The Impact Of World Cup On Muslims And Their Future

Outline

• Introduction
• Why World Cup?
• What’s Wrong With the World Cup?
• Entertainment in Islam
• What Would be the Prophet’s Stance About World Cup?
• The Impact of World Cup on the Future of the Ummah
• Muslims, Look Around You!
• Conclusion

Introduction

Alhamdulillah… Infinite praises and thanks are due to the Almighty Allāh, who created the universe and all it compasses with a purpose. I send peace and blessings upon Ḥabībī Muḥammad, who was sent to guide the Ummah, and he did it perfectly. I also send peace and blessings upon the household of the Prophet, his companions and upon all those who follow his guided path till the Day of Judgement.

We live in a time and age, when everyone is doing the same thing. Thus, saying a word that differs from what the majority does renders you to criticism, and sometimes wild and baseless accusation. But the truth is, majority is not necessarily correct always, especially when it comes to obedience towards God and His religion.

This article comes, in the week when the whole world is engrossed with the World Cup fever, and everyone has tuned his heart and mind to Brazil for the 2014 version of the FIFA World Cup. The sensitivity of this year’s tournament is that, the last part of it will collide with the first half of Ramaḍān. Therefore, the last half of Ramaḍān is likely to be affected due to time winners of the tournament will spend jubilating while losers will spend theirs grieving. Either way, Muslims will be the greatest losers, if they exchange their Ramaḍan for the deceiving excitement of the World Cup tournament.

The article is not discussing halal or haram pertaining football. It’s rather discussing getting our objectives right as Muslims and being responsible for the moral and spiritual awareness of our offspring to come. It also serves to send a reminder to its writer as well as readers to be mindful of our destination.

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Why World Cup?

Let me share with you three short stories, among others, based on which I find it necessary to reflect on the impact of World Cup on Muslims and their next generation.

Story One

On my way to the dormitory’s prayer room, for Fajr prayers, on Friday, 13^th June 2014, I saw a reverse version of what I usually see every morning, on the same way. Usually, I see people going out of their dormitories, heading towards the various prayer rooms. Unfortunately, on that morning, I saw people coming from the various canteens, where they just finished watching the opening ceremony of the 2014 version of the FIFA World Cup tournament and the first match (between Brazil and Croatia). They were going back to their dorms, bypassing the prayer halls without praying. Obviously, there were lesser crowds in the prayer halls.

Later in the afternoon, the same day, I understood from another friend of mine, that only two people went for Fajr prayers in his dormitory, where usually, there will be two to three rows making up more than a dozen.

Story Two

In the qualifying match to this World Cup, Ghana beat Egypt 6-0 in Accra. This defeat was so impactful on Egypt and the Egyptians, to the effect that a son killed his father, who was watching the match with him, and enjoined him to prayers. He couldn’t accept the defeat, and thus, lost control over his emotions. By the time he regained his consciousness, he has already lost his father to his anger and emotions. Yes, the Muslim son has killed his Muslim father, over a football match!

Story Three

An Arab Muslim couple was blessed with a baby boy. The father decided to name his son Maradona. The mother protested. She argued; why don’t we name him ‘Muḥammad’, ‘Aḥmad’ or any other Muslim name, or at least a name closer to our Arab culture. After a long consideration, the father agreed to compromise. He decided to call his son Muḥammad Maradona!

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What’s Wrong With the World Cup?

I understand; you need to be a soccer fan in order to understand the emotional and psychological situation of other soccer addicts. However, sickness remains as such and must be cured, or we should prepare to bear its future implications. When such implications erupt, the entire Ummah will be affected.

 وَٱتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لاَّ تُصِيبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنكُمْ خَآصَّةً، وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ

And beware of fitnah (an affliction), for it will not singularly strike those among you who have done wrong. And know that Allāh is severe in punishment.” [Surah al-Anfāl, 8:25].

No matter what the excitement one attains from watching a soccer match can be, performing Fajr or any other prayer is more exciting. Additionally, the excitement attained from such an entertainment can be a curse, whereby the excitement of ʿibadah is rewarding and ensures comfort and tranquility.

The entire Muslim Egypt lost their mind, and gave up hope, when they failed to qualify for World Cup, to the effect that, a son has killed his father. Compared to that grievance, how many Egyptians were angered by the killing and burning of more than 4,000 fellow Muslim Egyptian brothers and sisters who were killed while praying, in the hands of the Egyptian Army and Police?

Isn’t it pity that we have reached to a state when brothers in faith can boycott each other for weeks, months or even years, over a debate or an argument about a non-Muslim soccer player? I know some Muslims, who, as long as they talk to someone, they will talk football. Significant number of us will spend their time after Fajr prayers to debate and read about footballers and the World Cup, instead of morning and evening Azkar which the Prophet has emphasized.

