Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Burhan,

asalamun alaikum,

I am also another brother who is very pleased to get your emails and learning from it each and everyday. Thank you very much and may Allah bless you for that. We need these kinds of emails in the time of this when the world is against Islam and Muslim people.

Anyway, I have a question regarding what you have said on the following matter (about clothing). You have said the following, "For the believing males, the ‘satr’ are the parts of the body between the navel and the knees inclusive. These parts of the body of the male cannot be disclosed even to other males. " from the above saying, it proves that we cannot wear shorts even if we are playing games like soccer. if that is true then how come soccer teams like Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arab are playing the games wearing shorts?

I will be very glad if you could answer my question. Thanks!

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Soccer and wearing shorts

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: I am also another brother who is very pleased to get your emails and learning from it each and everyday. Thank you very much and may Allah bless you for that. We need these kinds of emails in the time of this when the world is against Islam and Muslim people.

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth. We humbly hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire. Ameen.

Your Statement: it proves that we cannot wear shorts even if we are playing games like soccer.

If the shorts cover the ‘satr’ of the man, which is from his navel to his knees inclusive, there is absolutely no harm in wearing such shorts.

But if the shorts leaves naked any part of the body between the navel and the knees inclusive, then it would indeed be an act against the teachings and guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws).

Your Question: if that is true then how come soccer teams like Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arab are playing the games wearing shorts?

The criteria for something being allowed or forbidden in Islam is not who or how many people are doing an act; the criteria for the believers between right and wrong, the permissible and the prohibited, has to be the guidance and teachings of Allah and His Messenger (saws)!

Thus if Allah and His Messenger (saws) have declared something permissible; no matter if the whole world disapproves or objects to it, it will be considered permissible!

And if Allah and His Messenger (saws) have declared something forbidden; no matter if the whole world approves of it, it will always remain forbidden!

Just because members of the soccer teams of muslim nations like Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc. wear inappropriate clothing, it does not become halaal for the believers, who sincerely believe in Allah and the Last Day, to wear inappropriate clothing!

There are unfortunately many things allowed by the muslim nations in the world today, which are directly against the commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws); thus that would not be a justification for making a thing declared haraam by Allah and His Messenger (saws) as permissible!

Interest and ‘riba’ related banking is available in almost all muslim nations like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, Qatar, etc.; but Allah and His Messenger (saws) have specifically declared ‘riba’ absolutely haraam!

Or, alcohol is available in most muslim nations like the UAE, Bahrain, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.; but Allah and His Messenger (saws) have declared all types of ‘intoxicants’ absolutely haraam for the believers!

Thus beloved brother in Islam, the criteria for the believers in determining the halaal from the haraam, right from the wrong, etc. is not who and how many nations are doing it; but the criteria for determining the halaal from the haraam for the believers, who sincerely believe in Allah and the Last Day, has to be the Quran and the Sunnah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan