Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Sahib (RA)
Our condition as an Ummah is such that we have lost our direction and we have forgotten our purpose being in this world. In addition to the various fitan plaguing the Ummah, the sports scene – with its national and international matches, tournaments, cups, etc. – is also a severe fitnah. It is a diversion and a cause of ghaflat (heedlessness). And this ghaflat is 'the hen that lays the eggs of all sins'.
One brother said to me: “Maulana, you mentioned that you made Dua that the Saudi soccer team must lose. Should we not support our brothers?”
How the mindset of the Muslim has changed! If Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam were to be present, amongst us, in these times, and he is informed of the Muslim teams going around the world to play football; their dressing which exposes their thighs, the entertainment, music, photography, the women attending, who are immodestly dressed, the drinking and other Haraam which will be rife at those venues; the sponsorships by those fully involved in Haraam – manufacturers of liquor, banks and other Haraam establishments …would Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam have said: Support your national team! ? …Na-uzu Billah.
Would he be happy with this? And would he be pleased that the Ummah considers this kind of 'win' a great victory? Is this what we have been sent for… to win soccer matches and other games? We have lost sight of the true victory!
The Sahaba-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum) saw their victory in Jihad and in Shahadah (martyrdom). ...In the tragic expedition of Bir-Ma’unah, when Hazrat Haram ibn Milhan (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was martyred, he uttered: “By the Lord of the Ka’bah! I have won!” – He achieved such a goal!
Nabi Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam’s Duas and sympathy are with those who are following Deen and obeying him. Are we not instructed in the Qur’aan Shareef: “Follow me…”?
“Say (O Muhammad Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam): ‘If you really love Allah, then follow me, and Allah shall love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.”
[Surah Aal-Imraan 3 : 31]
We also went through the high school route. In our young days, we played cricket and other sport … and we would follow the newspaper scores and commentary over the radio. There were no televisions at that time. Now, when I look back, I think: What an absolute waste of time… listening to the commentary of a few people chasing a ball from one end to the other! What did we gain? …Nothing.
These thoughts … that we should be supporting our brothers who are participating in the world cup … are from shaytaan. We are to support each other in Deen; in what will draw us closer to Allah Ta’ala and what will be a means of the victory of Allah Ta’ala’s Pleasure and Jannah.
“...Help one another in goodness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and aggression; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is severe in requiting (evil)."
[Surah Al-Maa’idah 5 : 2]
Let us seriously reflect over our condition, make sincere Taubah and get our priorities in order. Time is running out. …We fail to understand that we are leaving this world, that our death is fast approaching, and that Qiyamah is before us. Every moment is delivering us to our grave. Every passing second our life is closing in on us. It is all coming to an end, but we are heedless and unmindful. In watching and following the world cup, we forget the cup of death. We will have to drink of that cup.
Allah Ta’ala mentions in Surah Al-Ambiyaa:
‘Closer and closer to mankind comes their reckoning: yet they heed not and they turn away.’
[Surah Ambiyaa 21 : 1]
May Allah Ta’ala guide us and give us the correct understanding of the purpose of this worldly life.
