Islam encourages believers to maintain a balanced and moderate lifestyle, emphasizing the significance of caring for one’s body as both a blessing and responsibility from Allah. Fitness not only contributes to the upkeep of physical strength and endurance, but also aligns with the Islamic principles of discipline and self-control. Men who participate in combat sports or have military expertise are often fit and well-respected by their peers. They live a physically fit life, despise being out of shape and spend an allotted amount of time daily pursuing a healthier and more active lifestyle. By cultivating a strong and healthy physique, Muslim men are better equipped to fulfill their religious obligations such as daily prayers, fasting and playing with their young children. These types of men are able to engage in acts of worship with vigor and navigate the challenges of daily life with resilience. On the same note, Muslim men can also be extremely influential in changing the world. Since these men prioritize their health and well-being, they are more capable of serving Allah and the Ummah. History shows us that such acts of service will inevitably inspire a change in the world. A sound state of physical fitness serves as a means to enhance mental clarity and emotional well-being thus fostering a deeper connection to one’s faith and an increased capacity to serve both oneself and the community.
Understanding the intricate relationship between politics and violence is crucial for Muslim men to help bring the Ummah together and push back on the impending demise of the global Muslim community. The reality of violence shapes and reshapes the course of nations and communities. Politics in essence encompasses power struggles, ideological conflicts and the distribution of resources, predominantly determined through violence. Political ideologies and power imbalances lead to disputes that escalate into conflicts, ranging from localized tensions to full-scale wars. Violence is utilized as a tool for liberating the oppressed, political control or as a means to suppress dissent. Unfortunately, the implications and reality of violence are lost on most modern Muslim men who serve their weak will and epicurean desires. Man’s disregard of their duty towards the Ummah, themselves and to Allah has resulted in a world of men who have no grit or tenacity to free themselves and their loved ones from the gluttonous shackles of the modern world. A proper man commands respect and carries the tools and mettle necessary to change the world. The resilience and unwavering commitment demonstrated by the trailblazers of the Islamic tradition serve as an inspiring guide for the succeeding generations to emulate. For a man to be able to counter the degenerative state of manhood, he must first start with himself.
When Islam expanded in the 7th century, the men who rode horseback through the desert were men of both extreme spiritual and physical stature. These men ate little, fought hard and prayed often. They conquered and crushed the superpowers of their time. Young men today know little to nothing about these men. They do not know about Khalid ibn al-Walid, a shrewd military strategist and a lightning bolt on the battlefield, a man who never saw defeat in battle. They do not know about Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah, known for his bravery, and eventually rising through the ranks to become the commander in chief of the Rashidun army. As children, Muslims learn everything about the beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and rightly so, yet they do not learn enough about the men who surrounded him. Children do not know that sports like wrestling, archery and horseback riding are part of the prophetic tradition. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ praised these activities and there is a reason why this is included in the vast array of hadith literature. The consistent promotion of spiritual and physical strength are part of the Islamic culture and an integral part of the Sunnah. The inability to conceive the deep connection between physicality and spirituality actually speaks to a much larger and more significant fact that contemporary Muslims overlook: the martial nature of man combined with the innate spiritual condition instilled in every man go hand in hand.
Throughout history, adept Muslim men, familiar with utilizing controlled and strategic violence, played a pivotal role in reshaping the world whether through sport or political liberation. Men like the legendary Omar Mukhtar, known as “The Lion of the Desert,” encapsulate what it means to be a Muslim man. Mukhtar was a teacher of the Quran who became a feared guerilla leader during the Italian occupation of Libya that lasted from 1911-1943. Mukhtar started his resistance at the age of 53, an age where most men are grandfathers, past their physical primes and tend to live quiet lives. Mukhtar grew up in the harsh desert. As a young man he learned about his local environment and guerilla tactics vital for survival if oppressors ever entered their homeland. This is the reason we fondly look back on Mukhtar today: he became an emblem for resistance and resilience. Another famous military general, one of the most notable in both Islamic and Western history, is Salahuddin al-Ayyubi – the genius who liberated Jerusalem in 1187. Salahuddin acquired a deep knowledge of the Quran and the religious sciences, as well as arithmetic, law and history. Salahuddin embodied the idea of a true Muslim warrior, winning battles intellectually and physically, while expressing that “to fight against one’s desires is the greatest of all fights.” Salahuddin understood what was needed for a man to achieve his potential, which is why he is remembered as one of the most famous military generals in history. Men like Salahuddin and Omar Mukhtar are not results of haphazard effort. Rather, they are a product of intentional work and purpose from youth up until and through manhood. These men carried sway and the tools to change the world. Finding a purpose worth fighting for and working tirelessly to achieve the outcomes sought are the type of experiences necessary to change the world, including the current political and social situations throughout the Muslim world.
