Games and sports have no relation to the actual realities of life

Question 13687
Assalamu alaikum Mufti saab, As I am an Indian Muslim I just want to know from u that in sports specially in cricket which team should I support India or Pakistan. Because in Pakistan team all players are Muslims. Please answer my question as I am very confused.Jazakallah.

Text Answer
Islam is a realistic religion based on a fixed purpose and for a specific objective, which abjures games, sports or levity and engages a Muslim towards his real aim in life and provides proper guidance for it. Nowadays, sports and entertainment have engulfed the lives of people that it has become the basic objective of life. Interest in sports and entertainment has so attracted people, to its discussion and analysis and to portray oneself as for or against, that it has overshadowed the basic problems and objectives of daily life. This has resulted in the total destruction of the time and energy of people at large whose talents could have been utilized in a better manner. Words cannot describe this utter loss of time and effort. Games and sports are just that and have no relation to the actual realities of life. There can be more than one opinion about supporting or opposing rival teams in any game or sport. But there can be no two opinions about supporting our real objective of life as ordained in Islam. Supporting or opposing a team, in reality, is nothing but a game, a show and spectacle, just short of licensed debauchery. Involving religion into taking sides makes no sense. Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'ala) Knows Best

- Maulana Abdul Aziz Mazahire

- Taken from http://shariahboard.org/viewfatwa.aspx?Question_ID=13687