Bismillahir
Rahmaanir Raheem
THE FITNAH OF WORLD CUP AND OTHER SPORTING EVENTS
…FLEE TO ALLAH TA’ALA!
We all know that there are certain snakes and
scorpions which are extremely dangerous, and when they attack, their venom or
sting causes great harm and can even lead to death. Lions, cheetahs and other
wild animals attack, maim and kill. However, their harm is on the physical body
– and the physical body must inevitably die.
Then we have the
snakes and scorpions and the wild animals that attack the soul and they attack
the Imaan of the person. They sometimes maim and even kill the person’s Imaan
and spirituality.
There is no doubt that the environment is a jungle of
Fitnah and Fasaad : It is extremely dangerous, with its vicious Fitnahs.
And now we find
ourselves in a period of time where we also have the missiles of Fitnah
targeting the Imaan of the Muslims and bombs of Fitnah raining down upon the
Muslims.
For those who want to restrain themselves and please
Allah Ta’ala, these times are a real Jihaad because there are even those who
are outwardly Deendaar but who advocate, promote and support these
Fitnahs.
On the outside, there is Deen, there is the garb of
the pious – but the person is caught up in the same Fitnahs. So many watch on
the television or go to those places… Young children have written or wives have
written that the fathers or husbands, who are otherwise so Deendaar, forego
their Salaah in Jamaat, or even their Salaah, because they are viewing the
World Cup or the Cricket or the Rugby or other sport on television. Inna
Lillahi wa inna ilayhi ra’jioon.
We all know that
the World Cup is a tsunami of Fitnahs – It is an International upsurge of sins.
What not takes place and happens at these events – and we lend ourselves to all
of these sins. There is so much of Haraam, which is as clear as daylight – but
we still justify our viewing and participation.
We should hang our
heads in shame if we are projecting the image of piety to the world, but are
obeying shaytaan in private. This is what is
termed as hypocrisy; Nifaaq. It is the currency of the time. The person has two
faces : A public face and a private face.
But we cannot
hide our true selves from Allah Ta’ala.
In regard to the soccer
matches, the young people will ask: “If we cannot attend and view the World Cup,
what do we do?”
We have to find
alternatives. There’s no other way.
We will not
say that everyone must sit down in the Masjid, read Qur’aan Sharief, read
Tasbeeh and do nothing else. …What is
necessary and crucial is that the person runs from those environments of sins. We
have to distance ourselves from venues of sins. We have to run towards Allah
Ta’ala:
“…So flee to
Allah…”
[Surah
Adh-Dhāriyāt 51 : 50]
No doubt, this is a Jihad for many. But if we have
love for Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), then we
would make every effort to restrain ourselves from sins, knowing that sins will
bring about a destruction of our Imaan and will displease Allah Ta’ala, and
cause hurt and grief to the sensitive heart of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam).
With this soccer mania and frenzy, where the majority are only talking
about the different teams and players and the goals
they scored, the condition of this team and that team. It is just soccer,
soccer, football, football – all the time. …What a waste
of precious time.
So here is a
young person, who was, at one time, addicted to the same. He is being encouraged to
join them. The person will feel pressurized. How is he going to restrain himself?
If he is
seeking Allah Ta’ala’s Pleasures, he will have to flee from that company
because it is temptation towards getting caught up in Fitnah. The person will have to make new friends –
friends who will take him to the Masjid, who will talk of good things, move in
the direction of good deeds.
So avoid the soccer company.
Talk, eat, drink – just don’t go to any home where people will be viewing
those soccer matches. If ten of them are sitting and watching …then they will
be dominant against one person.
They will be screaming and jumping and they will convince the person to
join in … watching a group of adult men run after a ball. Is this intelligence?
…Viewing adult men kicking a ball?
Stay away from the soccer supporters and addicts, otherwise they will
pull you in.
As that poet said:
“Last night, the
person went to advise those who were drinking in the bar,
but when he came
out, he had a wobble in his walk.”
Keep yourself occupied with the permissible and Mubaah…
Company is extremely
important. It is for these reasons that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “A person is on the Deen (way of life) of
his friend, so every one of you should look at who he befriends.”[1]
We need to be very, very
careful and very cautious regarding who we mix with and integrate with.
…If a huge
python is approaching us, and we can see it coming closer, will we remain where
we are, or will we look for the nearest exit? Will we admire skin of the snake and go
towards it, to touch and feel it?
In all those
venues of sins, where filthy films are screened, or people are dancing and
partying, drinking and committing other sins, if someone suddenly starts
screaming: “Fire! Fire!”, then is
everyone going to continue with the dance and the party and the sports? Or are
they going to dash for the doors and exits?
If someone
announces that there is a bomb in the area, in the vicinity and it has been
activated, will the person remain there to see whether it is true or not?
We are so careful and cautious about our physical health and well-being,
and the protection of our lives. There should also be caution and concern for
our Imaan – to a far greater extent.
…So in this regard also,
there is nothing better than to turn towards Allah Ta’ala and enjoy Sukoon (tranquillity)
in life.
In the midst
of Fitnah also, the person can enjoy Sukoon. Although so much Haraam is taking
place, all around, but the condition of the person will be like the waterproof
watch.
