RESEARCH JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND HYDROBIOLOGY 2016. 11(3): 19-23 ISSN: 1816-9112 Journal home page: http://www.aensiweb.com/jasa/ Review On Islamic Principle Of Recreation And Outdoor Activities For Muslim 1 Nurshamiela Azmee, 1 Mohd Yazid Mohd Yunos, 2 Md Azree Othuman Mydin 1 Faculty of Design and Architecture, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. 2 School of Housing Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia. Address For Correspondence: Mohd Yazid Mohd Yunos, Faculty of Design and Architecture, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. E-mail: mohdyazid@upm.edu.my Received 22 January 2016; accepted 2 March 2016; published 10 March 2016 A B S T R A C T To create a garden or park on the concept of Islam is not only focused on the characteristics or elements of design, but it also involves the environment, activities and socialization. In order to create a recreational space, there are a few Islamic principles of recreation that we need to follow. Less we can see the recreational park that emphasize the principles, this is because lacking of understanding of the Islamic principles of recreation. Practitioners must provide recreation opportunities and recreational places within the public that have the capacity to meet community needs, including the need to reinforce Muslim cultural practice. The aim of this study is to understand the Islamic principles of recreation. Content analysis is adopted to identify the Islamic principles of recreation. The outcome of this study will enhance the understanding of Islamic principle of recreation, in order to enhance harmonious society thus creating a society of Islamic scholars and creating an environmental Islamic garden design. Key words: Islamic principles, Recreation, Harmonious society INTRODUCTION Islam is a religion which not only covers the worship alone but Islam is a way of life that provides rules and guidance in all aspects of human life, including the spiritual, economic, political, social, cultural, military; also including sports and recreation. This is because Islam is very sensitive to the development of the spiritual, physical, intellectual and human emotional so that transformation process undertaken to produce conscious human, balanced, knowledgeable, healthy, intelligent, disciplined and firm stance [1]. According to Islam, every recreational or sports activities that take place should be helpful and not lead to the disobedience. Islam also emphasizes the physical development of the individual. A healthy body is essential to enable a person to do the job as the caliph of God perfectly [18]. There are several outlined in the concept of prevention according to Islam which is include the environmental hygiene, a balanced diet, behavior and physical activity (exercise), and human relations and relationship with God in the spiritual aspect. To create a recreational park on the concept of Islam is not only focused on the design characteristics or design element, but it also involves the environment, activities and socialization. The need for Muslims must be complete in a park that follow the Islamic concept [17]. For example, the need to worship such as a comfortable prayer place and the need to do activities in accordance with the principles of Islam such as equipment and activities to suit the characteristics of a Muslim. However, still less can we see recreation areas that emphasize the principles of islam. This is happening maybe because of lacking understanding of what is the Islamic principles that should be emphasized in the recreation area. So the objective of this paper is to review some of the Islamic principle for recreation that can be applied to the Islamic concept of the garden and park. Open Access Journal Published BY AENSI Publication 2016 AENSI Publisher All rights reserved This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ To Cite This Article: Nurshamiela Azmee, Mohd Yazid Mohd Yunos, Md Azree Othuman Mydin., Review On Islamic Principle Of Recreation And Outdoor Activities For Muslim. Research Journal Of Fisheries And Hydrobiology, 11(3): 19-23, 2016
20 Nurshamiela Azmee et al., 2016/ Research Journal Of Fisheries And Hydrobiology 11(3), March, Pages: 19-23 Literature Review: Participation in recreation and outdoor activities are not contrary to Islamic teachings, the "sharia" (Islamic code of life) have provided some Islamic principles by referring to inclusion and must be followed accordingly. These principles, which involves covers the awrah which is include the whole women s body parts except the wrist and face during play. In addition, during participation in these activities as well, Muslims are encouraged to avoid mingling between men and women during play and Muslims also have to pay attention to "Fard" which is a compulsory religious practices such as praying five times daily [9] It is necessary to focus more on the ethics of Islam that recommended for people to practice physical activity. It is needed by both men and women to follow Syariah (Islamic law) either in recreational, physical activities, sport or other compulsion [4] Recreational and physical activity providers need to take more attention about the religious differences. This is important issues especially for Muslim women as they are always overlooked by providers and discriminated based on their religion and belief. Religious and cultural barriers make it difficult for Muslim women to participate in outdoor activities as people are always lacking sensitivity or understanding of their requirement around clothing, privacy and single sex provision. The Islamic principles itself should not be as constrain to participation in recreational or outdoor activities as Islam presents a positive outlook towards health and physical development of Muslims. However, Islam require certain principles, practices and procedures are to be followed. [16] Syariah (Islamic law of life) considers sport, recreational and leisure activities as an important element of human life. Clearly shown that every single authentic requirement is recommended by Islam [13]. Besides, health is viewed as the greatest blessing by Allah (SWT) in Islamic context. After embraced in Islam that the greatest blessing is health, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) recommended, " Ask Allah for forgiveness and good health, indeed, after the assurance of faith, no one has given anything better than good health (Tirmidhi Hadith)" [14] In short, Islam is justified and indeed encourage participation in recreational activities, including sports and physical recreation but participation should not be excessive and should not lead to the neglect of other interests [19/20]. Methodology: Content analysis is adopted to identify the Islamic principles of recreation. The selecting content are from case studies. The case studies chosen based on their study about Islamic principle of recreation, recreation participation, Islam and sport, and Islam and outdoor activities. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The data collected from the content analysis, the result will be discussed. Table 1 shows the content analysis from previous authors Table 1: Content analysis from previous authors Author Principle of Islamic recreational 1. Itkonen (1999) 1. In Islamic culture, Muslim are not permitted to display their body. 2. Siddiqi (2003) 1. Women must avoid mixing with opposite sex that can cause of temptation and immorality. 2. Women do not require putting hijab, if they play among girls and no non- Maharams (a man who is allowed to marry her) 3. Taqiuddin an-nabhani Hizb ut 1. Muslim man and woman have been ordered to lower their sight and protect Tahrir (2003) their awrah 2. Islam had ordered both man and woman to keep away from areas of uncertainty, and asked to be more careful with regards to that lest they fall into disobeying Allah (swt). 3. The Muslim has been ordered not to frequent any place nor do any action, nor be drawn into any situation in which there is uncertainty, to keep away from commit haram 1. Provide separate facilities (or separate times or schedules) for women to train and practice sports. 4. Ghaneemah Mohammad Al- Othman Al-Haidar (2004) 5. Daghi (2005) 1. Women should not decorate themselves in order to be seen by men. 2. Women must not expose any of their private parts which Islam obliges them to wrap. 3. Women must not mix together with men as this fosters to interact among each other physically 6. Mawlawi (2005) 1. Muslim women are permitted to do sport activities, besides they must be conscious to secure their dignity and admiration. 2. While practicing sport women need to keep awrah (to conceal some required parts of the body).
