Sermon's Title: The World Cup - The Full Picture
Themes of the Sermon:
1- Considering Outcomes in Islamic Jurisprudence
2- The Reality of the World Cup and its Associated Harms
3- Means Carry the Same Judgments as Their Intended Ends
All praise is due to Allah, Who has honored us with Islam, dignified us with faith, and made us the best nation brought forth for mankind. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without any partner, and I bear witness that Muḥammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah send upon him abundant peace and blessings.
To proceed: Fear Allah, servants of Allah, as He ought to be feared, and be mindful of Him both in secret and in public.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
“O you who believe, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].” [Sūrat Āl ʿImrān: 102].
Servants of Allah:
The Prophet ﷺ once passed by a group of people from the tribe of Aslam who were competing in archery. The Prophet ﷺ said to them, “Shoot, O children of Ismāʿīl, for your father was an archer. Shoot, and I am with such-and-such team.” Upon hearing this, one of the two teams stopped shooting. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, “Why are you not shooting?” They replied, “How can we shoot while you are with them?” The Prophet ﷺ then said, “Shoot; for I am with all of you.” (Narrated by al-Bukhārī).
This is a beautiful image that reflects the tolerance and ease of Islam. Human souls naturally experience periods of high motivation and periods of fatigue. For this reason, Islamic law permitted permissible recreation to rejuvenate the soul, making it more energetic in performing acts of worship and enduring the hardships of life.
Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: "While the Abyssinians were playing with their spears in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ, ʿUmar entered. He reached for some pebbles and threw them at them [to stop them]. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Leave them, O ʿUmar.” (Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim).
Servants of Allah:
These days, the events of the FIFA World Cup are taking place, with forty-eight teams participating, including Arab and Muslim teams. The matches are being broadcast, and hundreds of millions of people are gathered around, watching and cheering. How should a Muslim view these events through the lens of Islamic law?
Indeed, part of the greatness of our religion is that it came to bring benefit to people and ward off harm from them. Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, has not commanded us to do anything except that it contains good for us, nor has He forbidden us from anything except that it contains harm for us. A wise Muslim does not rush to judge matters solely by their outward appearance; rather, he looks at their long-term consequences and outcomes, whether good or bad.
Our scholars have taught us a great principle: that actions are always judged by their outcomes. An action may appear good on the surface, but if it ultimately leads to a greater evil, Islamic law prohibits us from it. The reverse is also true; we may endure a minor harm today to prevent a major catastrophe tomorrow. A believer always looks at the full picture and considers where matters will ultimately lead.
Servants of Allah:
Anyone who looks at these global events centered around this game today realizes that the matter runs deeper and is far greater than a few teams competing in a sport. Rather, it is an entire integrated system run by international institutions, sponsors, partners, and financial backers. Billions of dollars are generated and managed, involving broadcasting rights, advertising agencies, promotion, and commercialization. It is an economic and ideological event through which identities are imposed and systematic normalization is conducted.
We are not just looking at a mere sport that benefits the players, or a competition that brings joy to people. Instead, we are looking at an industry designed to distract people from the very purpose for which Allah created mankind—which is to establish servitude to Allah the Almighty, as He says:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” [Sūrat adh-Dhāriyāt: 56]
The baseline in a Muslim's life is to live for their Lord, remaining steadfast in His obedience and performing righteous deeds. Recreation and play are the exception, not the rule. For this reason, Islam prohibited competitions involving monetary prizes or stakes except in horse racing, camel racing, and archery, due to their direct role in strengthening the Muslims. The Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no prize money except in archery, camel racing, or horse racing.” (Narrated by Abū Dāwūd).
As for other permissible sports, Islamic law permitted them but strictly prohibited taking financial rewards for them, so that people would not turn them into a profession and a primary source of income, thereby distracting themselves from their religious and worldly responsibilities.
Compare that baseline with our current reality, where international clubs and professional contracts involve millions of dollars, to the point that the ultimate dream of many parents is for their child to become a professional athlete to enjoy a glamorous future.
We are facing an industry that manufactures false role models whose greatest skill is kicking and catching a ball. The spotlight is shone upon them, and their news is broadcast morning and evening. They receive wealth and fame, and their pictures fill the streets, until insignificant individuals are elevated to prominent public figures. The Prophet ﷺ spoke the truth when he said: “The time is near when the most influential person in the world will be Lukaʿ ibn Lukaʿ (the vile son of a vile person).” (Narrated by Aḥmad).
The term al-lukaʿ refers to anyone who is low, contemptible, foolish, and of no benefit. As time spins around, such people become the most fortunate and celebrated in worldly life.
Furthermore, we are witnessing a normalization of vices and evils. These events are sponsored by global corporations that pay hundreds of millions to gain marketing and exposure. These include international ribā-based (usurious) banks and major alcohol companies that broadcast their advertisements and display their logos. The matter does not stop there; there is also the active promotion of deviance and homosexuality, where their flags and banners are raised, and team captains wear their armbands—announcing to the world that this is acceptable and globally recognized.
