What is the ruling on some committed individuals watching football matches via television, given the exposure of private parts and the presence of women in the stands?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you well, O honorable Shaykh. Many of our brothers, may Allah guide them, watch the matches on television and say: "There is nothing wrong with this," even though the matches involve the exposure of private parts, especially the matches currently taking place outside the Kingdom. Women are present in the stands, and unfortunately, some of the viewers may be committed. They argue that it is only for watching, not for cheering or excitement.
The Shaykh : In reality, what you mentioned is a trial that some people have fallen into, and they have developed a strong passion for watching the matches, to the extent that some of them may abandon the congregational prayer for this reason. There is no doubt that if one abandons the congregation for this reason, he is sinful and disobedient, because the congregation is obligatory. However, if we assume that he has already prayed 'Isha' and then sits to watch, we say: Your sitting, if you are free from sin, is idle talk. But I do not think he is free from sin for several reasons:
First: He wastes his time in something of no benefit, and time is more precious than money, and more valuable than money for the sensible person. For this reason, Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Mu'minun 23:99-100]. He did not say: "Perhaps I will watch the matches or enjoy myself in this world." He said: [Al-Mu'minun 23:100] This indicates his regret over what he wasted in other than the obedience of Allah, Mighty and Majestic.
Second: It causes the heart to become attached to it. But if he weaned himself from it, it would not concern him, as is known among the brothers who do not watch them; they are not concerned with them. In fact, if they were watching the news and then these matches came on, they would turn off the television. But if he starts watching them, his heart becomes attached to them and accustomed to them, and his love for them becomes an obsession.
Third: It is possible that in this match, a disbeliever or an open sinner may win, and then he will feel reverence for him, love him, and show loyalty to him, and this is dangerous.
Fourth: He will waste money by what he spends on this television, such as the cost of electricity and the lights in the place where he is, so it may consume a lot of money. Therefore, we see that watching these matches involves some foolishness and some danger to the person. So what you should do, O prudent one, is not to watch these matches.
The Shaykh : In reality, what you mentioned is a trial that some people have fallen into, and they have developed a strong passion for watching the matches, to the extent that some of them may abandon the congregational prayer for this reason. There is no doubt that if one abandons the congregation for this reason, he is sinful and disobedient, because the congregation is obligatory. However, if we assume that he has already prayed 'Isha' and then sits to watch, we say: Your sitting, if you are free from sin, is idle talk. But I do not think he is free from sin for several reasons:
First: He wastes his time in something of no benefit, and time is more precious than money, and more valuable than money for the sensible person. For this reason, Allah the Exalted said:
until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord, send me back (100) That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind."
حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ * لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحاً فِيمَا تَرَكْتُThat I might do righteousness in that which I left behind
لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحاً فِيمَا تَرَكْتُSecond: It causes the heart to become attached to it. But if he weaned himself from it, it would not concern him, as is known among the brothers who do not watch them; they are not concerned with them. In fact, if they were watching the news and then these matches came on, they would turn off the television. But if he starts watching them, his heart becomes attached to them and accustomed to them, and his love for them becomes an obsession.
Third: It is possible that in this match, a disbeliever or an open sinner may win, and then he will feel reverence for him, love him, and show loyalty to him, and this is dangerous.
Fourth: He will waste money by what he spends on this television, such as the cost of electricity and the lights in the place where he is, so it may consume a lot of money. Therefore, we see that watching these matches involves some foolishness and some danger to the person. So what you should do, O prudent one, is not to watch these matches.