What is the ruling on watching sports matches?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on watching sports matches?
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : What is the ruling on watching sports matches?
The Shaykh : Why do you watch sports matches, and what is the benefit in them? Answer: What do you gain from them except wasting time, spending money, ruining your eyesight, and loving one who does not deserve to be loved? And you exalt one whom we were commanded to be severe with. Is there not one who excels in this game who is a rebellious disbeliever? Is that not so? This leads to the hearts of the fans of this sport exalting this man and loving this man, is that not so? So, my brother, stay away from it. Hold yourself back from watching it. And what have sports brought to people? They have brought nothing but distraction, the wasting of many important matters, and turning children away from their fathers, even though their fathers may need them in trade, agriculture, travel, or the like. It was mentioned to me that this is one of the plots of the Jews, which they call the Protocols of Zion. Allah knows best whether it is from them or from others. The important thing is that it has not brought any benefit to people; rather, it is more harmful. Yes.
The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. And may the prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings. Your Eminence, the Shaykh.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : What is the ruling on watching sports matches?
The Shaykh : Why do you watch sports matches, and what is the benefit in them? Answer: What do you gain from them except wasting time, spending money, ruining your eyesight, and loving one who does not deserve to be loved? And you exalt one whom we were commanded to be severe with. Is there not one who excels in this game who is a rebellious disbeliever? Is that not so? This leads to the hearts of the fans of this sport exalting this man and loving this man, is that not so? So, my brother, stay away from it. Hold yourself back from watching it. And what have sports brought to people? They have brought nothing but distraction, the wasting of many important matters, and turning children away from their fathers, even though their fathers may need them in trade, agriculture, travel, or the like. It was mentioned to me that this is one of the plots of the Jews, which they call the Protocols of Zion. Allah knows best whether it is from them or from others. The important thing is that it has not brought any benefit to people; rather, it is more harmful. Yes.
The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. And may the prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings. Your Eminence, the Shaykh.