Miscellaneous Shariah rulings about summer season

[People, especially children, believe that summer is a time of enjoyment and relaxation.  Here are some rules that relate to the season of summer]

 

What clothes to wear in summer?

 

In summer everybody likes to wear cool clothes.  How far is it correct?

 

While wearing clothes, the bare minimum covering (Satar in Urdu) should be kept in mind.  Cool clothes in summer and warm clothes in winter can be worn.  Regardless of the season, such garments should be worn which fulfill the commandments of the Shariah about the Satar.  Wearing such fine clothing through which those parts of the body, covering whom is compulsory, become visible is not correct, as the very objective of clothing that these parts of the body should be covered and the human body should look beautiful. 

O mankind! Surely We have sent down for you (such a) clothing that hides your private parts and adds (to your) aesthetic value. And (in addition to your outward clothes We have also provided you an inward dress as well and that is) the dress of Allah’s fear (which) is the best. (All these inner and outer attires) are the Signs of Allah so that they may take advice.  (Surah A’araaf, 7:26)

 

There is a Hadith in Sunan Abu Dawood about prohibiting wearing very fine clothing:

 

Translation:  It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her) that Hadhrat Asma (May Allah be well pleased with her) went to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) when she was wearing very fine clothes.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) turned His blessed face away and said: O Asma! When any girl comes of age (i.e. reaches puberty), then it is not correct that any part of her body should be visible, excepting this and this, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) indicated the face and palms.  (Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No: 4106)

 

Also, there are Hadith in Mawatta Al Malik and Sunan Baihaqui:

 

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Alqama Bin Hadhrat Abu ‘Alqama (May Allah be well pleased with them) that he narrates on the authority of his mother that Hadhrat Asma bint ‘Abdur Rahman (May Allah be well pleased with them) went to Ummul Momineen Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with him) when she had draped a very fine Dupatta.  In anger, Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her) tore that Dupatta and gave her a thicker one.  (Muwatta Imam Malik, Hadith No: 1660; Sunan Baihaqui, Hadith No:  3391)

 

Thus, be it a man or a woman, they should use such clothes which covers their Satar properly.  For a man, the area from below the navel to below the knees is Satar and for a woman, excepting her face and hands, everything is Satar.  In light of this, if men use a garment through which, excepting Satar other parts of the body are visible, then there is no problem.  However, for a woman, as the whole body is Satar, she cannot wear garments, which reveal any part of her body. 

 

What to play in summer

 

At all times and especially at the time of recreation, the following should be kept in mind:

 

Indecency should be avoided.  Free mixing of the sexes should be avoided.  A Non-Mahram should not even be seen.  Impermissible poetry or songs, etc. should not be heard.  Useless talk should not be there. 

 

So great a time should not be sent in recreation that other religious and social responsibilities are affected.  The five daily Salaat should not be ignored.  In picnics, etc. joking, humor, etc. can be done, but it should not involve lies, cheating of any kind and no one should be hurt or humiliated. 

 

In short, no Fardh should be ignored and no forbidden act should be committed.  With these rules, recreation is permissible.

 

Doing those things, which provide exercise to the body as exercise is permitted by the Shariah.  Swimming is not only an exercise, but Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) forbid, in calamities like floods, etc. can be used to save one's life and others' lives. 

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has specially permitted and emphasized swimming.  It is given in Jame' Ul Ahadith Wal Maraseel by Imam Jalaluddin Suyuti:

 

Translation:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: You teach your children swimming and bow shooting.  Teach your women how to knit wool.  (Jame' Ul Ahadith, Vol. 5, Pg No. 153)

 

There is also a Hadith in Sunan Kubra of Imam Nasai:

 

Translation:  It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Ata bin Abi Ribah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said that he saw Hadhrat Jabir bin ‘Abdullah Ansari and Hadhrat Jabir Bin ‘Ameer Ansari (May Allah be well pleased with them) bow shooting.  One of them said: I heard the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) say: Everything, which does not have the remembrance of Allah Most High is useless, except 4: A man joking with his wife, rearing a horse, running between 2 points and swimming.  (Sunan Kubra, Vol. 5, Pg No. 302)

 

These Hadith show that going to a swimming pool for swimming is permissible.  However, it is not allowed to reveal any spot of the body from under the navel (belly button) to the knees.  Youngsters who swim should cover their body properly and avoid exposing their body. 

 

As given Al Fiqh ‘Alal Madhahib Al ‘Arba, Vol. 2, Pg No. 50. 

 

What about sweat

 

If some droplets of sweat fall into the food, then as per the Shariah, the food does not become unfit for eating, but naturally we dislike it.  However, there is no prohibition in the Shariah about food in which droplets of sweat fall, but as Islam is a religion of purity and cleanliness, special care should be taken while cooking.