its not cricket

[Anwar K]

Salam,

Im asking this question on behalf a brother who is planning to go abroad to watch Pakistan play cricket, i know he has been before. My arguemnt is that you shouldnt go and pay for sporting events unless if its not for a good cause, like charity fundraising for tsunami. He tells me its jaeez because when i watch tv or anything islamic i still have to pay a licence fee so it doesnt make any difference. I know its not haram to play or watch cricket but what if one payed to go to any cricket or sporting ground to watch it live, what is the difference ?

[Imam]

Bismillahir-Rahamanir-Rahim

Wa’laykum 'as-Salaam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuhu,


First of all what ‘good cause’ is depends upon the nature of the event. No doubt contributing towards charity for Tsunami fundraising is good. What makes an act forbidden is the time that it takes up in non-Islamic activity, from which a number of questions can arise. For example, could the money and time have been spent on something which was more for the pleasure of Allah?

To have to pay for a license fee in order to watch something Islamic or not still does not give rise to go and watch Pakistan play cricket in Pakistan.

That money could be spent on Islamic literature, be given to a Mosque, or indeed be given as Sadaqah for the needy. Zakat could be paid off, which is also fard, not forgetting all the other household expenditure that one attains.

The news of a ‘win’ or ‘loss’ i.e. the result, of the match can still be known, which would have been known whether you spent the money to go to Pakistan or not. However, this does not mean, that one has the authority to declare such acts as ‘ja’iz’, when we all very well know, that whether you are from the sub-continent, you will still support Pakistan.

There is nothing wrong in supporting Pakistan, that could be said was ‘ja’iz’, but to spend all that money for a ticket, a ticket, or a few tickets in Pakistan, travel expenses, food expenses, time, and effort, surely people have more better things to do than to call this ‘ja’iz’. Had there been free time on your hands or maybe the team was in your area, then as a gesture of good will, or to make it known to the ‘kuffar’, that ‘we also support our fellow sportsmen from our country, who play against you, may have given you that benefit of doubt, but don’t trouble yourself so much brother…..I am sure you can wait until they visit the UK, then maybe we can say salaam to them…..



Wallaho a’lamo bithhawaab

M. Waseem Ashrafi