Assalamualaikum,
What did you guys think of the World Cup? I’m sure it left as quicklyas it arrived. Conveniently I was supporting Spain.
As some of you know, alhamdulilah I managed to experience the worldcup fever in South Africa and it was definitely an experience toremember. It’s obvious that there’s many aspects of it that, asmuslims, we don’t agree on. Be it the wastage of money, alcoholconsumption, heedlessness or the amount of time it distracts us fromour responsibilities.
Many lessons can be extracted from the world cup. South Africa held ahugely succesful world cup. Much was said before the event started.South Africa had a reputation of a country rife with racial tensionand discrimination. A third world country naysayers were saying doomedto fail under the limelight. But as the final curtain comes to aclose, everyone can see it was an event to be remembered, one of thebest runned world cup ever perhaps. And we can only see that it onlycomes with detailed planning and investments. They invested billionsinto infrastructure and many man hours. From the state to thevolunteers to the residence, everyone put in their share of work.Logistical planning was a nightmare especially since S Africa is onlya third world country. It needed to practically built brand newstadiums, transport infrastructure, and plan for each detail ofhosting world cup. As you can attest now they pulled it off and thefireworks display at the end of the final proved to be a fitting end.
We saw Spain lifting the cup the first time in history. I’d say it wasa deserving victory for them as they played some of the mostentertaining and consistent football. I’m certain it came withpreparation. They ply their trade at one of the best leagues in theworld, harnessing their skill through good competition and company.
We saw how the french team went into complete disarray under theircoach. The vastly talented team disintegrated into chaos throughrebellion of their captain. Immediately we saw the effect on thepitch. They left in disgrace, the wrath of their whole nation behindthem. Showing the importance of the management and coaching team.
For us, we need to see who our teachers are, who are guiding us,whether it’s in accordance to Quran or the Sunnah. Whether we have theright teacher to teach, befriend and guide us on the correct path.Whether we have a healthy relationship with the Quran or not. It alsoteaches us the importance of communication as the french team broughtthe whole world into their internal feud. The spanish team was mainlyfrom Barcelona (without Messi) so we could see the special togethernesswithin them that brought them their success. Unity of the ummah is ofutmost important as we all know. It’s one of the most integral part ofour ummah.
And we know at the end of the day, regardless how well you areplaying, it is Allah who decides as He wish. Teams like Germany playedwell, Argentina was the overwhelming favourites but it is Allah whowill permit the winner.
So as the team progressed and the world cup comes to an end, we seeit’s all about organisation, about planning, about resolve, aboutcollaboration between groups and people. I saw inherent in everyone,the quality that we can work together, we can live together regardlessof our background if we share a common goal. We are talking aboutSouth Africa who only 20 years ago had the apartheid system in placeand they could put their differences aside to host and enjoy the worldcup together. A country with many ethnicity and 11 officiallanguanges.
For the opening match, since it was on a Friday, the muslim societyorganised a jumuah solah on an empty field near the stadium. Theattendance was so overwhelming it overflowed out of the field. Men andwomen came in their bafana bafana colours, some with flag colouredhijabs and the field was overflowing with people. It was especiallymemorable since women overthere don’t usually go to the masajid forfriday prayers due to the lack of space.
So Shaaban is our opportunity to start planning for Ramadhan. We needto create the buzz for Ramadhan so that when it comes, we are ready toreceive it’s bountiful blessings. We need to start talking about thevirtues or Shaaban and Ramadhan to each other. Remind each other ofthe Sunnahs. Do voluntary fasting together with friends, encouragepeople to do good. If they have trouble waking up for subuh, call andremind without being judgmental. Go to mosque together and rememberit’s a colloborative effort of all muslims. Bring out the Vuvuzelas,the jabulanis, the flags, the banners of Ramadhan. I don’t mean itliterally but you know, our Quran, attires, banners, Cds or whateverit is that we can to create that buzz. Let us feel the atmosphere ofShaaban and Ramadhan so that at the end or Ramadhan we are among thesuccesfull ones. The ones lifting the trophy and enjoying the fruit ofsuccess.
As I left South Africa, everyone was saying how they feel sad that theworld cup is coming to an end. Let’s make sure that we feel the sametowards the end of Ramadhan. Just in the space of a month, the world’s view on africa seems to havechanged. From a country known languishing in myriad of issues likepoverty, HIV infection, languid infratructures and high crime rates toa country beeming with hope and potential. Let’s make our Ramadhan ourmonth of change and paradigm shift.
Let’s make this Ramadhan one to remember. We can emulate the samefervour, the same excitement that we put to the world cup to ourspecial month. Put the same passion that we had in cheering for ourteams, for staying up late into the night to watch the games, intotalking about our favourite players and their profiles, into teamtactics and their blunders. With all the buzz going around, we get those who usually don’t watch football suddenly become temporary fans.
Lastly we make dua that Allah allows us to meet Ramadhan this year,give us the guidance to fully benefit Ramadhan. May He accept all ouribadah and let us meet Syawal with increase taqwa and all our sinsforgiven.