If a person
dives deep down in the ocean, that watch, which is water-proof, will not be
affected by the water, because water cannot enter that watch. Allah Ta’ala will
make the person’s heart like that. All
the madness and hubbub will not enter that heart, when that heart has been
placed in the protection of Allah Ta’ala.
In this same
football match, we can take some lesson. If the one side has scored two goals and
there is still ten minutes to go till the final whistle, those players won’t
relax. They won’t say: “We already have
two goals, why must we worry?” They say: “Ten minutes to go - we don’t know what will happen in the ten
minutes.”
In the ten
minutes, anything can happen. The opposition can score more goals.
If it is a major match,
of the kind that will be played in this World Cup - all teams are going to be
alert and sharp, and will protect their goal. Even if they have scored two or
three goals, but there are ten minutes to go, each team will go all-out until
the final whistle is blown.
In a similar vein, the Mu’min has to be alert and sharp. He keeps a check that nafs and shaytaan are not attacking his Imaan,
and he continues in the obedience of Allah Ta’ala, until the final whistle is
blown – so to say – until death comes.
“And serve you Lord, until
there comes unto you the hour that is Certain (i.e. Death).”
[Surah Al-Hijr 15 : 99 ]
Like how
those players protect their goal, so the Believer is the goalkeeper of his
heart and he protects his heart. He does not allow shaytaan to infiltrate or
gain the upper-hand, and this continues life-long.
Just a few
days of Mujahada – and really, it is a few days. All these storms will soon
pass – the days will fly. Thereafter, everything gets back to routine, and it
will be then that people will realise the restlessness, the blunders that they
have made, and the other kinds of problems they will then face.
And the
government will also realise what it has done, and how much was wasted. The
billions and billions that they could have used to build thousands of homes,
and done so much else.
So this is my
message: Don’t feel that it is an impossible to avoid. Don’t think: It cannot
be avoided.
It is not that difficult. We avoid so many other
things. Why can we not avoid this?
Look at the
restlessness that these events bring - for the whole thirty days or thirty five
days. May Allah Ta’ala
save me, save you and protect the Ummah at large.
…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.
Sometimes, a person believes: My Allah is extremely happy with me, because
He is giving me plentiful to eat, and drink, and wear, and travel around. I
have a good car, good home, and everything....But it could be Istidraaj –
It could be that Allah Ta’ala gives everything, and in the midst of all the
Haraam enjoyment, Allah Ta’ala seizes and punishes.
What will we earn of Deen and
Aakhirah in all this time spent in these sporting events, in hours and hours,
days and days watching men run after a ball - especially those, who will
shuttle from this end to that end, this province to that province, and this
stadium to that stadium? And after that, the discussions will centre around the
same thing - 24 hours of the day - the person will be engaging in absolute
futility.
‘Dunya’ is what makes the person forget Allah
Ta’ala and in that forgetfulness and heedlessness, he wastes his time and
chases after temporary pleasures.
Ghaflat
(heedlessness) is the hen that lays the eggs of sins.
Allah
Ta’ala has given everybody intellect, intelligence - put it to use.
When anyone is engaged in
uselessness and spends his hours and hours in this manner, it is a clear sign
that Allah Ta’ala’s gaze of Rahmat has been turned away from this person.
Now can that person then enjoy
peace of mind, contentment, satisfaction? Will he experience these blessings? Even
plentiful of wealth will bring nothing but restlessness. It will be like the
flood waters - which brings Bilharzia with it. Although the waters are
plentiful, it carries sickness.
When we talk about the evils,
we talk about it in general. We do not point a finger at any particular person,
nor do we say or believe that he is going to go to Jahannam, or he will suffer
the Azaab of Allah Ta’ala, because of whatever he does. We are not the Judge.
Allah Ta’ala is. We have no right to make such deductions. We do not know when
that person will make sincere Taubah from his sins, and become a Wali of Allah
Ta’ala.
“…Verily Allah loves
those who repent…”
[Surah Al-Baqarah 2 : 222]
Yes,
we can speak about general conditions and this is what we are doing, and we are
doing so to warn and caution and fulfil the duty of Amr bil Ma’roof and Nahy
anil Munkar.
In the Ahaadeeth, we find that
Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam) would say: “When people will do this…,” “When people
will engage in this…,” “when people will engage in
that…” - this will happen, that will happen, that will happen.
Of
course, we must look at our weaknesses too. Whilst trying to take care of the
spiritual needs of others, we must not forget our own spiritual needs.
So the message is this : Avoid the company that takes you away from
Allah Ta’ala; avoid the venues, and avoid the updates in the media and on
social networks, which will tempt you to join in. Flee from anything that opens
the door to Allah Ta’ala’s displeasure. Keep the company of those who will take
you closer to Allah Ta’ala and keep occupied in what is good and Mubaah
(permissible).
May Allah Ta’ala grant us
all the Taufeeq and understanding, and may Allah Ta’ala bless us with such love
for Him that we don’t move in the direction of His Displeasure – and we work
towards our meeting with Him.
[1] Abu Dawud / Tirmidhi
