: “We were sitting together when the Prophet (ﷺ) came with traces of water on his head. One of us remarked, ‘You seem to be in good spirits today.’ He replied, ‘Yes, all praise is due to Allah.’ Then he addressed the people about wealth, saying, ‘There is nothing wrong with being wealthy for a person who is pious; however, good health for a pious individual is better than riches, and being cheerful is a blessing.’ [Sunan Ibn Majah 2141]
The Prophet’s Guide To Staying Fit
Wrestling
The Prophet PBUH and the companions used to engage in wrestling on many occasions. This is also proven by hadiths in which the Prophet PBUH wrestled with one of the most feared wrestlers in Arabia at the time, Rukanah. After Rukanah wrestled with the Prophet PBUH and the Prophet PBUH beat him, he reverted to Islam.
“Ali ibn Rukanah reported that his father, Rukanah, once grappled with the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and during their match, the Prophet (PBUH) managed to throw him to the ground.” [Sunan Abi Dawud 4078]
Racing
Apart from wrestling, the Prophet PBUH also used to race with his wife, Aisha RA.
`Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that while travelling with the Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) when she was young and slim, he told the group to go ahead. He then suggested they race, and she won. Later, after gaining some weight and having they travelled again. He asked to race her again, and this time he won. He smiled and said, “This is in return for that.” [Sunan Abi Dawud 2578]
Archery
The Prophet (PBUH) came across a group of individuals engaged in a shooting competition. Observing them, he encouraged, “Go ahead and shoot, sons of Isma’il, for your father was skilled in archery.” [ Riyad as-Salihin 1336]
Archery was one of the most noble skills in the era of the Prophet PBUH. The Prophet PBUH was an avid archer and encouraged the people to do the same. Apart from staying fit and strengthening one’s mental health, archery was widely used for defense. All the companions of the Prophet PBUH were avid archers and took part in the act even in their old age. In another hadith, the Prophet PBUH stated, “Strength is in archery.” [Riyad as-Salihin 1332]
The Prophet PBUH used to ride horses, mules, camels, and even donkeys. He rode horses both saddled and bareback, and he occasionally made them gallop. Sometimes, he rode alone, and sometimes, he rode with his wives or other men.
“Engage in archery and horseback riding.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1637]
Other Things The Prophet PBUH Did To Stay Fit
Apart from the activities mentioned above, there are other things that the Prophet PBUH used to engage in to stay fit and remain healthy. Like:
Waking Up Early
Many hadiths prove that the Prophet PBUH was an early riser. He encouraged Muslims to do the same, waking them up before Fajr, praying tahajjud, and starting the day with the blessings of the Lord.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) prayed to Allah, saying, “O Allah, grant blessings to my community in the morning.” [Sunan Ibn Majah 2238]
Going To Sleep Early
From many narrations, it is stated that the Prophet PBUH discouraged staying up late as one may indulge in meaningless behavior. He used to sleep in the first third of the night, and then he would wake up in the last part of the night to pray tahajjud and worship Allah SWT. Even if he did stay awake at night, it was because he was involved in worship and not other meaningless activities.
Eating Less
The Prophet PBUH ate just enough but not enough to make him full. This practice was encouraged throughout his era and even after.
“The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) stated that there is no worse container for a person than their own stomach. He emphasised that a small amount of food is enough to maintain strength and stability. However, if one feels the need to eat more, they should ideally fill their stomach by dividing it into three parts: one-third for food, one-third for drink, and one-third for air.” [Sunan Ibn Majah 3349]