The Ruling on Playing Ball, Receiving Salaries, and Taking Prizes
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Question:
May Allah reward you. The Honorable Shaykh says: What is the ruling on playing ball? And what is the ruling on the salaries that players receive from clubs for this game?
Answer:
Salaries, and prizes? In any case, playing ball, if it does not occupy one from an obligation, such as prayer or other obligations, and if it is accompanied by covering the private parts, so they do not expose their private parts, and if it is limited and not excessive to the point of consuming time and becoming a person's preoccupation and occupation, then if these conditions are met, it is permissible. This is provided that prayers are not neglected, it does not occupy one from obligations, and it is not so much that it takes up all of a person's time, becoming his task and profession.
And there is no exposing of private parts. Under these conditions, it is permissible; because it strengthens the body and provides relaxation for the soul. However, if one of these conditions is lacking, it is not permissible. And taking salaries for it depends on the nature of the play. If the play is devoid of these conditions, or some of them, the salary is not permissible, because it is in exchange for work that is not permissible. But if the ball game is regulated by the conditions, then taking a salary for it is fine, but it would be better for him to turn to a more noble and better occupation.
As for taking prizes, taking prizes for playing ball is gambling. This is forbidden, it is from maysir (gambling), because it is not permissible to take compensation for contests and competitions except in what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) excluded from matters of jihad. He said (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 2878Sahih (Darussalam) There are three, this is a restriction Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1700Hasan (Darussalam): the arrow, the shoe, and the hoof. The arrow is learning archery, and the shoe and hoof are learning to ride horses and camels; because these are tools of jihad and means of jihad, so it is permissible to take a prize for a race or competition in them. As for the rest of the competitions, taking a prize for them is gambling, maysir, and forbidden; because it is consuming wealth by falsehood.
May Allah reward you. The Honorable Shaykh says: What is the ruling on playing ball? And what is the ruling on the salaries that players receive from clubs for this game?
Answer:
Salaries, and prizes? In any case, playing ball, if it does not occupy one from an obligation, such as prayer or other obligations, and if it is accompanied by covering the private parts, so they do not expose their private parts, and if it is limited and not excessive to the point of consuming time and becoming a person's preoccupation and occupation, then if these conditions are met, it is permissible. This is provided that prayers are not neglected, it does not occupy one from obligations, and it is not so much that it takes up all of a person's time, becoming his task and profession.
And there is no exposing of private parts. Under these conditions, it is permissible; because it strengthens the body and provides relaxation for the soul. However, if one of these conditions is lacking, it is not permissible. And taking salaries for it depends on the nature of the play. If the play is devoid of these conditions, or some of them, the salary is not permissible, because it is in exchange for work that is not permissible. But if the ball game is regulated by the conditions, then taking a salary for it is fine, but it would be better for him to turn to a more noble and better occupation.
As for taking prizes, taking prizes for playing ball is gambling. This is forbidden, it is from maysir (gambling), because it is not permissible to take compensation for contests and competitions except in what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) excluded from matters of jihad. He said (peace and blessings be upon him):
There should be no prizes for racing except
لا سبق إلا فيexcept in archery, racing a camel, and racing a horse
إلا في ثلاث نصل أو خف أو حافر
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما حكم لعبة كرة القدم؟ وما حكم ما يتقاضاه لاعبو كرة القدم؟ لمعالي الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.