The Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) saw a man following a pigeon and said: "A devil following a she-devil" (51). If he keeps pigeons to obtain their chicks, or to carry messages, or for companionship without causing harm that extends to people, his testimony shall not be rejected. 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit narrated that a man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) and complained to him of loneliness, and he said: "Keep a pair of pigeons" (52).
Section: As for lawful competitions, such as racing with horses or other animals, or on foot, it is permissible (53) and entails no baseness (54), and testimony is not rejected because of it. We have already mentioned the lawfulness of that in the chapter on competitions (55). The same applies to similar matters such as martial training and playing with spears. The Abyssinians played with spears before the Messenger of God (peace and blessings of God be upon him), and Aisha stood behind him looking at them and hiding behind him until she grew weary (56). This is because it involves learning for war, as it is among its tools, so it resembles horse racing, shooting practice, and other games. If it does not entail harm or distraction from an obligatory duty, the fundamental principle is its permissibility. Thus, whatever of it contains baseness from which those of moral integrity (muru'ah) refrain, it prevents the acceptance of testimony if one performs it publicly and it is repeated from him. As for that in which there is no baseness, testimony is not rejected by it (57) in any case.
Section: Regarding amusements: they are of three types. The first is prohibited: this is the playing of stringed instruments, pipes, all types of flutes, the lute (ud), the tambour (tunbur), the lyre (ma'zafah), the rebec (rabab), and their like. Whoever persists in listening to them, his testimony is rejected, because it is narrated from Ali, may God be pleased with him, from the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) that he said: "When fifteen traits appear in my nation, calamity will befall them" (58). Among them, he mentioned
(51) Recorded by Abu Dawud, in: Chapter on Playing with Pigeons, from the Book of Etiquette. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/582. And Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 2/345. (52) Recorded by al-Khatib, in: Tarikh Baghdad 5/199. (53) In A, B, and M: "it is permissible". (54) In M: "in it". (55) Previously mentioned in: 13/404. (56) Its recording was previously mentioned in: 9/507. (57) In M: "by it". (58) Recorded by al-Tirmidhi, in: Chapter on what has been mentioned regarding the sign of the arrival of transformation and sinking, from the Chapters on Tribulations (al-Fitan). 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 9/58.
