Why Flexing is Not Haram in Islam: Complete Article
C.J Ahmed-01.05.2023
Flexing has two meanings. On is to how your body or adornments in public and the other meaning is showing ones muscles and its toned limbs which is also known as flexing muscles. Altough Islam fobids arrogance, flexing with good intentions is not haram in Islam.
Abdullah bin Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (sal) said, "He who has, in his heart, an ant's weight of arrogance will not enter Jannah." Someone said: "A man likes to wear beautiful clothes and shoes?" Messenger of Allah (sal) said, "Allah is Beautiful, He loves beauty. Arrogance means ridiculing and rejecting the Truth and despising people." (Sahih Muslim)
Another example is wearing the izar below the ankles. What is forbidden is to drag your garment with pride and dragging the gar without pride is not haram. Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar (rali):
The Prophet (sal) said
"Allah will not look, on the Day of Resurrection at the person who drags his garment (behind him) out of pride. On that Abu Bakr said, "O Allah's Messenger (sal)! One side of my Izar hangs low if I do not take care of it." The Prophet (sal) said, 'You are not one of those who do that out of pride."
(Sahih-Al-Bukhari)
In this hadith the prophet (sal) clear explained to Abu Bakr (rali) that he was not hanging his garment below due to pride meaning that you can hang your garment or pants below the ankles if you are not doing it due to pride. If hanging the garment below the ankles was haram even if it was not from pride, then the prophet (sal) would have told Abu Bakr (rali) to raise it above the ankles. Now let us look at another hadith.
Muslim bin Yannaq reported that Ibn Umar saw a person trailing his lower garment, whereupon he said:
"From whom do you come? He described his relationship (with the tribe he belonged) and it was found that he belonged to the tribe of Laith. Ibn Umar recognised him and said: I heard Allah's Messenger (sal) with these two ears of mine saying: He who trailed his lower garment with no other intention but pride, Allah would not look toward him on the Day of Resurrection."
(Sahih Muslim)
If you carefully look at the above hadith narrated in the hadith of Sahih Muslim you will realize that the prophet (sal) clearly said that "he who trailed his lower garment with no other intention but for pride" and that means clearly if the pants is worn below the ankles without the intention of pride, then there is nothing wrong with it.
Muscle Building is Blessing For a Muslim
Bodybuilding gives you good health physically as well as mentally. Good health is something most Muslims are less inetersted nowadays.
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
The Prophet (sal) said: "There are two blessings that many people are deceived into losing: health and free time." (Bukhari)
Health Benefits of Muscle Building
There are many scientifically proven health benefits of building muscles and Healthline.com ran an article explaining the benefits. Below are some of them,
A Strong Beliver is Better Than a Weak Believer
Having good health is encouraged in Islam and the below hadith explains that a strong believer is better than a weak believer.
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (sal) as saying:
“A strong believer is better and is more lovable to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone, (but) cherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart, and if anything (in the form of trouble) comes to you, don't say: If I had not done that, it would not have happened so and so, but say: Allah did that what He had ordained to do and your" if" opens the (gate) for the Satan.” (Sahih Muslim)
Flexing is not haram for a Muslim and it is the intention that matters.
Flexing has two meanings. On is to how your body or adornments in public and the other meaning is showing ones muscles and its toned limbs which is also known as flexing muscles. Altough Islam fobids arrogance, flexing with good intentions is not haram in Islam.
Abdullah bin Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (sal) said, "He who has, in his heart, an ant's weight of arrogance will not enter Jannah." Someone said: "A man likes to wear beautiful clothes and shoes?" Messenger of Allah (sal) said, "Allah is Beautiful, He loves beauty. Arrogance means ridiculing and rejecting the Truth and despising people." (Sahih Muslim)
Another example is wearing the izar below the ankles. What is forbidden is to drag your garment with pride and dragging the gar without pride is not haram. Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar (rali):
The Prophet (sal) said
"Allah will not look, on the Day of Resurrection at the person who drags his garment (behind him) out of pride. On that Abu Bakr said, "O Allah's Messenger (sal)! One side of my Izar hangs low if I do not take care of it." The Prophet (sal) said, 'You are not one of those who do that out of pride."
(Sahih-Al-Bukhari)
In this hadith the prophet (sal) clear explained to Abu Bakr (rali) that he was not hanging his garment below due to pride meaning that you can hang your garment or pants below the ankles if you are not doing it due to pride. If hanging the garment below the ankles was haram even if it was not from pride, then the prophet (sal) would have told Abu Bakr (rali) to raise it above the ankles. Now let us look at another hadith.
Muslim bin Yannaq reported that Ibn Umar saw a person trailing his lower garment, whereupon he said:
"From whom do you come? He described his relationship (with the tribe he belonged) and it was found that he belonged to the tribe of Laith. Ibn Umar recognised him and said: I heard Allah's Messenger (sal) with these two ears of mine saying: He who trailed his lower garment with no other intention but pride, Allah would not look toward him on the Day of Resurrection."
(Sahih Muslim)
If you carefully look at the above hadith narrated in the hadith of Sahih Muslim you will realize that the prophet (sal) clearly said that "he who trailed his lower garment with no other intention but for pride" and that means clearly if the pants is worn below the ankles without the intention of pride, then there is nothing wrong with it.
Muscle Building is Blessing For a Muslim
Bodybuilding gives you good health physically as well as mentally. Good health is something most Muslims are less inetersted nowadays.
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
The Prophet (sal) said: "There are two blessings that many people are deceived into losing: health and free time." (Bukhari)
Health Benefits of Muscle Building
There are many scientifically proven health benefits of building muscles and Healthline.com ran an article explaining the benefits. Below are some of them,
- Makes you stronger
- Burns calories efficiently
- Decreases abdominal fat
- Can help you appear leaner
- Decreases your risk of falls
- Lowers your risk of injury
- Improves heart health
- Helps manage your blood sugar levels
- Promotes greater mobility and flexibility
- Boosts your self-esteem
A Strong Beliver is Better Than a Weak Believer
Having good health is encouraged in Islam and the below hadith explains that a strong believer is better than a weak believer.
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (sal) as saying:
“A strong believer is better and is more lovable to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone, (but) cherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart, and if anything (in the form of trouble) comes to you, don't say: If I had not done that, it would not have happened so and so, but say: Allah did that what He had ordained to do and your" if" opens the (gate) for the Satan.” (Sahih Muslim)
Flexing is not haram for a Muslim and it is the intention that matters.