Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله has created man for the sole purpose of worshipping Him and fulfilling His commands. Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله says,
I have only created Jinn and Man for worshipping Me. (Surah Zaariyat: 56)
This theme is also highlighted from the Mubarak Ahadith of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. Every believer, till Qiyamah, needs to take direction from the way of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم in every facet of his life. His perfect way of life advocates that a believer’s endeavor should constantly be aimed towards earning the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله and rewards of the Hereafter. He should never emulate the kuffar in making amusement, recreation and entertainment the basis of his existence. He should be wary of their influences, plots and ploys. Their agenda is to attract and distract every Muslim from his purpose.
The Plot of the Kuffar
Some years back, an Aalim was travelling to Bosnia for welfare work. While on the plane, he happened to be sitting next to a Jew. During the flight, they began speaking about religion. This Aalim was absolutely surprised when the Jew said to him, “We have studied your religion of Islam and have even studied your Qur’an and Hadith. Perhaps we even know your religion better than you do.”
The Jew thereafter said, “After studying your religion, we arrived at the conclusion that you Muslims have the divine assistance of Allah Ta‘ala جل جلاله, and that is why the Jews have never been able to totally defeat and overcome you. However, we studied your scriptures to find your weak points and those things that will cause you to lose the divine assistance of Allah Ta‘ala جل جلاله. After studying your scriptures, we found that we need to do just four things to make you lose the help of Allah Ta‘ala جل جلاله.” The first of the four things he mentioned to the Aalim was:
“We need to engage the Muslims in sports and all other forms of entertainment and amusement due to which they will lose focus and become negligent of their Deeni obligations and the rights which they owe to Allah Ta‘ala.”
(Adapted from Ihyaauddeen.co.za)
From the above we clearly understand that one effective tool of misguidance used by the kuffar is sports and entertainment.
Are We Obsessed?
Our Ulama and Mashaikh are constantly receiving complaints regarding the obsession and addiction to sports and entertainment. An elderly person once boasted, “When my team loses, I ignore all my family members that day.” Another addict sheds tears when his English football team loses, but shows no sympathy for our suffering Muslims brethren around the globe.
Many a youth stay up till early parts of the morning to witness their team playing. They raise their hands acknowledging the victory. On the other hand, no attempt is made to raise their hands at the time of Tahajjud in Dua for the victory of the Muslims. A person is constantly worried about his physical fitness at the expense of the moral and spiritual degeneration of his wife and family. He pays the bills but cannot afford time and compassion to his subordinates. He goes out till late hours of the night to play cards, tunnee, games etc., leaving his family alone and desperate for attention and affection. Does he realise the spiritual harms of these card games?
Card Games
Some say that cards are of Chinese or Indian origin. Others mention otherwise. Irrespective of its actual origin, there are presently many types of card games. These are not merely games but rather addictions. Scientists mention that short, repeatable rounds, chances and useless strategizing make them one of the greatest forms of entertaining and addictive games. Now how does a true Ummati involve himself in such a dangerous and addictive activity? There are many Deeni and worldly harms of card games. A few are mentioned below:
- Muftis and Ulama have strongly condemned it and have declared it as impermissible.
- It distracts a person from the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله and Deeni obligations.
- Many who are involved neglect the rights of their parents and families.
- The cards have animate pictures on them which are Haram.
- Playing card games is imitating flagrant sinners and kuffar.
- It is a gambling tool.
- It is addictive.
- A person derives no worldly or Deeni benefit.
- It disrupts sleeping patterns causing low motivation, concentration and output.
- It creates continuous anxiety and other major psychological problems.
Did You Know?
A French king of the past actually went to the extent of banning card games during the day. This was due to the love and obsession the French had for these games which caused them to neglect their work. The king got violators to this law temporarily imprisoned and severely beaten as a deterrent to others. In spite of all this effort, he did not manage to uproot this addiction. People instead chose to continue playing secretly.
The Beauty of a Person’s Islam
Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned,
من حسن إسلام المرء تركه ما لا يعنيه (سنن الترمذي الرقم 2317)
Part of the beauty of a persons’ Islam is for him to discard futile activities.
This means that the sign of a good Muslim is that he does not get caught up in futile activities. In fact, a true believer values his time more than wealth. Now let us take a moment to introspect how seriously have we taken the words of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. Leave alone futile activities, we don’t even abstain from the prohibitions of Shariah. It is an occasion to cry tears of blood. We are supposed to show the world our Deen and promote the Sunnah of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. However, we have fallen prey to the plots of the kuffar and aped their ways and objectives. We need not suffer an inferiority complex as Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم is the best of creation. His way is the best, and we have to do our best to follow and become ambassadors of His Sunnah.
Make the Correct Choice!
Many Ahadith caution and prohibit us from emulating and following the kuffar in their fashions, culture and lifestyles.
عن عبد الله بن عمرو قال من بنى ببلاد الأعاجم وصنع نيروزهم ومهرجانهم وتشبه بهم حتى يموت وهو كذلك حشر معهم يوم القيامة (المهذب في اختصار السنن الكبير الرقم 14659)
Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (رضي الله عنهما) once said, “The one who resides in the land of the disbelievers, participates in their celebrations and emulates them until he dies in that state, he will be resurrected with them on the Day of Qiyamah.”
The message is simple. If we follow Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم and his illustrious companions رضي الله عنهم, and make them the yardstick of emulation we will be with them in the Hereafter. On the converse, if we prefer to emulate the kuffar, we should prepare to suffer with them on the day of Qiyamah.
May Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله grant us the ability to make the correct choices and may He always be pleased with us. Ameen.