three activities. Yet wrestling may be permissible, as when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, wrestled Rukānah ibn ‘Abd Yazīd. Footracing is also permissible: the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, raced ‘Ā’ishah and permitted Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘ to race during the expedition of al-Ghābah and Dhū Qarad. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Every amusement a man engages in is vain, except shooting with his bow, training his horse, and playing with his wife, for these are worthwhile pursuits.”

Whoever takes money for such vain amusement takes it wrongfully. Nevertheless, this amusement may be permitted, just as children are permitted to play, and just as:

“Two young girls of the Ansār were singing during the days of Eid in ‘Ā’ishah’s house, while the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, neither listened to them nor forbade them. When Abū Bakr said, ‘Satan’s flute in the house of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him?’ the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, ‘Leave them, Abū Bakr, for every people has a festival, and this is our festival.’”

He thereby showed that those for whom play is appropriate are permitted to play during festivals, even though men do not engage in such activities. But money must not be spent on vain amusement.

It is thus clear, on all these grounds, that anyone citing this hadith as evidence for the permissibility of that activity and of paying a fee for it would be mistaken even if the hadith were authentic. How much more so, then, given the defects it contains!