From a purely materialistic point of view, there are many people who have greatly benefited mankind in general. For instance, computers have made it tremendously easy to accomplish many tasks that previously required great effort and much time. However, ask the millions of computer users worldwide and perhaps a few will know who invented the computer. Similarly, hardly anyone knows who invented the microwave oven or the cellular phone. The same can be said for a hundred other items which people benefit from daily.
LEGEND
Yet when it comes to the utterly useless skills of sport, the one that can keep whacking a fast-moving ball with a bat becomes a hero for millions the world over. Somebody who can dribble through a bunch of people and kick a ball between two posts becomes a legend. Young and old admire him, adore him and many even idolise him. This is easily discernible from many aspects in the admirer’s life.
AUTOGRAPH
Even Muslim youth will be seen wearing garments autographed by some sports star, or wearing the scarf with their team colours, with great pride. Children who will sometimes be seen carelessly handling the Qur’an-e-Kareem as if it was an ordinary book, will be seen attaching great value to a book or a bat which was personally autographed by their favourite player. Albums of kaafir teams will be treasured as prize possessions. Walls of rooms will be found pasted with photographs of teams and players. Ask many young boys (and many old men) to name the players of their team and they will rattle off twelve names as if they were reciting sura fatiha. They will even give you a bit of the history of each player. Dare anyone criticise their team or their star and they will defend their idol as if their own honour was sullied.
CONQUERED
Yet, ask these very Muslims, who know the details of entire teams at their fingertips, some aspects about the history of the greatest personality of all mankind, Sayyidina Rasulullah (sallallahu alalihi wasallam). Many will not know anything beyond a few simple facts they learnt in primary madrasah. Ask a few sports questions and see how the answers are immediately given. Ask the same people about how many sons did Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) have and what were their names? Ask them in which year did Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) conquer Makkatul Mukarramah? One will be surprised as to how many are ignorant of the answers to these questions, yet they know in which year a certain bunch of disbelievers conquered the world’s soccer teams in the world cup. Indeed, it is a time to hang our heads in utter shame if we know more about kaafir sports stars than we know about Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
When the situation has deteriorated to this level, we have to definitely stop in our tracks and totally abandon this evil that has invaded our lives. Stop. Take courage. Put a full stop to being duped by the glitter and glamour of this futility.
http://alhaadi.org.za/articles-publications/articles/69-islam-and-sports/277-sports-idols.html