Question:

Many of the youth, rather even many older men as well, are greatly preoccupied with fanatically supporting sports clubs, to the extent that this leads to quarrels and disputes between them, and even enmity and personal insults. So what is your advice for such people? May Allāh reward you with good.

Shaykh Abdul-Azīz ibn Bāz:

There is no doubt that this fanatic enthusiasm for these clubs, which leads to frequent disputes, rancor, enmity, and insults, is undoubtedly something evil; because the purpose of exercise is the strengthening of the body, training upon that which is sought from such sports, firmness of the limbs, strength of the limbs, strength of the nerves, enduring hardships, and bearing heavy burdens. So it is not befitting for those involved in them to insult one another, harbor rancor toward one another, or become fanatical.

No. Rather, it is obligatory that they be brothers, this is what Allāh has obligated upon them, whether this one succeeds or that one fails, whether the team of this person wins or the team of that person wins. They are brothers in every circumstance: the winner and the one who did not win. It is obligatory that there be nothing between them except good speech, addressing one another in the best manner, and resolving problematic matters with wisdom and a good approach, not with insults, rancor, mutual abuse, and foul speech.

Likewise, they should not do what is now taking place in the marketplaces from shouting, and harming people in the roads. This is a type of madness and a form of foolishness that no sensible person would approve of.

So what is befitting for these people involved in the clubs is that they be people of reason. Whoever succeeds should praise Allāh, and should not become arrogant toward his brother, mock his brother, or harm his brother or anyone else from the people.

And the matter is easy: you succeeded or you did not succeed! Did you kill the enemies of Allāh?! Did you defeat the Russians such that you succeeded?!^[1] What did you actually do? You put this ball into that goal?! What value does this success even have?! If only the people truly had understanding.

Thus, it is not befitting for a sensible person that such success becomes a cause for rancor, quarrels, or harm toward anyone, neither in the marketplaces nor elsewhere. They come into the marketplaces in their cars as though they are lunatics. This is a tremendous mistake that is not befitting for sensible people whatsoever. What is obligatory is that they be people of reason in their cars, in their speech, and in all of their conduct, neither the loser nor the winner. As for the loser, what has happened to him? And the winner, what has he actually accomplished?! What happened? Did he expel the Jews from Palestine?! Did he aid the Afghans and eliminate the Russians?! What did he actually do?!

All of these things are of no real value. But we ask Allāh for guidance for us and for them. We ask Allāh to grant them sound minds, upright judgment, and complete guidance.

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Footnotes:

[1] This was said by the Shaykh during the Soviet–Afghan War.