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Sports can be a ton of fun and bring people together, but have you ever stopped to think about how our love for sports can sometimes get out of hand? It’s natural to be enthusiastic about our favorite teams and players, but when we start deifying sports and sports figures, it can lead to some serious problems. In this article, we’ll take a look at the dangers of deifying sports from an Islamic perspective and discuss the importance of finding balance in our lives.
For the past month or so, as a result of the world cup, people that don’t ordinarily enjoy or watch football have all jumped into the bandwagon. In countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and many sub saharan Muslim countries, many even spent their entire life savings to paint their decorations in colours of Brazil and Argentina. Many died by suicide as a result of betting their life. Many even bet their wives and murdered people due to support of teams they disliked.
While there is an absolute deficiency and conscience with respect to the struggles of the Muslim collective, these shameless individuals even fall into tahajjud to pray for the victory of these teams, in a contemporary spiritual tantamount of unapologetic cuckoldry. An unholy number of people might’ve even cursed Muslim participants of the world cup especially due to the overzealous support for teams of countries thousands of miles away especially on the occassion of an event for a sport they know nothing about and don’t care about until the onset of the event itself. Suddenly the chaiwala that never set eyes on a football becomes Daraz’s Gary Lineker.
The Negative Impact of Idolizing Sports Figures and Celebrities:
One of the dangers of deifying sports is the negative impact it can have on our values and beliefs. When we start idolizing sports figures and celebrities, we may start to emulate their behaviours and values, even if they are not in line with Islamic teachings. This can lead to a loss of our own identity and a distortion of our priorities. Besides, it isn’t all too uncommon to project religious morals and principles and subconsciously preach it as a “part of the game.” Humility, integrity, generosity and other morals are subliminally alluded to be foundations of the game.
For instance, last year when Ronaldo moved the bottle of Coca Cola away and drank water instead, it literally led to Coca Cola stocks TANKING for the next week. This shows that sports provides a very strong platform for sportsman to display their morals and principles to the extent of sending ripples through the economy. This sets some problems.
For example, we may start to prioritize material possessions and wealth over spiritual growth and service to others. We may also start to adopt unhealthy or destructive behaviours, such as substance abuse or unhealthy eating habits, simply because they are modelled by our idols. It’s important to be aware of this and to remember that our true role models should be the prophets and scholars of Islam, not sports figures or celebrities.
The Role of Media and Advertising:
Another factor that can contribute to the deification of sports is the media and advertising. These outlets often portray sports figures and celebrities as larger than life, and this can create a distorted image of what it means to be successful or admirable. It’s easy to get caught up in the hype and to start believing that we need to be like these figures in order to be happy or fulfilled.
All of these actions are undertaken with a singular, overarching objective: the pursuit of financial gain driven by the lure of superfluous indulgences, accomplished by capitalizing on the innate human desires and the allure of admiration.
However, it’s important to remember that the media and advertising have their own agendas and may not always present an accurate or realistic portrayal of sports figures and celebrities. We need to be aware of this and to not let ourselves get swept up in the hype. Instead, we should focus on our own personal goals and values, and not let the media and advertising dictate our priorities.
The Impact on Our Relationships and Social Interactions:
Another danger of deifying sports is the impact it can have on our relationships and social interactions. When we become too focused on sports and sports figures, it can lead to a lack of balance in our lives. We may neglect our responsibilities and commitments, and we may start to prioritize sports over other activities and relationships. There have been memes about how watching a football match with “the homies” is much more important than relationships. “Bros before hoes” they say.
None of us would really be surprised to find out that many have broken families as a result of primitive obsession with the sport, with especially many impressionable young men looking for wives that are equally obsessed with the sport, or even divorcing once their wives no longer tolerate their compulsively obsessive behaviour.
This can lead to conflicts and tensions with friends and loved ones who may not share the same enthusiasm for sports. It can also lead to a lack of social interaction and connection with others, as we may start to prioritize sports over other activities that involve socializing and building relationships. It’s important to be mindful of this and to find a balance between our love for sports and our other relationships and commitments.
The Importance of Alternative Sources of Entertainment and Enjoyment
Finally, it’s important to remember the importance of finding alternative sources of entertainment and enjoyment. It’s natural to have a variety of interests and activities in our lives, and it’s important not to let any single activity consume all of our time and attention. By finding alternative sources of entertainment and enjoyment, we can maintain balance and avoid the dangers of deifying sports.
The growing attitude of monolith personality is an evergrowing phenomena among the Muslim youth which we address in another article.
This could include hobbies, creative pursuits, or other activities that bring us joy and fulfilment. By having a diverse range of interests, we can ensure that we don’t become overly obsessed with any one activity, and we can maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while it’s totally okay to enjoy sports and the entertainment and camaraderie they bring, it’s important for Muslims to remember not to elevate them to the level of deification. By finding balance and prioritizing our relationship with Allah, we can lead fulfilling and meaningful lives that are centred around our faith. So let’s remember to keep our love for sports in perspective, and avoid any actions that may lead to compromise in our iman and gheerah. Delusion is order of the day and entertainment has become religion which brings but one ayah to mind.
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