Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam-o-Alaikum!

I just had a few questions in mind...:

1.Is it cumpulsary to recite surah ikhlaas in the last raka`t of the witr prayer before we recite duae konoot?

2. Is allowed for a woman to particpate in sport activities (basket ball, cricket, and other games...) at a co-education school or outside her house (for e.g. skating or cycling) even while fully covered and in her hijab?

Further, should she refrain from getting out of the house a lot...?

3.Do Islam allow one to pass witty and sarcastic remarks even if all the persons involved enjoy the joke and nobody`s feelings are hurt...?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Can women play sports

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Q-1: Is it cumpulsary to recite surah ikhlaas in the last raka`t of the witr prayer before we recite duae konoot?

It is reported that Hadrat Ali (r.a.) said: "The witr prayer is not required like your obligatory prayers, but the Prophet (saws) would perform the witr prayer and say: 'O you people [followers] of the Qur'an, perform the witr prayer, for Allah is One and He loves the witr.'"

The Prophet (saws) said: 'The night prayer is sets of two rak'at. If one fears the coming of the dawn, he should perform one rak'ah, thereby making all of them odd [witr].'

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.112 Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar

The Prophet (saws) said, "Make Witr as your last prayer at night."

Beloved Sister, first and foremost, the ‘witr’ prayer itself is not obligatory or compulsory, but rather an extremely preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Secondly, there is absolutely no condition that one has to or is obliged to recite a particular Surah after the recitation of Surah al-Fatihah in the ‘witr’ or any prayer for it to be considered valid; one may recite any verses of the Glorious Quran one wishes after the recitation of the Surah Al-Fatihah.

Q-2: Is is allowed for a woman to particpate in sport activities (basket ball, cricket, and other games...) at a co-education school or outside her house (for e.g. skating or cycling) even while fully covered and in her hijab?

Provided the sister does not violate the conditions of ‘hijaab’, there is absolutely nothing in Shariah which prohibits a believing woman from participating in any sport activity she wishes. Because some sports activities involve jumping or moving swiftly, or if there is fear that due to the inevitable fast-paced action of such activity, the conditions of the ‘hijaab’ may be compromised, it would only be prudence on the part of the believing woman who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day that she be extremely careful in her actions when there are non-mehram men in the vicinity.

Q-3: Further, should she refrain from getting out of the house a lot...?

If there is a genuine need, cause, or reason, and provided the conditions of ‘hijaab’ are scrupulously honored, there is absolutely no obligation or restriction in Shariah which dictates that a believing woman should not leave the protection of her house. Many amongst the noble female companions of the Prophet (saws) used to earn their own livelihoods, some amongst them were business-women, and some amongst them even accompanied the Prophet (saws) and the believers to the battle-fields in war, etc.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verses 32-33:

32 O Wives of the Prophet! Ye are not like any of the (other) women: if ye do fear (Allah) be not too complaisant of speech lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but speak ye a speech (that is) just.

33 And stay in your houses and make not a dazzling display like that of the former ‘times of ignorance’ (before Islam); and establish regular prayer, and give regular charity; and obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye Members of the Family and to make you pure and spotless.

Although one may very well argue that the above Command of the Lord is addressed specifically to the noble and chaste ‘wives of the Prophet (saws)’, it would only be prudence, and akin to piety and righteousness in the Sight of Allah that a believing woman, who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day, exercise caution and restraint, and refrain from unnecessarily venturing out of the protection of her house without absolutely any rhyme or reason.

One can only imagine the concern for the protection and well-being of the honor of the woman in Islam when the Messenger of Allah (saws), although he (saws) did not forbid the believing woman from attending the congregational prayers in the mosques, he (saws) guided that their prayer in their homes are better and more meritorious in the Sight and Scales of Allah than their prayers offered in the mosques!

Umm Humaid as-Sa'diyah came to the Messenger of Allah (saws) and said: "O Messenger of Allah (saws), I love to pray with you (in congregation)." The Prophet(saws) said: "I am aware of that, but your salah in your residence is better for you than your salah in your local mosque. And your salah in your local mosque is better than your salah in the [larger] congregational mosque."

Related by Ahmad and at-Tabarani

Ibn 'Umar reports that the Prophet (saws) said: "Do not prevent the women from going to the mosques, although their houses are better for them."

Related by Ahmad and Abu Dawud.

Thus in conclusion, although Islam does not prohibit a believing women from venturing out of her house, it definitely does guide her to fear Allah, exercise caution, and refrain from unnecessarily straying away from the protection of her home without genuine cause, need, or reason. Neither does Islam guide the believing woman to ‘chain-herself-to-the-sink’, nor does it guide that she should be ‘let-loose’….but Islam guides that the believing woman should fear Allah, and exercise a median way between the two extremes.

Q-3: Do Islam allow one to pass witty and sarcastic remarks even if all the persons involved enjoy the joke and nobody`s feelings are hurt...?

‘Wit’ can be described as an expression of intelligence or of quick understanding; or an unexpected combination of words said in the ‘right’ tone, at the ‘right’ place, and at the precise ‘right’ time.

‘Sarcasm’ on the other hand is a derogatory term or attitude which is expressed with the intention to scorn, or show disrespect, or disdain, or contempt or ridicule of another person or party.

Although at most times ‘wit’ can be regarded as a virtue, ‘sarcasm’ at all times would just not behove nor befit the character of a believer who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day; regardless of whether what was said in ‘sarcasm’ hurts the feelings of those who were witness to it or not.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 49 Surah Hujuraat verse 11:

11 O ye who believe! let not some men among you laugh at (or mock) others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former)! Nor let some women laugh at (or mock) others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former); nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness (to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan