Quran
Hadith
Islamic Text
Yes, archery is a Sunnah sport as it has been listed as one of a number of recommended sports by the holy Prophet ﷺ in authentic Hadith narrations.
عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ، قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللهِ وَجَابِرَ بْنَ عُمَيْرٍ الْأَنْصَارِيَّ يَرْتَمِيَانِ فَمَلَّ أَحَدُهُمَا فَجَلَسَ، فَقَالَ لَهُ الْآخَرُ: كَسِلْتَ، سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: كُلُّ شَيْءٍ لَيْسَ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَهُوَ لَهُوٌ أَوْ سَهْوٌ إِلَّا أَرْبَعَ خِصَالٍ: مَشْيُ الرَّجُلِ بَيْنَ الْغَرَضَيْنِ، وَتَأْدِيبُهُ فَرَسَهُ، ومُلَاعَبَةُ أَهْلِهِ، وَتَعَلُّمُ السِّبَاحَةِ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Everything (that) is not from the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic is He) is (either) idle entertainment or oversight, except for four: walking between the two targets (archery), training one’s horse, entertaining one’s family and learning to swim.’ (Cited in Imam al-Tabarani’s al-Mo’jam al-Kabir, 1785).
As well as swimming and horse riding (for men), archery has been encouraged. In modern times we do refer to these activities as sporting activities. Therefore, it is correct to refer to archery as a Sunnah sport.
The narration above is at least Hasan as indicated by the statements of leading Hadith scholars.
رَوَاهُ الطَّبَرَانِيّ فِي الْكَبِير بِإِسْنَاد جيد. (الترغيب والترهيب)
(Imam) al-Tabaraani narrated it in (al-Mo’jam) al-Kabeer with a Jayyid (strong) chain. (Imam al-Mundhari, al-Targheeb wa al-Tarheeb).
رَوَاهُ الطَّبَرَانِيُّ فِي الْكَبِيرِ وَالْأَوْسَطِ وَالْبَزَّارُ، وَرِجَالُ الطَّبَرَانِيِّ رِجَالُ الصَّحِيحِ خَلَا عَبْدَ الْوَهَّابِ بْنَ بُخْتٍ وَهُوَ ثِقَة. (مجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد)
Imam al-Tabarani has narrated it in al-Kabir and al-Awsat, and al-Bazaar (also narrated it). The narrators of al-Tabarani are all narrators of Sahih (authentic narrations) except for ‘Abd al-Wahhab Ibn Bukht, (as) he is trustworthy (Thiqah). (Majma’ al-Zawaid, Imam Noorud-deen al-Haythami).
A similar Hadith, with slightly variant wording, is cited in Imam al-Nasai’s al-Sunan al-Kubra:
عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللهِ وَجَابِرَ بْنَ عُمَيْرٍ الْأَنْصَارِيَّيْنِ يَرْمِيَانِ قَالَ: «فَأَمَّا أَحَدُهُمَا فَجَلَسَ» فَقَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ: «أَكَسِلْتَ؟» قَالَ: «نَعَمْ» فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا لِلْآخَرِ: أَمَا سَمِعْتَ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: كُلُّ شَيْءٍ لَيْسَ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللهِ فَهُوَ لَعِبٌ، لَا يَكُونُ أَرْبَعَةٌ: مُلَاعَبَةُ الرَّجُلِ امْرَأَتَهُ، وَتَأْدِيبُ الرَّجُلِ فَرَسَهُ، وَمَشْيُ الرَّجُلِ بَيْنَ الْغَرَضَيْنِ، وَتَعَلُّمُ الرَّجُلِ السَّبَّاحَةَ
Atta ibn Abi Rabaah (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) said, ‘I saw the two Ansairs, Jabir bin ‘Abdillah and Jabir bin Umayr (May Allah Most High be pleased with them) shooting (arrows), until one of them sat down (because he grew tired), so his companion said to him, ‘Are you weary?’ He said: ‘Yes.’ He said to him: Have you not heard the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings be upon Him) saying: ‘Everything (that) is not from the remembrance of Allah (Glorified and Majestic is He) is futile, apart from four: a man entertaining his wife, disciplining his horse, walking between two targets (archery), and learning to swim.’ (al-Sunan al-Kubrah of al-Nasai, 8889).
Imam Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani considered this chain to be Hasan:
أخرجه النَّسَائِيّ وَإِسْحَاق وَالطَّبَرَانِيّ وَالْبَزَّار بِإِسْنَاد حسن. (الدراية في تخريج أحاديث الهداية)
Narrated by al-Nasai, Ishaq, al-Tabarani and al-Bazaar with a Hasan Isnad. (Imam Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani, al-Dirayah).
And Allah Most High Knows Best
-Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (24.05.2022)
-Special thanks to Sidi Yusuf Asghar for assisting with Nusoos translation.
See also:
Is it the right of the child to be taught Archery?
Is there a Hadith about leaving archery being sinful?
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