SECTION ON JIHAD · 24 – THROWING WEAPONS
2513 – It is narrated from ʿUqba ibn ʿĀmir (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I heard the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) say, “Indeed, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, admits three people to Paradise because of a single arrow: its maker, who seeks good by making it; the one who shoots it; and the one who hands it to the shooter. Practice archery and horsemanship, but archery is dearer to me than horsemanship. There are no lawful games except for three: a man training his horse, playing with his wife, and shooting with his bow and arrows. Whoever, after learning archery, turns away from it and abandons it, has indeed rejected a blessing. Or (the narrator said): it is a blessing, and he has shown ingratitude towards it.” [367]
EXPLANATION
Training the horse refers to taming it, riding it, practicing archery while mounted, and participating in games such as jousting. Playing with one’s family means playing inside one’s home with one’s wife; dancing in front of others is forbidden and is excluded from this.
2514 – It is narrated from ʿUqba ibn ʿĀmir al-Juhanī (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I heard the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) say while he was on the pulpit: “Prepare against them whatever force you can.” (al-Anfāl, 60) Behold! Truly, force is archery. Behold! Truly, force is archery. Behold! Truly, force is archery.” [368]