Where is the Muslim's protective jealousy (ghayrah) for their religion when they witness such things without any disapproval, while Allah the Almighty says:
كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ
“You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.” [Sūrat Āl ʿImrān: 110]
We are facing a total eclipse of the firmest handhold of faith, about which the Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, the firmest handhold of faith is that you love for the sake of Allah and hate for the sake of Allah.” (Narrated by Aḥmad).
A single glance at hundreds of millions of football fans reveals deep affection, belonging, fanaticism, imitation, and pride directed toward teams, clubs, and players who do not profess Islam. In fact, some may wear crosses, worship idols, or support those who aggress against Muslim lands. Where then is the concept of loyalty and disavowal (al-walāʾ wa-al-barāʾ) that Allah commanded us with, saying:
لَا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ يُوَادُّونَ مَنْ حَادَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانُوا آبَاءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَانَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ أُولَئِكَ كَتَبَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْإِيمَانَ وَأَيَّدَهُمْ بِرُوحٍ مِنْهُ وَيُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ أُولَئِكَ حِزْبُ اللَّهِ أَلَا إِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
“You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred. Those - He has decreed within their hearts faith and supported them with a spirit from Him. And He will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him - those are the party of Allah. Unquestionably, the party of Allah - they are the successful.” [Sūrat al-Mujādilah: 22].
Indeed, tribalism and fanaticism (al-ʿaṣabiyyah) for anything other than Islam and its people are among the evils that the Prophet ﷺ strictly forbade. This was evident when it reached him that a man from the Emigrants (al-Muhājirūn) called out, "O Emigrants!" and a man from the Helpers (al-Anṣār) called out, "O Helpers!"—both appealing to tribal loyalty. The Prophet ﷺ said: “What is this call of the days of ignorance (al-jāhiliyyah)? Leave it, for it is foul.” (Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim).
If such tribalism between righteous companions is considered foul, then what can be said about the fanaticism, boycotting, hostility, and name-calling that occurs today for the sake of these teams and clubs?
Servants of Allah:
Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed ten categories of people regarding alcohol: the one who presses it, the one for whom it is pressed, the one who drinks it, the one who carries it, the one to whom it is carried, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who consumes its price, the one who purchases it, and the one for whom it is purchased.”
Allah only prohibited the drinking of alcohol itself, yet the Prophet ﷺ cursed ten categories regarding it, because every single one of them serves as a means that leads to alcohol reaching the drinker. Allah says:
وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ
“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.” [Sūrat al-Māʾidah: 2].
It is an established rule among scholars that if an action inevitably serves as a means to a prohibition, then that action itself becomes prohibited. Scholars have explicitly stated the prohibition of selling grapes to someone known to be using them to manufacture wine. From the aforementioned harms of these global tournaments, it becomes clear that there is a vast difference between a Muslim exercising by playing ball without neglecting any obligatory duty, and this current paradigm, which is orchestrated by global institutions and entities with clear ideological, economic, and social agendas.
May Allah bless me and you in the Great Qur’ān, and benefit me and you with the verses and wise reminders it contains. I seek forgiveness from Allah for me and for you, so seek His forgiveness; indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
The Second Sermon:
All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his companions, and those who follow him. To proceed:
Servants of Allah:
The avenues of corruption targeting Muslim youth today are numerous. Allah the Almighty described our enemies in His Book, saying:
لَا يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالًا
“They will not spare you [any] ruin.” [Sūrat Āl ʿImrān: 118].
This means they spare no effort in causing you harm and corruption. Anyone who reflects on their ideological plans and media programs will see how they cause corruption on earth through every possible avenue, using entertainment and play as a ladder to achieve whatever they can of that goal.
Allah the Almighty has coupled two distinct characteristics when describing the enemies of Islam in several places in the Qur’ān: engaging in falsehood with baseless doubts, and being completely heedless through entertainment and play. As He the Almighty says:
الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي خَوْضٍ يَلْعَبُونَ
“Who are in [empty] discourse amusing themselves.” [Sūrat aṭ-Ṭūr: 12].
And He says:
بَلْ هُمْ فِي شَكٍّ يَلْعَبُونَ
“But they are in doubt, amusing themselves.” [Sūrat adh-Dukhān: 9].
They continuously blend these two elements by every means. That is why we see many deviations presented today in the guise of entertainment—which may have a permissible basis, but has been deliberately merged with various elements that are by no means permissible.
The glory of Islam is only built by men who align the compass of their lives toward what pleases Allah, and by youth who set their goals clearly upon what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ planted for them. They use permissible sports as a way to unwind and rejuvenate the mind, or to gain physical strength to fulfill Allah's purpose, not to be distracted from it. They realize the responsibilities upon them, so no form of distraction diverts them away.
You have been prepared for a matter of great stature, if you would only realize it,
So guard yourself against grazing with the neglected, wandering herds.
O Allah, show us the truth as truth and grant us the capacity to follow it, and show us falsehood as falsehood and grant us the capacity to avoid it, and do not let it become confusing for us lest we go astray.
O Allah, grant safety to our homelands, rectify our leaders and those in authority over us, and place our leadership under those who fear You, are mindful of You, and seek Your pleasure.
O Allah, be with our oppressed brothers in Gaza and everywhere, and decree for them a near victory and relief.
Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
