Question

In general, is it permissible to play for a soccer team if one tries his best to abide by the rules of the Shari’a like covering one’s ‘Awrah (by wearing leggings etc.)? Is there any risk of falling into gambling when playing for a club? By this I mean that the club might ask for fees to play for it and those fees might be used for prizes later on etc. So would it be permissible for people like myself (15 and almost 16 years old) to play for a soccer club?

Jazakumullahu Khairan.

Answer

Playing football for a team in and of itself is not problematic provided that the rules of shari’ah are not violated. Hence, the ‘awrah must be covered properly, salats must be observed on time, there should not be any mixing with the opposite gender etc. As for the gambling aspect, if the money being paid as fees goes towards the final prise then this will be gambling and thus unlawful. If however, the money does not go towards the final prize but the prize if financed through some other funds then it will not be gambling.

Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel