World Cup – A Means To Spread Islam?

Question: Please comment on the World Cup which is taking place in Qatar. The following are some of the points I have been made aware of through which Muslims are getting trapped into viewing the World Cup as a means of propagating Islam, Dawah, etc.:

1. Quran Sharief was read in the opening ceremony.
2. No alcohol is allowed at the stadiums.
3. No LGBTQ related beliefs and support allowed at the stadiums.
4. Approximately 600 people embraced Islam thus far.
5. Etc.

Answer: Shaitaan is the manager of ALL world cups of all variants – not only the 2022 FIFA world cup in Qatar. Shaitaan is also the manager of ALL Kuffar sports of all sorts, even the ones played at ‘Muslim’ schools. Shaitaan is the ‘mastermind’ behind the entire sports industry. Through sports, he has achieved his goal of causing people to lose their Imaan! This is when sport lunatics and fanatics take their heroes (zeroes, in reality) as role models, gods, idols and even as a religion. We have heard of Muslim sport supporters passing away while chanting away the names of sport heroes, calling them their idols and gods before breathing their last!

Innaa-lillaahi-wa-innaa-ilaihi-raaji’oon!

One will not fail to conclude that sports of all sorts remains Haraam merely by applying ones mind. Much Haraam is associated to sports and world cups ‘behind the scenes’! Match fixing, gambling, alcohol, suicide, rioting, etc. are all part and parcel of the poisonous spew of Shaitaan called SPORTS. Remember the following Mubaarak Words of our beloved Rasool (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam), “Every sport of a Mu’min is Baatil…”

Regarding the points you have mentioned, the following are our comments:

1. Just like the Qur’an Majeed cannot be read at the opening of a Haraam liquor-den (tavern, pub, bar), or at the opening ceremony of a casino, so too is it Haraam to read Allah’s Kalaam at a Haraam soccer world cup stadium in which nudity, music, hooliganism, etc. is the call of the venue. Banning a thing or two (alcohol, LGBTQ) at the stadiums doesn’t make the sporting event ‘Islamic’, nor does it give justification for the recitation of Allah’s Pure Kalaam where Kuffaar gather, where nude women behave in contrast to the Qur’an Majeed’s Demands regarding women, and where music blares.
2. For a Muslim and a ‘Muslim’ country, alcohol is not allowed in one’s entire life. Banning alcohol at the world cup stadiums and thereby getting impressed as to how the laws have been made that conform to the ‘Islamic culture’ of the hosting country is not a cause for any joy. Yes, had the ‘Muslim’ country refused the hosting of the entire event of Shaitaan – the world cup – in the first place, that could have been a cause for some hope, more than joy. This is because by refusing to host Shaitaan’s cup (the world cup), one may hope it to be a stepping stone for other Shaitaaniyat to be driven out of such a country. Merely hosting a world cup by a ‘Muslim’ country opens the doors of alcohol to be brought into such a country. Whereas, a correct and proper Islamic country would demand NO alcohol to be allowed in the country, forget just outwardly ‘banning’ alcohol at Haraam stadiums. Rather, a proper Islamic country would not even have allowed to host the Haraam FIFA world cup in the first place!
3. LGBTQ with whatever and however many more queer alphabets and queer meanings it may have, is forbidden and branded as Haraam in the Qur’an Majeed. The entire episode of the people of Nabi Loot (Alaihis salaam) underlines the gravity of this LGBTQ movement. Doom and Hell awaits such inhumane activities and beliefs. There is not supposed to be any joy when the hosting country called for restricting the LGBTQ movement during the world cup period. This is a basic Imaani aspect. The conclusion of point number 2 is fully applicable here as well.
4. Even if a million people have accepted Islam, but the means for this was via Haraam means, then this holds not much weight! Our recent Akaabireen, the likes of Allaamah Yusuf Binnoori (Rahmatullahi alaih) was totally against TV and photography – unfortunately, some of the students of Hazrat today have casted a deaf ear to this stance and Fatwa of Hazrat and are gone ‘to town’ with their videos taken in the name of ‘Deen’! During one of the final Bayaans of Hazrat, which was so touching and heartrending, the people commented that if such a wonderful Bayaan was broadcasted on TV, many more people would have benefitted. To this Hazrat replied that by one person accepting our message which we deliver in a Halaal way is far better than many more accepting our message which was done through impermissible and Haraam means. This is the answer to this hype made of counting the numbers of how many have embraced Islam due to the hosting country’s efforts, etc. A person who is really sincere in accepting Islam and looking for the Straight Path will definitely be guided by Allah Ta’ala. He will be guided towards a Masjid, or to an Aalim, who will then help him become a proper, correct and Baa-Amal (practicing) Muslim and Mu’min, Insha Allah.

In summary, the entire world cup is actually amongst Shaitaan’s deceptive tricks and baits to lure us into becoming his ardent followers. While people are making a noise of the ‘good’ that has come out from the world cup, why have they casted a blind eye and a deaf ear to the wrongs and evils through the Haraam world cup?

The following should be questions we must ask:

1. Have the Masaajid become emptier or fuller since the start of the world cup?
2. What is the roll of Musallis in the Masjid Esha time and Fajr time?
3. What is the roll of Musallis for Salaah with Jamaat in the Masjid during the times the soccer matches are played?
4. Have Muslims increased their daily Tilaawat and Zikr since the start of the world cup, or have catching up with scores, matches and stats become the new ‘Tilaawat’ and ‘Zikr’ of sports-Muslims?
5. Have Muslims become more conscious of dressing in the fashion of the Sunnah of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam), or has the silly fashion, kits, logos, hairstyles, etc. of soccer players become the new ‘talk of the town’?
6. Have Muslims fallen even deeper into the major sin of photography/videography by watching matches on various channels such as TV, internet streaming, etc.?
7. Have Muslims become more alert and attentive, and have paid more respect to the Azaan by replying and reading the Masnoon Du’a after Azaan and by physically responding to the Azaan by proceeding on time to the Masjid (for men), or have the Azaan fallen on deaf ears since the attention of the ears are directed to scores, matches, etc.?
8. Have the roll of the Masbooqeen (late-comers for Jamaat by missing Rakaat/s) increased due to those Muslims who do come for Salaah, but are coming late for Jamaat Salaah by missing a Rakaat or two due to completing the following or watching of the game. As it is, daily, prior to the Haraam world cup, there were and are late-comers to the Masjid for Salaah. Some of them are the ‘anchor late-comers’ just like how one has ‘anchor tenants’ letting (renting) premises and properties. Now, due to the curse of the world cup, the roll of late-comers have increased significantly, or decreased?