The Ruling on Goods Bearing Images of Athletes
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner: Recently, some goods have appeared bearing images of athletes. What is the ruling on this? And if these images are stickers that the buyer removes, and he finds a prize underneath, what is the ruling?
The Shaykh: I see that this merchandise bearing images of athletes should be boycotted and avoided;Because we ask: What benefit is there for Islam and the Muslims in this athlete being highlighted and appearing above others?I believe that every person’s answer will be in the negative: There is no benefit in that. So how do we announce the names of these people and spread their images and the like?! What should have been done instead is to advise the athletes to adhere to Islamic etiquette: covering the awrah, maintaining prayer in congregation, not quarreling among themselves, not exchanging insults, and not allowing the exaltation of the disbeliever to take hold of them if he succeeds in this game over others. This is what is beneficial.
So I see that this merchandise should be boycotted and avoided. Also, it is the general rule that this company did not place the prizes except because it knows that it will earn many times over what it placed.
So we ask Allah the Exalted to make us and you among the people of insight in the religion of Allah Mighty and Majestic, and to protect our lands, our youth, and our religion from all that is disliked and evil. Indeed, He is capable of all things. And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his Companions.
The Shaykh: I see that this merchandise bearing images of athletes should be boycotted and avoided;Because we ask: What benefit is there for Islam and the Muslims in this athlete being highlighted and appearing above others?I believe that every person’s answer will be in the negative: There is no benefit in that. So how do we announce the names of these people and spread their images and the like?! What should have been done instead is to advise the athletes to adhere to Islamic etiquette: covering the awrah, maintaining prayer in congregation, not quarreling among themselves, not exchanging insults, and not allowing the exaltation of the disbeliever to take hold of them if he succeeds in this game over others. This is what is beneficial.
So I see that this merchandise should be boycotted and avoided. Also, it is the general rule that this company did not place the prizes except because it knows that it will earn many times over what it placed.
So we ask Allah the Exalted to make us and you among the people of insight in the religion of Allah Mighty and Majestic, and to protect our lands, our youth, and our religion from all that is disliked and evil. Indeed, He is capable of all things. And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his Companions.