Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Sahib (RA)
In Surah Mu’minoon, Allah Ta’ala presents an outstanding quality of the Believers:
“…who keep themselves away from vain things …”
All those actions and all those activities that are vain, futile and useless, are not the occupation of a Mu’min, of a true Believer. The Muslim understands that those futile actions will not help him in anyway – not in this world, not in the Aakhirah, not in the Qabr - not spiritually, physically, mentally or economically. There is absolutely no benefit. It is unquestionably completely futile and useless.
If the person is a Believer, he avoids and shuns deeds, actions and talk which are vain, pointless and fruitless. He does not engage in them. He does not spend hours upon hours upon hours wasting away his life in them – for he knows and he understands that life is a very precious and valuable commodity. ...The world cup and other sports events also fall in this category of being absolutely futile.
No one has the luxury of time and time is not to be wasted. There is so much to do in the little life that we have. There are preparations that need to be made and provisions that need to be accumulated for the long journey ahead. If we get caught up in all the different entertainments and sporting events that are laid out – how much will that valuable time be then squandered and wasted?
In Surah Al-Asr, Allah Ta’ala informs us that man is a loser if he does not spend his time, fulfilling the objective of his creation. Four qualities are highlighted, which if a person has, he will be excluded from the category of the losers and will be included in the category of the successful ones, Insha-Allah:
§ Imaan,
§ Good deeds,
§ Encouraging one another to do good and
§ Towards observing patience.
No one wants to be a loser, but in the light of the Qur’aan Shareef, let us assess which category we fall in. …What will we earn of Deen and Aakhirah in all this time spent in these sporting events? …Besides these sporting events being futile, they entail a great wastage of two valued commodities – wealth and time. Money is spent and time is wasted. Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam informed us:
‘[On the Day of Judgment], the feet of a person will not move until he is asked regarding:
(1) His life; how did he spend it,
(2) His knowledge; how did he act upon it,
(3) His wealth; how did he acquire it
(4) How did he spend his wealth
(5) His body, how did he use it.’[1]
People are spending hours and hours – in watching and talking about sport; eating and drinking and screaming at the stadiums. Even Salaah is contaminated with sports. …We have brought that pollution into the Masjid, with our talk about sport matches and sports players. We polluted our lives, our hearts, our homes and now, even the Masjid. We do not even sense the displeasure of Allah Ta’ala in our hearts. This shows the weak condition of our hearts – if we cannot even sense darkness in it.
Don’t look at what people are doing, and don’t argue and fight with others. So many are listing the “benefits” and “virtues” of the World Cup. …Allah Ta’ala’s Shaan is sometimes Jalaali, sometimes Jamaali. We don’t know which Shaan of Allah Ta’ala is focused when. Therefore, we have to be very, very careful and cautious.
…The soccer player understands that if he breaks the rules, a yellow card will be issued. The yellow card is a serious warning and the player knows he will have to be more cautious and abide by the rules. If not, and he continues with foul play or foul language, the red card will be issued. He will then have to immediately leave the field and will be suspended from playing further.
This is for a mere sport – something which is insignificant and completely irrelevant in the true picture of life! A Mu’min should understand that Allah Ta’ala gives us warnings in various ways and makes decisions according to our actions. At times, our sins bring upon us different punishments, and at times, those sins are such of a nature that can take the person out of Deen. The person leaves Deen because he kept breaking the rules and did not care to rectify his actions. He had no remorse, no regret, no concern for the consequences and penalties.
This is my message: Don’t think that it cannot be avoided. We avoid so many other things. Why can we not avoid this? Look at the restlessness that these sports events bring - for the whole month. May Allah Ta’ala save me, save you and protect the Ummah at large.
Sukoon-e-Dil (tranquility of the heart) will only be acquired in remembering Allah Ta’ala, fulfilling His Ahkaam and following the way of Nabi Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. …This is the route of true success. These are the goals of the Believer! Strive to be a top goal scorer in Deen! Aim for the highest goals: The pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and Jannah!
May Allah Ta’ala guide us and give us the Taufeeq of practising on His Commandments.
[1] Tirmidhi
