Following Saudi Arabia’s defeat over Argentina, famous Islamic cleric Mufti Menk has made headlines for a tweet that bordered on haram on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Mufti Menk said on Twitter, “Things have become a little #Messi. Well done #SaudiArabia. World Cup vs Argentina.”
Several of his fans were surprised to find that he liked watching football since they thought it was contradictory with his personality.
You tweeted about this, Shaykh
— Muhammad Minhaj Uddin (@MMinhaj570) November 22, 2022
delete. This is humiliating
— – (@banbruv) November 22, 2022
Others claimed that watching football is banned in Islam because of contemporary characteristics of the game, such as the way players dress and the popularity of gambling in soccer.
@muftimenk Dear Mufti, Assalamu-alaikum. I am aware that half-sleeved pants, which are also haram, are worn by football players, which is cited by many Islamic scholars as proof that football is forbidden. Therefore, is it permissible to support a Muslim team if the game is haram?
— Abdullah Al Noman (@ninenoman) November 22, 2022
Another user chastised Qatar for investing billions of dollars on infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup, despite the fact that millions of Muslims are impoverished and starving.
@muftimenk, is it permissible to play in such attire?
One million Muslims are dying of hunger, while a country with a majority Muslim population spends $220 billion on such a game.
— Abdullah Al Arman (@Arman1BDCTG) November 22, 2022
Mufti Menk, actual name Ismail ibn Musa Menk, is the Grand Mufti of Zimbabwe’s Muslim community. He is 49 years old. He is well-known for his Islamic lectures that promote peace and maintaining a decent life.
His lessons have gone viral on social media. He’s amassed an incredible 9.5 million Twitter followers.