History is one of the best predictors of the future. It has shown repeatedly what happens when a population allows the proliferation of weak men: those cultures are doomed. Every culture throughout the world and human history has a form of combat sport or martial culture that was an integral part of their classical tradition. Islam is no different; the Sahaba participated in wrestling tournaments from a young age. There is a plethora of examples of the physical culture in the Islamic world. For years, the esteemed Dagestani wrestling culture gained recognition in the wrestling world, but it entered the mainstream spotlight primarily through Khabib Nurmagomedov’s remarkable rise as the undefeated UFC lightweight champion, retiring with a flawless 29-0 record. The Olympic silver medalist in freestyle wrestling and former UFC fighter Yoel Romero once stated in an interview: “I don’t know if you know but the best for you, for everybody, for the world, the best city in the world for wrestling is Makhachkala, Dagestan.” There are about 50,000 competitive wrestlers in Makhachkala. This number does not consider the surrounding countries, which also have a rich history of wrestling. The Muslim communities who reside in the Caucasus regions are renowned for their bravery, combat skills and military valor. Chechen guerilla fighters hold a reputation of being accomplished on the battlefield. The Chechens were able to hold their own against the Russian Empire, something that many armies today fail to do. When conflict erupts in the Middle East, speculations arise regarding the potential involvement of the Chechens. Just the mere notion of their entry into the war evokes a profound sense of dread and despair in their enemies. Both in the military aspect and the sports world, the men from these regions are admired and viewed as an indomitable force to be reckoned with.
Muslim men have long dominated combat sports due to their discipline, work ethic and their ability to ignore the lavish lifestyles that consumed their peers once they reached monetary success and worldwide notoriety. Boxing gave us the likes of Muhammad Ali who is considered one of the greatest boxers in the history of the sport. Many people do not know the impact Muhammad Ali had on the political sphere and the amount of respect he drew from the average person to notorious world leaders. During the 1960s, Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, refused to be drafted into the U.S. military during the Vietnam War due to his religious beliefs and opposition to the war. His objection resulted in legal battles, the revocation of his boxing titles and a temporary ban from the sport. Later in his life, while Ali was plagued with Parkinson’s disease, he continued to make a global impact. Before the Gulf War, Saddam Hussein held 15 Americans hostage in an effort to stop the impending bombing campaign that was expected from the United States. Upon hearing this, Muhammad Ali planned a trip to Iraq to help secure the hostages. U.S. officials warned Ali of this and told him that it would not be a good idea. However, a man as devout as Ali only feared Allah. Once in Iraq, he was swarmed with fans, visited schools and prayed in local mosques. Eventually, Ali secured a meeting with Saddam Hussein. After their meeting, Saddam said, “I’m not going to let Muhammad Ali return to the U.S. without having a number of the American citizens accompanying him.” In the end, Muhammad Ali secured the release of all 15 Americans. This success reveals the power and influence of Muhammad Ali. His relentless commitment to his principles, along with his fast hands, iron chin and unbreakable grit in the boxing ring, turned him into a role model and symbol of resistance against the prevailing political sentiments. His example underscores the potential for an individual’s commitment to physical and moral strength to influence the broader political narrative.
Strength is not only a virtue, but is also a necessity in the modern world. The exponential growth of the technological age has allowed men to become fat, lazy and virtually useless. The reality is there has never been a time— nor will there ever be a time— that makes it acceptable for a man to be out of shape. Islam understands this, which is why martial arts and physical strength are prominent features in many cultures in the Islamic world. The martial arts world is full of Muslim champions and fighters who are known for their extreme discipline, integrity and code of honor. They hold a high position in the martial arts subculture. Speak to any of these fighters and they will associate these traits not with intense training regimen or outstanding fighting careers, but to the Islamic tradition and their upbringing. Islam has a rich history of masculinity, combat and physical prowess. Muslim men were born to be warriors and raised to be defenders of their homeland, families and their religion. Being unapologetic about Islam, while holding an impressive physique that instills fear, has been lost in contemporary culture–especially for Muslims who reside in the Western world. The social, political and mental impact of this loss has become increasingly significant and will have dire consequences for the generations to come because disciplined men are highly spiritual men. The non-physical lessons from combat sports and experience in violent and volatile situations extend into every area and process of life. Men who train in combat sports are humble but fierce, kind but strong and capable of extreme violence yet they maintain their composure. This dynamic is not some inference that has no backing; this is an integral lesson that every fighter learns after years of combat. The fighter who has experienced combat understands the reality that violence does work and will always work as long as the enemy persists. To be an expert in combat one must be physically, mentally and emotionally capable. A clear mind is a necessity in the midst of combat because a rash decision is not only futile, but a death sentence. There is a common misconception that men cannot be both formidable intellectuals and possess immense physical prowess. This assumption is not only wrong, but is against the Islamic way. All of the heroes of Islam are men of valor and men of intelligence. The reality of violence is lost on the Muslim youth in the West. They are unaware of what violence truly looks and feels like. This is not how their predecessors were though. Muslim men of the past were notorious for being both warriors and scholars.
The importance of physical fitness and its relation to Islamic principles cannot be emphasized enough. Men of robust and unwavering nature are necessary to change the current structure and politics of the Ummah. The enemies of justice are trying to sweep this under the rug because they fear the implications of a united Ummah. The Sahaba and those who came after them changed the world. Without their sacrifice and ability, many Muslim countries today would not be Muslim. Such tenacity and ability have been passed down in many cultures around the Muslim world and still exist today, but the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ are not united. They lack the resolve like the noble Sahaba had. The Chechens and other small bands of Muslim resistance fighters all fought wars against superpowers and proved that their reputation was not a myth. Muslims individuals also made impacts that are on par with groups who fought for their liberation. Muhammad Ali and Khabib Nurmagomedov are known and held in high regard by both Muslim and non-Muslim men. These two men gave dawah not only through their words, but with their accomplishments inside the ring and their character outside the ring. The world will not be changed by men who sit idly by while their brothers and sisters are oppressed. It will be the men who impose their will and who understand the significance of physicality and competence in changing the trajectory of humanity, those are the men who gave us Islam. Those are the men honored by God.
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