Is this phrase found in the third-grade curriculum correct: "Allah is greater than my mother, my father, and the television"?
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The questioner : Also, there is a song in the third grade: "Allah is greater than my mother, my father, and the television." Is something like this permissible?
The Shaykh : I seek refuge in Allah. The last thing you mentioned was written to me, and the truth is that it is a great error. Because if this statement is planted in the student's mind, what does he imagine? "Greater than the television" means: this door is big, this is greater than the television. This is a very great error. And I am amazed: where are the supervisors who guide the students, guide the teachers, and review the curricula? You might say that this is negligence on their part, or they overlooked it, or they are ignorant, without a doubt.
The questioner : They ask about glorifying soccer by placing the World Cup for it, and people love it. Do you love soccer?
The Shaykh : If he says, "Do you love soccer?" he says, "Yes." And from the time he leaves the lesson, he puts down his books and goes to play soccer. For this reason, this ball has caused the negligence of the students, even the older students in the middle and high school stages. It has taken their hearts and minds, and they have forgotten what they were created for, except for whom Allah wills. They have forgotten what they should be doing in terms of thinking about the condition of the Muslims, what is obligatory for us toward their ignorance, and what is obligatory for us to prepare for them. It has made them forget. And the truth is, I think—rather, I see, and I do not think otherwise—that the matter needs consideration. That these games concentrate the students' attention so that they occupy themselves with them instead of what is more important, or even what is important. If we learn this soccer and the other games associated with it, can we thereby open the Holy Sanctuary? What do you say?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Absolutely not, we cannot. Can we defend our homeland with it if an enemy attacks it?
Absolutely not, we cannot, without a doubt. And in the trial that occurred in the Gulf two years ago, who benefited the people?
Allah (Mighty and Majestic) benefited them, but through supplication. Directly, it was the religious people who remained in the country after it was occupied by the others. They were the ones who distributed food and helped those in need of assistance. The soccer players and others did not come. The soccer players may have gone to other distant countries to save themselves. For this reason, it is obligatory for us to focus on what is beneficial. As for these games, we should make them a leisure activity to amuse oneself when tired, bored, or lazy. But that they should be the capital, the wealth, and everything else, no. We ask Allah for guidance.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : This needs to be scrutinized. If you collect them, if you collect them for us, that would be good.
The questioner : Some of the hadiths are very weak, and some are fabricated.
The Shaykh : Collect them, collect them for us, and we will inform you about them, if Allah wills.
The Shaykh : I seek refuge in Allah. The last thing you mentioned was written to me, and the truth is that it is a great error. Because if this statement is planted in the student's mind, what does he imagine? "Greater than the television" means: this door is big, this is greater than the television. This is a very great error. And I am amazed: where are the supervisors who guide the students, guide the teachers, and review the curricula? You might say that this is negligence on their part, or they overlooked it, or they are ignorant, without a doubt.
The questioner : They ask about glorifying soccer by placing the World Cup for it, and people love it. Do you love soccer?
The Shaykh : If he says, "Do you love soccer?" he says, "Yes." And from the time he leaves the lesson, he puts down his books and goes to play soccer. For this reason, this ball has caused the negligence of the students, even the older students in the middle and high school stages. It has taken their hearts and minds, and they have forgotten what they were created for, except for whom Allah wills. They have forgotten what they should be doing in terms of thinking about the condition of the Muslims, what is obligatory for us toward their ignorance, and what is obligatory for us to prepare for them. It has made them forget. And the truth is, I think—rather, I see, and I do not think otherwise—that the matter needs consideration. That these games concentrate the students' attention so that they occupy themselves with them instead of what is more important, or even what is important. If we learn this soccer and the other games associated with it, can we thereby open the Holy Sanctuary? What do you say?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Absolutely not, we cannot. Can we defend our homeland with it if an enemy attacks it?
Absolutely not, we cannot, without a doubt. And in the trial that occurred in the Gulf two years ago, who benefited the people?
Allah (Mighty and Majestic) benefited them, but through supplication. Directly, it was the religious people who remained in the country after it was occupied by the others. They were the ones who distributed food and helped those in need of assistance. The soccer players and others did not come. The soccer players may have gone to other distant countries to save themselves. For this reason, it is obligatory for us to focus on what is beneficial. As for these games, we should make them a leisure activity to amuse oneself when tired, bored, or lazy. But that they should be the capital, the wealth, and everything else, no. We ask Allah for guidance.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : This needs to be scrutinized. If you collect them, if you collect them for us, that would be good.
The questioner : Some of the hadiths are very weak, and some are fabricated.
The Shaykh : Collect them, collect them for us, and we will inform you about them, if Allah wills.