السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Tuesday 16th June 2020. Let’s focus on ‘The Football Craze’ today.
The Premiership restarts tomorrow after a 3 month break. What message do I have for football fans? The first football season I remember in my life was the 1975/76 season. As a 9 year old brought up in Blackburn and attending the local Daisyfield Primary School, naturally I was interested in football. Believe it or not, I supported Manchester United. In those days, you were either with the Reds of Merseyside or the Red devils of Manchester.
So, it was 1976 when my beloved Man U lined up against Southampton in the FA Cup Final, at the world famous glorious Wembley Stadium. There were 4 league divisions in those days. Man U were in Division 1 and Southampton in Division 2. Guess what happened?
Man U lost 1-0. I was heartbroken. How could a Division 2 team beat a Division 1 team! What was my reaction? I immediately switched to supporting the Reds of Merseyside. It’s been 44 years now and I have never looked back.
Coming to the point, let’s be absolutely honest with ourselves. We are all sports lovers. Whether it’s football, cricket, tennis, boxing, or snooker. However, we should keep our love of sports in moderation. I have used the word ‘fan’. Stop there; DO NOT become a FANATIC.
What’s the difference? Simple! Don’t let your favourite sport take over your life. Enjoy the moment and move on. When the time for Ṣalāh with JamāꜤat approaches, go to the Masjid (once congregational prayers restart). If it goes to extra time or even penalties and it’s time for ꜤIshā JamāꜤat, leave for the Masjid.
Remember, you will have prayed your Ṣalāh, with JamāꜤat, and most probably your team will win as well (that is, if you are a Liverpool supporter). We managed to get through 3 months without football, which means we can live without it as well. DO NOT miss Ṣalāh with JamāꜤat because of football.
Almighty Allāh give us all the ability and strength to always put our religion first, Āmeen.
جزاك الله خيرا
Request for DuꜤās
والسلام Hanif Dudhwala