title: Beware the Dangers of the Beautiful Game

Unless you have been asleep for the past couple of weeks, you can’t have missed the fact that the World Cup is now upon us! This football (or soccer) fest is a massive event worldwide, this year hosted in South Africa.

So begins the reverent watching, cheering, betting, the ups and downs, the anticipation, the excitement, the who-is-the-best speculations and unfortunately the disappointment which is inevitable for some. Here in the UK, everything has become World Cup themed – flags are flying from windows, cars and you can buy World-Cup baby clothes, shirts, sheets and just about anything you can think of.

Sport is something that is of course permitted in Islam and whether you call it soccer or football, its no exception. This sport started in Roman times, with soldiers kicking around a sheep’s stomach as a game. Nowadays it has evolved to national teams, local teams, color strips, stadiums, chants, celebrity status and avid fans. Typically a man’s sport, its now a family affair with everyone getting involved. It’s on the TV, the radio and in the newspapers. You can even buy football-themed food!

In some cases, this support for a particular team or player really takes hold. From following a game, getting excited at near-goals, breathing a sigh of relief at a defence or save , arguing the off-side rule and then jumping, shouting and cheering at victory or commiserating and wallowing in disappointment. This behavior may seem largely harmless but as Muslims there are 2 key things we need to be aware of in the next few weeks in particular: those of Nationalism and Idolism.

Nationalism is something that Islam doesn’t accept or support. Being enthusiastic about your heritage and loving your country of origin is one thing – but creating divides in the Ummah or raising your country above else is not permissible in Islam. We are Muslims first, joined together in a multi-colored Ummah without a need to put ourselves in groups beyond what is necessary. Enjoying your culture and supporting your national team is, as with all things in Islam, advised in moderation. That is we are Muslim first and we are British, American, Brazilian, Indian, French, Algerian, Pakistani or any nationality second. The World Cup is of course based on national teams so it is difficult to get caught up in this but nationalism is something we need to be wary of. Allah s.w.t tells us in the Qur’an that He made us in different tribes so that we may know one another (49:13) and this is the best way – knowing one another and not assigning ourselves so much to a nation that we come to separate ourselves from one another. Remembering that we are a community above our heritage or nationalities, that of believers in submission to God alone, is the better path and true and better form of support.

“And verily this Ummah of yours IS A SINGLE UMMAH and I am your Lord and Cherisher: Therefore Fear Me (and no other).” (Qur’an 23: 53)

” …People should give up their pride in nations because this is a coal from the coals of hell-fire. If they do not give this up Allah (swt) will consider them lower than a lowly worm which pushes itself through khur (faeces).” (abu Dawd and Tirmidhi).

Idolism is another dangerous symptom of the fanatic football supporter and one of great severity for a Muslim. Just the mere mention of the word has many of us shaking our heads, tutting and muttering “Astifrugallah” with a disapproving look – but Idolism is actually something few of are able to recognize and like all things that Shaytaan loves, it can creep up on you, worm its way into your actions and before you know it, take hold even though you don’t know it.

Idols and worship of idols is of course shirk – meaning it is THE worst sin, that of putting another in place of or in equal footing with Allah. Our worship is for Him and Him alone.

Remember when Ibrahim said to his father, Azar, ‘Do you take idols as gods? I see that you and your people are clearly misguided.’ (Quran 6:74)

The trouble with supporting a footballer or football team is that it can go a little too far. Revering a player or team to the extent that a person follows their every move, considers them ‘perfect’ and an inspiration is a form of idolistic behavior. In today’s world, media coverage is not just on the pitch but off of it too – with footballer celebrity lifestyles, partners, clothing and acting to the extent that the player’s life in its entirety is revered.

If a supporter then also feels real joy and love at a team or player’s success, or depressive symptoms at bad behavior or play or even vows to dedicate themselves to their success in some way, then these types of actions can land one in the dark abyss of shirk. Shirk is something that Allah s.w.t tells us He will not forgive; it goes against the very act of submission to Him and Him alone and negates our status as Muslims.

Many people will argue that following a player or team, especially during these World Cup weeks, is something that doesn’t affect their belief in Allah and will dismiss such a claim of Idolism as nonsense and irrelevant. They will say that they don’t stop believing in Allah during the time they are following the football. The problem with Idolism is though, that it is largely something that we can suffer from without really realizing it and something some of us will deny until we are blue in the face – that is its very nature, that is why worship to God and God alone purely can be so hard to achieve.

Now I am not saying that we cannot support football and enjoy it as the game that it is, but it is JUST a game and needs to be remembered as such. It is NOT life, a reflection of life, a meaningful action in life, the meaning or purpose of our lives. And no, saying it is just a game is not a form of blasphemy (as I hear an audible gasp at that phrase) , it’s the truth and needs to be remembered as such.

The beautiful game as it is called, can be just as such – certainly with the World Cup there is much pleasant about it, for some time at least politics, war and our differences are forgotten as the world is drawn together for a game. It’s just that a degree of moderation AND caution in support is required lest we find ourselves in dangerous territory where we are with ‘the wrong team’ on the Day of Judgment. The real questions should be therefore, not “Which football team do you support?” but “ Which side are you on? Are you on Allah’s side and He on yours, or are you taking your chances out there on the playing field? “

Perhaps that’s something to think about during half-time.