There are many kinds of games and sports which the Prophet (peace be on him) recommended to the Muslims as a source of enjoyment and recreation which, at the same time, prepare them for worship and other obligations. These sports, which require skill and determination, and which also involve physical exercise and bodybuilding activity, are related to the martial arts, training Muslims for the battlefields of jihad in the cause of Allah. Among them are the following:   Foot RacingThe Companions of the Prophet (May Allah be pleased with them) used to race on foot and the Prophet (peace be on him) encouraged them in this. It is reported that ‘Ali was a fast runner. The Prophet (peace be on him) himself raced with his wife ‘Aishah in order to please her, to enjoy himself, and to set an example for his Companions. ‘Aishah said, I raced with the Prophet (peace be on him) and beat him in the race. Later, when I had put on some weight, we raced again and he won. Then he said, ‘This cancels that, referring to the previous occasion. (Reported by Ahmad and Abu Daoud.)

WrestlingThe Prophet (peace be on him) once wrestled with a man called Rukanah who was well-known for his strength, throwing him down more than once. (Reported by Abu Daoud.) The Prophet (peace be on him) then threw him. The man said, “The same again.” The Prophet (peace be on him) threw him again, and the man said, “The same again.” The Prophet (peace be on him) threw him a third time. The man then said, “What shall I tell my wife? One sheep was eaten by the wolf, one ran away, but what about the third” Then the Prophet (peace be on him) said, “We are not going to defeat you and take something from you as well. Take your sheep!”From these reports concerning the Prophet (peace be on him), jurists have deduced the permissibility of foot racing, whether it be between men against each other or between men and women who are their muharammat or wives. They have also concluded that foot racing, wrestling, and sports of this type do not compromise the dignity of scholarship, piety, or age.The Prophet (peace be on him) was more than fifty year old when he raced with Aishah.  

ArcheryAmong the permissible sports is competition in archery or with other weapons. The Prophet (peace be on him) once passed by a group of his Companions who were competing in archery. He encouraged them, saying, Shoot, and I am with you. (Reported by al-Bukhari )He realized that archery was not just a hobby or a sport but, more importantly, constituted that kind of force which Allah has commanded to be mustered: And make ready for them all thou art able of (armed) force....(8:60)The Prophet (peace be on him) said, “The missiles (arrows) are the force,” repeating it three times. (Reported by Muslim.) He also said, “Practice archery; that is good for you.” (Reported by al-Bazzar and by al-Tabarani on good authority.) However, the Prophet (peace be on him) warned archers against using chickens and the like as targets for practice, as the Arabs of jahiliyyah used to do. Once ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar saw a group of peoples doing this and he told them, “The Prophet (peace be on him) cursed the one who takes anything possessing life as a target.’’ (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.) He cursed such an individual because this sort of act involves the torturing and unnecessary killing of an animal, and a human being has no right to have fun and sport at the expense of a living creature. For the same reason the Prophet (peace be on him) forbade making animals fight each other. (Reported by Abu Daoud and al-Tirmidhi.) Some Arabs used to laugh and find it amusing to see two rams or bulls fight each other until one of them was gored to death. Scholars have said that the prohibition of making animals fight recognizes that such a practice causes them unnecessary suffering merely for the fun of it, without any benefit.
Spear PlaySpear play is similar to archery. The Prophet (peace be on him) allowed some Abyssinians to display their skill with spears in his mosque; he let his wife ‘Aishah watch their show and encouraged them by saying, “Carry on, O Bani Arfidah,” (as the Abyssinians were known to among the Arabs). ‘Umar, with his serious disposition, wanted to stop them but the Prophet (peace be on him) prevented him from it. It is reported in the two Sahibs of al-Bukhari and Muslim from Abu Hurairah that while the Abyssinians were performing their show with spears in the presence of the Prophet (peace be on him), ‘Umar entered. He picked up some pebbles and started throwing them at them but the Prophet (peace be on him) said, “Leave them alone, O ‘Umar.” This indulgence on the part of the Prophet (peace be on him) in permitting and encouraging such a sport in his mosque was to demonstrate that the mosque serves both worldly and religious purposes. Muslims congregate in the mosque not only to worship but also to play. However, this play is not merely for fun but should involve physical exercise and some sort of training. Commenting on this hadith, scholars have said that the mosque is the center of the Muslim’s community affairs, and any activity which combines benefits for religion and for the Muslims may be carried out in it. Muslims of the present time should note how devoid mosques today are of vitality and strength, often having become havens for the elderly and the lazy. The above incidents also provide an example of the Prophet’s concern for his wife’s amusement and recreation. ‘Aishah, his wife, said, “The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) covered me with his cloak while I watched the Abyssinians play in the mosque. He then stood (in his place) for my sake until I was the one who got tired, so estimate the time a young girl eager for amusement would wait.” (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim) She also said, “I used to play with dolls in the house of the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) and my friends would come over to play with me. They would hide when they saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) approaching but in fact he was very happy to see them with me, so we played together.” (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)  
Horseback RidingAllah Ta’ala says, And (He created) horses, mules, and donkeys for you to ride and as adornment....(16:8), and the Prophet (peace be on him) said, “There is blessing in the forelocks of horses.” (Reported by Ahmad.)  He also said, “Practice archery and horseback riding.” (Reported by Muslim.)  And again, Any action without the remembrance of Allah is either a diversion or heedlessness excepting four acts: walking from target to target (during archery practice), training a horse, playing with one’s family, and learning to swim. (Reported by al-Tabarani on good authority.) Said ‘Umar, “Teach your children swimming and archery, and tell them to jump on the horse’s back.” Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Prophet (peace be on him) organized horse races and gave a prize to the winner. (Reported by Ahmad.) All this was done by the Prophet (peace be on him) to encourage competition in sports involving physical exercise and discipline.
HuntingHunting is among the beneficial sports which are encouraged by Islam. It is a sport, an exercise, and also a means of livelihood, regardless of whether it is done with weapons or with hunting animals such as dogs and hawks. However, Islam prohibits hunting in two situations. The first is when a person is in the sacred state of consecration (ihram) for the performance of hajj or ‘umrah, because this is a state of total peace in which one is not permitted to kill or shed blood, as commanded by Allah: O you who believe, do not kill game while you are in ihram.... (5:98(95) ...But to hunt on land is forbidden to you as long as you are in ihram.... (5:99(96) The second situation exists when a person is within the limits of the sacred territory of Makkah. Islam has declared this to be a region of peace and security, a sanctuary for every living creature, whether beast, bird, or plant, since the Prophet (peace be on him) prohibited hunting its game, cutting its trees, or disturbing its airspace. (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

An example would be from A’ishah radhiyallahu ‘anha that once there was an exercise of sword-fighting in the masjid, and the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa salaam ‘facilitated’ for her to watch it from her room, by veiling her with his ridaa’.

This is to show the permissibility of two things:
1. That such an action is allowed in the masjid.
2. That it is allowed for women to watch such games played among men.
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It is a known fact that the Sahaabah were experts in the arts of warfare as was used those days. In fact there are riwaayaat of them having competitions daily after the Asr salaah in archery , sword and Lance play. Each area were renown for their skills. The slaves from Habashaa would show their skills in the lance play, Therefore the art and style was according to the methods of the various areas. The real Sunnah lies in preparation rather than the style of preparation.
In the holy Qur’aan, Allah Tabaaraka Wa Ta’aala commands the muslimeen in surah Anfaal [8:60]”  “Prepare against them whatever force you can, and the trained horses whereby you frighten Allah’s enemy and your own enemy and others besides them whom you do not know. Allah knows them. Whatever thing you spend in the way of Allah, it will be paid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged.”
Therefore, any form of martial art will be permissible as long as we do not indulge in giving respect to any being or individual which is not allowed in Shari’ah, such as bowing.
ISLAMIC SPORTS
It might come as a surprise to many to hear that Islam also encourages sport to a certain extent. However, Islamic sports differ vastly in nature and purpose to Western forms of sports. The
hadith of Rasoolullah _ defined an important principle: A sport must have a real benefit that accrues to one’s spiritual or worldly life’. In Islam sport is not a past-time. In one hadith Rasoolullah _ said: “The lahw (sport) of a Believer is futile except for three types: Horse riding;
archery; and amusing oneself with the wife.” Among these, the first two are of great benefit when it comes to Jihad or self-defense, whilst the third is purely a worldly benefit but extremely
effective in creating love between husband and wife.  Ulema state that the scope of this
hadith does not end with the abovementioned three acts. Instead, any sporting activity that
provides valid benefit to one’s religion or mundane life, is permissible.  It is established from
several ahadeeth that Rasoolullah _ raced with his wives, and swam. So the sports of racing and swimming also become lawful activites. The Sahaaba wrestled with each other in training for jihad, so wrestling becomes a valid sport in Islam. Sword fighting can also be added to this list because that too, is a valid practice. 

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