The Default Ruling on Playing Football
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
Some students of knowledge say that the default ruling on playing football is prohibition, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “Every form of idle amusement is invalid,” and because football involves imitating the disbelievers, as it is one of their games. Is what they say correct, or is its default ruling permissibility, and it became forbidden only because of the forbidden things associated with it?
Answer:
Playing ball is a sport; it is not idle amusement. Its default ruling is that it is not idle amusement, but a sport for the body that strengthens the limbs. However, if it is accompanied by wrongdoings, or if the players engage in wrongdoings, it becomes forbidden. As for its default ruling, it is a sport for the body that increases strength. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
Some students of knowledge say that the default ruling on playing football is prohibition, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “Every form of idle amusement is invalid,” and because football involves imitating the disbelievers, as it is one of their games. Is what they say correct, or is its default ruling permissibility, and it became forbidden only because of the forbidden things associated with it?
Answer:
Playing ball is a sport; it is not idle amusement. Its default ruling is that it is not idle amusement, but a sport for the body that strengthens the limbs. However, if it is accompanied by wrongdoings, or if the players engage in wrongdoings, it becomes forbidden. As for its default ruling, it is a sport for the body that increases strength. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
Source
شرح كتاب التوحيد [ صالح الفوزان ]، باب قول الله - تعالى - : { إنك لا تهدي من أحببت } — islamhouse.com (44:33)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.