21 Nurshamiela Azmee et al., 2016/ Research Journal Of Fisheries And Hydrobiology 11(3), March, Pages: 19-23 7. Gertrud Pfister (2006) 1. Women body must be covered 2. Men and women must practice sports separately. 8. Medjadji (2007). 1. Evidently in sport participation clothing must be islamically acceptable; consequently shorts, Tshirts, leotards, swimming costumes etc. are not permissible in Islam. 2. It is necessary to verify that there are no male spectators. 3. No mixing of sexes is allowed in normal situations apart from special circumstances under certain stipulations. 9. Mohibullah Khan Marwat, Syed Zia-ul-Islam, Muhammad Waseem, Hazratullah Khattak, Safeena BiBi (2014) 1. Women must covering the hair and all other obligatory parts of the body during playing, 2. Avoidance of mixing of the male and female during the course of playing 3. Avoidance of gambling in playing 4. Paying due attention to Fard (obligatory religious practices like five times daily prayer, fasting in the month of Ramazan, Hajj etc) There are three main principles in recreation that highlighted by those authors in Table 1. First, the principle of "Awrah" must be put attention. Second, the ethics of socialization or mixing between men and women must be observed. Third, facilities for muslim to obey their responsibility as muslim such as prayer times. Muslims that interested in recreation and outdoor activities must remember the fact that whenever doing the activities, Islamic law must be obey. Preparation of facilities should also be focused on the needs of Muslims as an example setup a mosque comfortably. As stated by Mohibullah Khan Marwat et all (2014) should muslims paying due attention to "Fard" (obligatory religious practices like prayer five times daily) recreational activities that take place should not neglect the obligatory religious practices like prayer times and forget worship as Muslims [8]. The existence of a place of worship services and meet the needs is one way to help the Muslim community to participate in recreational activities without neglecting the obligatory prayer. Besides that, the provision of separate facilities for women also able to provide comfort to women for example, the provision of women's gymnasium and swimming pool. In addition, it also can provide separate times or schedules for women to train and practice sports [12]. Things with regard to dressing code is the principle that always highlighted when the researcher discusses the recreational activities accordance with the principles of Islam. Evidently in outdoor activities participation clothing must be islamically acceptable. Necessary clothing are cloth that cover awrah. Awrah is those part of the body that cannot be exposed or should be covered according to islam. Islam women s awrah are entire body except the face and wrist, while for a man have to cover from the naval to knee [14]. According to Mawlawi (2005) While doing outdoor activities, women need to cover their awrah [10]. Women must covering their hair and all other cumpulsory parts of the body during doing outdoor activities. When choosing clothes that cover awrah, it is also important to not over decorate because it is able to attract the attention of the opposite sex. Women should not decorate themselves in order to be seen by men [5]. By selecting clothes that cover the awrah, it is able to secure their dignity and admiration. Besides of cover the awrah in public, mixing between men and women also an important principle that need more attention. This is due to mixing too freely between men and women are able to invite a variety of problems and criminal cases that are not be able to control in the recreation area. Both the muslim man and woman have been ordered to lower their sight [3]. It is an order by Allah (swt) in surah An-nur 30-31 "Tell the believing men to lower from their gaze, and protect their private parts. That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower from their gaze and protect their private parts"[3]. Women should avoid mixing with men, which can lead to temptation and immorality [15], uncontrolled mixing between men and women will contribute to social problems. Daghi (2005) state that women cannot get along with men because it encourages to interact with each other physically [5]. By uncontrolled physical contact it may lead to freely mix between men and women that finally will produce unmoral society. Medjadji (2007), there is no mixing of men and women are allowed in the ordinary other than the special circumstances under certain conditions [11]. To make sure there is no freely mixing between men and women a few step need to applied to the field of practice such as men and women must do outdoor and leisure activities separately [2] and as stated by Mohibullah Khan Marwat et al. (2014) Avoidance of mixing of the male and female during outdoor and leisure activities [8]. By applying this principle it is not only produce harmonious society at the same time it will produce future generations with moral and sufficient religious knowledge. In turn it will reduce the social problems that are common in today s generation. By understanding the Islamic principle of recreation and why it is an important issues, it will be a knowledge for us to create a recreational park that follow the principle. All those principle are the important principle that highlighted by the authors since decades ago but there is still lack of action taken. By applying the Islamic principle, all the visitor need to follow the rules. Some matters are already take action to protect muslim women by applying Islamic principle such as the existing of ladies coach for public transport and some country already prepare a recreational park just for women.
22 Nurshamiela Azmee et al., 2016/ Research Journal Of Fisheries And Hydrobiology 11(3), March, Pages: 19-23 Conclusion: This paper aim to develop an understanding of the Islamic principles of recreation and are not going just at the theoretical level, but also for recreation planner in the preparation of programs and recreational facilities for the public at a practical level, it will also broaden the understanding of the principles as they apply to Crosscultural communities [21]. Successful recreation practitioners will be the ones who understand these principles and bring out the best of the values of Islam to meet long-term needs of Muslim communities. There are three factors that determine whether recreational activities should be encouraged or not by both Muslim men and women. First, the principle of awrah. Second, the ethics of socialization. Third, the obligatory responsibility as a Muslim must be obey (eg prayer times). If all these factors are taken care of, there will not be any problem for Muslims to engage in recreational activities. Recreational activities in Islam have the principles which originally developed from the Islamic doctrine. The objective of this study is to understand the Islamic principles recreation permitted by Islamic doctrine is achieved. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors would like to thank the funding bodies of this research: Universiti Putra Malaysia. REFERENCES 1. Ahmad Termizi Ab Lateh. Azri Bhari. Jamalia Aurani. And Wan Nimah Wan Daud, 2014. Islam dan Pengurusan Sukan. First Edition. Akademi Pengajian Islam Kontemporari (ACIS) Universiti Teknologi Mara Perlis. 2. Al-Haidar, G.M.A., 2004. Struggling for a Right: Islam and the Participation in Sports and Physical Recreation of Girls and Women in Kuwait. Department of Sport Sciences, Brunei University. 3. An-Nabhani, T. And H.U. Tahrir, 2003. The Social System in Islam. 4th Edition. 4. Daghi, A.M.E.A., F. Mawlawi, 2005. Sport & Game, Morals & Manners, dress & Adornment. [Online]. From : http://www.islamonline.net [Accessed on 13 September 2015] 5. Itkonen, H., 1999. Conditioning Tolerance? A Study of Tolerance in the Culture of Sports. Pub.Karelian institute, Joensuu, Finland. 6. Holy Quran. Surah An-Nur, 30-31 7. Marwat, M.K., S. Zia-ul-Islam, M. Waseem And H. Khattak, 2014. Islamic Perspectives with Reference to Health and Participation in Sports. Asian Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 3(3). 8. Marwat, M.K., S. Zia-ul-Islam, M. Waseem, H. Khattak And S. BiBi, 2014. Sport Performance of Muslim Women and Different Constraints in Their Way to Participation in Sport. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 4: 10(1). 9. Mawlawi, F. And A.M.E.A. Daghi, 2005. Sport & Game, Morals & Manners, dress & Adornment. [Online]. From : http://www.islamonline.net. [Accessed on 13 September 2015] 10. Medjadji, S., 2007. Muslim students at school and school sports. 11. Pflster, G., 2006. Article on Islam and Women s Sports. Institute of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. [Online]. From : http://www.apceiu.org/bbs/files/pd-/2006 [Accessed on 13 September 2015] 12. Shah, A.H., 2002. Social laws in Islam. [Online]. From : http://www.witness pioneer.org/book-islamiclaw_regarding_sports. [Accessed on 13 September 2015] 13. Shilpi, M.K., 2012. The State of Muslim Girls in Physical Activities and Sport and Significance of Parenting in Islamic Perspective (The case of Central and Southern Finland). 14. Siddiqi, M., 2003. Sports and Games, Dress and Adornment. [Online]. From : www.islamonline.net. [Accessed on September 2015] 15. Women s Sport and Fitness Foundation and Sporting Equals, 2010. Muslim Women in Sport. [Online]. From : http://www.sportscoachuk.org [Accessed on 13 September 2015] 16. S. Aidila, B. Sarzali, N. Utaberta, M. Yazid, M. Yunos, N.A. Ismail and S. Ismail, 2015. Changing in Modern Malaysian Pattern of Life and its Implication to the Ageing Community, Adv. Environ. Biol., 9(95): 473-479. 17. Ismail, N.A., S. Ismail, M. Bin Safiullah, M. Yazid, N. Yunos, Utaberta and S. Ismail, 2015. Identifying Natural Playscape Elements in a Neighbourhood Park: A case Study of Kuantan, Malaysia, Adv. Environ. Biol., 9(95): 504-513. 18. Ismail, N.A., N. Utaberta, M. Yazid, M. Yunos, and S. Ismail, 2015. A Cultural Responsive Landscape Study on Perak Malay Garden: An Expressional Value, Adv. Environ. Biol., 9(5): 485-490. 19. Ismail, N.A., N. Utaberta, M. Yazid, M. Yunos and S. Ismail, 2015. Malay Cultural Responsive Landscape: Inspiration for Design Emotion in Modern Landscape Architecture, Adv. Environ. Biol., 9(95): 480-484.
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