Having fun as a family, a Sunnah!

Having Fun within what Allah permits

Our family is meant to be our safe space. We can be ourselves with our family, and the love in the family is unconditional. While familial responsibilities and obligations are very important, a healthy family is one that finds joy together in the smallest things. This comes from spending time together, having fun and enjoying each others’ company. So long as the fun is one that does not transgress Allah’s boundaries, it is a Sunnah to be enjoying time with the family.

The Prophet SAW was the best example as mentioned in his Hadith:

“The best of you is he who is best to his family, and I am the best among you to my family.

(Mishkat al-Masabih 3252)

Run with your spouse

Having fun comes from the smallest of things. Witness how the Prophet SAW would casually race his wife, A’ishah RA, as mentioned in a Hadith: Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin:

While she was on a journey along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): “I had a race with him (the Prophet) and I outstripped him on my feet. When I became fleshy (due to weight gain), (again) I had a race with him (the Prophet) and he outstripped me. He said: This is for that outstripping.

(Sunan Abi Dawud 2578)

Do sports

A good way to bond with your family is to engage in the outdoors, with sports. Since we live in an era where screens dominate our homes, why not go outside for a change? It was said that the Prophet SAW played sports such as wrestling and archery for leisure.

The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) passed by a group of Aslam who were competing in shooting arrows. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Shoot, O sons of Isma`il, for your father was an archer. Shoot, and I am with the tribe of So-and-so.” One of the two groups stopped shooting, so the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “What is the matter with you, why are you not shooting?” They said: O Messenger of Allah, how could we shoot when you are with them? He said: “Shoot, for I am with all of you.”

Treat them

If you have extra money, spend on your family. Not only is it a Sunnah, but also worthy of rewards. It is mentioned in a Hadith of the Prophet SAW:

Narrated Abu Mas`ud Al-Ansari: The Prophet (SAW) said, “When a Muslim spends something on his family intending to receive Allah’s reward it is regarded as Sadaqa for him.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari 5351)

Spend time and be present

Spending time with your family and having fun with them is not blameworthy, in fact it is a special act in the eyes of Allah SWT.

In a Hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

“Any act devoid of the remembrance of Allah is void except four: shooting, training a horse, playing with one’s family and swimming.»

(Recorded by Bayhaqi and at-Tabarâni with a good chain of narrators)

Feed them

Have moments with your other half and children, even if it is over the dinner table.

Sa’d bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported in a Hadith included in the chapter of Intention, that Messenger of Allah (SAW) said,

“Whatever you spend seeking thereby the Pleasure of Allah, will have its reward, even the morsel which you put in the mouth of your wife”.

(Bukhari & Muslim)

Let them play (if they are young children)

Notice how much the Prophet SAW had mercy for his grandchildren, that he would cater to them, even when they were disrupting his prayer.

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came out to us for one of the evening prayers and he was carrying his grandson Hasan, or Husayn. The Prophet came forward and put him down, then began prayer with exaltation and prayed. He prostrated at the end of his prayer for a long time. I raised my head and the child was upon the Prophet’s back while he was prostrating, so I returned to my prostration. When the Prophet finished the prayer, people said, “O Messenger of Allah, you prostrated at the end of your prayer for a long time, until we thought something happened or you received a revelation.” The Prophet said, “None of that that happened. Rather, my grandson was riding on my back and I disliked to rush him before he met his needs.”

(Sunan al-Nasaa’i 1141)