Naheed Baluch
Naheed experienced mixed emotions as she anxiously anticipated the cricket match. Yet at the same time, she felt guilty that watching it would be a waste of time.
Once the match began, the cheering sound of her siblings tempted her to step out of her room and have a “quick glance” at what was going on in the match. The so-called glance that was supposed to have taken only a few seconds actually took half an hour. At the end of the day, she had seen most parts of the match.
Coincidentally, the next day in class, as if Allah was giving her a message, the following ayah was part of the lesson in class:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا أُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
“And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech to mislead [others] from the way of Allah without knowledge and who takes it in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment.”
[Al-Quran-Surah Luqman:6]
She started pondering on how much of a waste the previous day had been watching the match. She had achieved nothing. She made the intention notto make the same mistake again.
The following day, the next time the match was being played. Naheed tried her best to keep herself distracted as much as possible. She sat in her room, prayed, recited the Quran and completed her homework. She would leave the room occasionally, just to see the score but wouldn’t sit in the TV lounge for long.
At the end of the day, she was content that she spent her time doing good rather than engaging in Lahw-Al-Hadith.
Quran Reflections is a collection of thoughts and experiences of students of the Holy Quran. The blog aims to educate and inspire others to realize the beauty and significance of Allah's Book so that it may also impact the lives of many more around the world.
It’s sad how because of indulgence in lahwal hadith often our interpersonal relations and communication even within educated families becomes damaged. This also results in anxiety, depression and then spreads negativity all around. May Allah guide us to the light and away from darknesses. Ameen.
Very interesting post. I agree.
You know it is hard to remind people that cricket becomes “لهو الحديث” when watched/followed with such obsessive fervor and fixated attention. Allowing the outcome of a game to rule your heart and influence your emotions so heavily, is downright illogical, to say the least.
People get shocked at such a stance, then turn around and accuse one of being weird and “extremist”. 🙂
But I agree that the way most of us were tuned in to the semi-final match, so much so that we stopped doing work, and focused all of our thoughts, conversations and attention on a game of bat-ball for a whole day or more, was a real eye-opener.
Allah knows best.
subhaanAllaah, i must commend Naaheed for her effort. today it is hard to explain to anyone who has not studied the Qur’aan in detail, what lahw-al-hadeeth is and how sports fit into the picture. since it doesn’t really contain any element of fahshaa, or even music, a layperson would not be able to understand why wasting time on watching sports should be avoided.
Hiba I know what you mean.Cricket on the surface seems harmless.However,anything that takes us away from the remembrance of Allah swt is harmful or can adversely affect our Akhira.Again Shaitan makes one feel that watching it for a few minutes here and there won’t do any harm and we often fall in the trap of Shaitan.I was visiting someone when the India-Pak semi-final was going on and that person started watching cricket.I did sit in the same room but engaged that person in conversations.When I came home in the evening I stepped out of the Tv room and started praying.Alhamdulillah when I got out of the room the match was over.The point is no one can really make us watch or listen to lahw al hadith if we don’t want to.Deep down we want to be part of it ourselves.