Cricket: Entertainment or Obsession? The Need for Moderation
✍🏻 Muhammad Aadil Arariavi
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Respected Readers, Cricket is considered one of the most popular sports in the world, especially in Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, where this game is immensely liked. Cricket is not only a source of entertainment but also promotes physical health and discipline. However, while this game has numerous benefits, it also has some drawbacks that cannot be ignored. Friends, there was a time when sports were only associated with children and were considered merely a source of health or entertainment. But with time, sports evolved and became a regular hobby and then a profession. Now, the number of people watching sports is far greater than those playing, and through modern media, people all over the world are kept informed about the situation of the game moment by moment. Cricket matches, especially Test and One Day matches, last for many hours and days. Fans, especially students, are so enthusiastic; we have seen many students who are constantly chanting about the match, match, match. They waste their precious time watching matches instead of studying, which affects their academic performance.
Today, many sports, especially cricket, have become so important that they are linked to success and failure, even fate and faith. Extraordinary joy is expressed at the victory of one's favorite team, and deep sorrow at defeat. Especially in matches between rival countries like India and Pakistan, people's interest reaches its peak. Daily work stops, worship and necessary tasks are ignored, gambling, noise, extravagance, and other illegal activities become common. All these matters cause the displeasure of Allah Almighty and are harmful for both this world and the hereafter. Such obsession with sports is actually an addiction that distances a person from reality. In Islam, sports are allowed with moderation, but when they become a cause of negligence and evils, they are reprehensible.
I see many students and cricket fans who, whenever there is talk of buying a player, say, 'So-and-so was bought for so many crores, so-and-so for so many,' and express happiness as if they are the ones who are going to receive this money. I don't know why they are so crazy about such a large amount. We agree that cricket is an interesting and useful game, but like everything else, moderation is necessary in it. If cricket is adopted as entertainment and a healthy activity, it is beneficial, but if it is made an obsession, its disadvantages can outweigh the benefits. Therefore, we should maintain a balance between sports and education, entertainment and responsibility.
I pray that Allah Almighty grants us the ability to adopt moderation and stay safe from this undue obsession with sports. Amen, O Lord of the Worlds.