What contribution does it make to the Muslim individual, the Muslim family, the Muslim community or the Muslim Ummah at large when we stay awake all night, just to watch Christiano Ronaldo, Messi, Drogba, Rooney, Cavani, Marchisio, Sargio Ramos, Sneijder and the other “hot” players in action, and fail to wake up for Fajr, or pray our Fajr with semi consciousness. Forget about Qiyāmullail!

This is the situation of those of us who watch the tournament virtually via TV or the Internet. As for those on the ground, where the game is hosted and played, you can imagine all kinds of immorality taking place. Prostitution and fornication are at their peak. Gambling and drugs become legal. I’m sorry; I can’t show you images from Brazil regarding this. But there are. Indeed, it’s called entertainment.

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Entertainment in Islam

Entertainment is fun, and we are naturally attracted to it. Plus, this life is full of hardships to be able to make it without fun and entertainment. For that reason having fun is allowed in Islam, but with some conditions. In fact, the Prophet, ṣallā Allāhu ʿalaihi wa sallam, did encourage us to take some time, for short respites, or else the hearts get bored.

Many of us who are immersed in football would claim it’s for sports and entertainment purpose. Entertainment that is for a short period for the purpose of relief is encouraged in Islam. But entertainment that takes you away from your Lord and productivity is not worth embracing. In fact, any entertainment that invites the displeasure and wrath of Allāh is forbidden.

Allāh illustrates for us this life and the entertainment that takes place in it, and the pride and boast we take against each other, as a game and a passing of delight. He further gives an example of it as how a planter feels delighted with his plants after rains, as it grows Farmworkers become engrossed with such plants, that they think nothing can be as beautiful as their plants. As days pass by, these beautiful plants continue to grow, and then start to make seeds and fruits. It will thereafter start to turn yellow, and then start falling, to become useless, as if it wasn’t that beautiful looking plants, a few weeks ago.

These plants and the process they go through serve as an example of this world. No matter how beautiful you see it, a day and time will come, and you see it falling apart like any beautiful plant does. For that Allāh says in Sūrah al-Ḥadīd, 57:20:

اعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ، كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَامًا، وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ اللَّـهِ وَرِضْوَانٌ، وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ

“Take note that the life of this world is only a game and a passing delight, a show, and mutual boasting and trying to outrival each other in riches and children. It is like the growth of vegetation after the rain, which delights the planter, but which then weakens, turns yellow and becomes worthless rubbish. In the life to come there will be a terrible punishment, or Allāh’s forgiveness and approval: the life of this world is nothing but means of deception.”

The problem lies in the way we contest in entertainment (of all kinds). We boast against each other. We seek excitement in the wrong places. One would say, “then where and how to seek excitement righteously?” The answer lies in the immediate verse that follows the one above. It reads:

سَابِقُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّـهِ وَرُسُلِهِ، ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّـهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاءُ، وَاللَّـهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ

“Vie with one another for your Lord's forgiveness and for a Paradise as vast as heaven and earth, which has been made ready for those who believe in Allāh and His messengers. Such is Allāh’s grace. He bestows it upon whomever He pleases. There is no limit to Allāh’s bounty.” [Sūrah al-Ḥadīd, 57:21].

In this verse, Allāh encourages us to contest for the perfect thing in both worlds; His Forgiveness and Heaven. Thus, if we are to vie, let’s vie righteously. Let’s compete in righteous deeds. In deeds that will grant us happiness and at the same time, bring us closer to Allāh and His Pleasure.

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What Would be the Prophet’s Stance About World Cup?

I believe if soccer was introduced during the Prophet’s time, he would have played it, or at least, he wouldn’t have prevented his companions from playing it. However, I’m sure if the Prophet, ṣallā Allāhu ʿalaihi wa sallam, was to be among us today, he would not allow us to be in the World Cup and the Premier leagues considering the circumstance, in which they are played today.

Any form of entertainment that was allowed in the past, was allowed so we can use it as a mean of respite, and to refresh for better productivity as Muslims. The moment one becomes addicted to a sport and misses his prayers, as a result, and fails to fulfill his religious obligations and social responsibilities, he’s advised to review the effect of such sport on his relationship with his Creator and His religion and with the society. Let’s not forget that our primary mission in this life is to worship Allāh.

The world is all tuned to Brazil, but Muslims are being massacred, enslaved, and engaged in wars and conflicts. How can you find entertainment when the entire Muslim land is occupied and colonized? What excitement do we look for, from a World Cup tournament when Muslim children and women are enslaved, humiliated or killed in Palestine, Somalia, Central African Republic, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Myanmar, Libya, and elsewhere? What excitement can we attain out of cheering for the USA, England, Spain, Holland, and other Non-Muslim professional players at the time that immorality, prostitution, liquor, gambling are being promoted in the same arenas?

Are we the Ummah, which the Prophet described as a perfected built wall, which its bricks support one another to withstand? In a ḥadīth narrated by Abū Mūsa al-Ashʾarī, raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhu, the Prophet, ṣallā Allāhu ʿalaihi wa sallam said:

الْمُسْلِمُ لِلْمُسْلِمِ كَالْبُنْيَانِ يَشُدُّ بَعْضُهُ بَعْضًا

“A Muslim to another Muslim is like [the bricks of] a building, they hold and strengthen one another.”

The Prophet, ṣallā Allāhu ʿalaihi wa sallam, also said in a ḥadīth narrated by Al-Nuʿmān ibn Bashīr, raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhu, and authenticated by Imām al-Bukhāriī and Muslim:

مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي تَوَادِّهِمْ وَتَرَاحُمِهِمْ وَتَعَاطُفِهِمْ مَثَلُ الْجَسَدِ إذَا اشْتَكَى شَيْئًا تَدَاعَى لَهُ سَائِرُ الْجَسَدِ بِالسَّهَرِ وَالْحُمَّى

“The example of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.”

So long as we cherish the World Cups, Premier leagues and the various tournaments out there, the way they are, we will not be able to advise our young ones to refrain from having tattoos on their bodies. How can we, when our heroes in football are all full of tattoos?

Additionally, Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull were the stars of the opening ceremony of the World Cup 2014. To tell you the truth, I do not know who they are. However, if I had watched it, based on the images I’ve seen, I would be ashamed to watch those with my daughter. If what I’m saying sounds extreme, please just google “World Cup 2014 opening ceremony in pictures.” Now tell me, would the Prophet send a team from the Muslim nation to such an event? Would he host such an even in the Muslim nation? We have the choice, whether to follow the Prophet, or to follow our desires. But:

قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّـهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّـهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ، وَاللَّـهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ * قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللَّـهَ وَالرَّسُولَ، فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ

“Say [O Muḥammad], “If you love Allāh, then, follow me, and Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. Allāh is most Forgiving, and most Merciful.” Say [O Muḥammad], “Obey Allāh and the Messenger.” But if they turn away, then indeed, Allāh does not like the disbelievers.” [Sūrah ʾĀli ʿImrān, 3:31].

The Prophet didn’t and wouldn’t prohibit games, so long as it helps you keep fit and readies you to serve and defend your religion as a productive Muslim. But, I’m certain the Prophet, ṣallā Allāhu ʿalaihi wa sallam, wouldn’t approve us going and wasting our time on the World Cup arena, the way it is, with naked women, and with promotion of prostitution, wine and gambling taking place in front of everyone.

Someone, whose objective in this life is to live it to its fullest, and not to care about what happens in the next, can choose to make entertainment his ultimate purpose in life. But, someone who has the next life in mind shouldn’t compete with the former in entertainment.

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The Impact of World Cup on the Future of the Ummah

Many people see the World Cup as a platform for harmony. Islam promotes social, racial and religious harmony. Such harmony should be genuine, and not motivated by political agendas. There should be no hypocrisy in the process. Harmony means to accommodate the other person, his beliefs, his choices of life, without compromising on the principles of our religion and beliefs, and without engaging in wrongdoings. Harmony doesn’t mean to follow and accept blindly. If Muslims have chosen to live the reverse meaning of harmony, I’m afraid; we’ve chosen to be what the Prophet, ṣalla Allāhu ʾalaihi wa sallam, said in a Hadīth narrated by Abu Saʾīd al-Khudrī, and authenticated by Imām al-Bukhārī and Imām Muslim:

لَتَتَّبِعُنَّ سُنَنَ مَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ شِبْراً بِشِبْرٍ، وَذِرَاعاً بِذِرَاعٍ، حَتَّى لَوْ سَلَكُوا جُحْرَ ضَبٍّ لَسَلَكْتُمُوهُ. قُلْنَا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، اليَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى؟ قَالَ: فَمَنْ؟

“You will surely follow in the ways of those before you, span by span and cubit by cubit, so much so that if they were to enter an iguana's hole, you would follow after them.” We said, “Yā Rasūlallāh! Do you mean the Jews and the Christians?” He replied, “Then, who else?”

In an In another hadīth of Imām al-Tirmidhī, narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr, the Prophet, ṣallā Allāhu ʿalaihi wa sallam, further said, “If there was a person among them who went unto his mother publicly, there will also appear some in my Ummah who will do the same.”

In other words, if football was played during the time of the Prophet, and the Jews and Christians came, later, and invented a different game other than football, we would have embraced it more than we embrace and celebrate football today. To that effect, some Muslims are ashamed to be seen as Muslims. They are afraid to say something that displeases their fellow human beings who are also creatures of Allāh. Some even change their names, and alternate them with names that sound like non-Muslims.

It’s no wonder that, some Muslims can now publicly come to out to promote homosexuality, simply because non-Muslims are doing it.

The Prophet, ṣallā Allāhu ʿalaihi wa sallam, says in a ḥadīth reported by Imām al-Tirmidhī from the narration of Ḥudhaifah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu:

لا تَكُونُوا إِمَّعَةً؛ تَقُولُونَ: إِنْ أَحْسَنَ النَّاسُ أَحْسَنَّا، وَإِنْ ظَلَمُوا ظَلَمْنَا. وَلَكِنْ وَطِّنُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ؛ إِنْ أَحْسَنَ النَّاسُ أَنْ تُحْسِنُوا، وَإِنْ أَسَاءُوا فَلا تَظْلِمُوا

“Don’t be a blind followers (‘yes-men', who say, “If people do good, we too would do good. And if they are wrong, we too would do wrong.” Instead, free your selves (make up your own minds); if people do good, so should you, and if they do evil, you should avoid behaving unjustly.”

If the ḥadīth above is understood and is to be acted upon, we will no longer have excuse that we are doing the wrong things because everyone is doing them. In addition to our responsibility for our deeds, we are also responsible for setting good example for the next generation of Muslims to come.

Today, we have football fanatics, who know every single professional footballer by name, his nationality, place of birth, family background, his girlfriend’s name, how he became a footballer and more, but cannot recall more than 10 (first) names of the companions of the Prophet. Who are our role models?

Instead of encouraging our children into everything about the World Cup, it’s wise to encourage them to match every name of a football player with a name of a companion of the Prophet Muḥammad, ṣallā Allāhu ʿalaihi wa sallam.

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Muslims, Look Around You!

The reality is, Islam and Muslims are attacked every moment. Only the one who does not live the true Islam will deny this reality. In fact, Islam and true Muslims are attacked in Muslim countries more than elsewhere. The Muslim is attacked when he is denied the right to go for his prayers even if it’s during lunch hour. The Muslim is attacked when she is denied a deserving job post due to her headscarf. The Muslim is attacked whenever he’s labeled as a “terrorist” for the same wrongdoing, which others do and are treated differently. Muslims are attacked when the name a father chooses for his child is tampered with during registration and documentation. Muslims are attacked when their real figures (in population) are misrepresented.

Despite all this, we can still embrace World Cup as if it was invented; a gift from our ancestors to the worlds? With this attitude, we want to produce a generation equal to the generation that made Ṣalāḥuddīn al-Ayyūbī or better?

If the generation of Ṣalāḥuddīn went for World Cup, they would have never gained a victory over the enemy and regained al-Quds.  Ṣallāhuddīn al-Ayyūbī refused to smile, while al-Quds was still under the occupation of the Crusaders, at his time! If Ṣalāḥuddīn were one of the Muslim leaders today, I wonder how he would react to the World Cup tournament.

Not everyone among us can be Ṣalāhḥuddīn. But each one of us needs to groom himself, spiritually, like those in the time of Ṣalāḥuddīn (if not the time of the Prophet), in order for Ṣalāḥuddin of our time to emerge.

As a matter of fact, we lost Andalus, when the Ummah started to engross in entertainment and the temporal materials of the world.

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Conclusion

The World Cup and other conspiring tactics will never have any impact on Islam as a religion, because Allāh has promised to protect His religion. The World Cup however has a significant negative impact on Muslims, especially the next generation to come. In other words, Islam is set to conquer, whether you and I care about it or not. But you and I need Islam to have identity in life, and salvation in the next life.

If Muslims today, are to be enthusiasts about their religion close to the level of their devotion towards soccer (and entertainment in general), our status, as an Ummah, will change miraculously. If Muslims today, are to be saddened for the invasion of Muslim lands and minds, close to the level of their sadness when their favourite soccer teams or countries lose matches, I’m sure we will be in a better position.

With us or without us, Islam will stand still. But without Islam, we rise to our fall.

We all know that prayer (ṣalāh) is an obligation upon every matured Muslim. But there are times that praying can be haram. Marriage is necessary for the continuity of mankind. But sometimes, marriage can be haram on some people. We need to eat, and must eat in order to continue our journey in this life. But eating can be haram in some circumstances. Football is not haram, but becomes haram if it’s played in a circumstance full of disobedience or when it’s played in disobedient manner. The World Cup tournament may be good for others and seems to be fulfilling their needs of entertainment. But the World Cup tournament is distancing us, Muslims, from our objectives and purpose in life. The World Cup tournament poses a great danger to our generation to come.

If you’ve read to this point, you have to right to agree or disagree with my opinions. Please, don’t just disagree because you are a soccer fanatic. But do so, because what I opine contradicts with the basic principles of Islam. I welcome your comments and feedback.

Allāh knows best
Allahu Hafiz 🙂

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