Islamic scholars are divided over whether it is permissible for footballers to prostrate themselves in gratitude to God after scoring a goal, a practice which has attracted the attention of both the media and religious clerics in the last few years. Local newspapers reported this week that a member of the Saudi Fiqhiyyah Association – a think tank based at the Muhammad Bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh – was due to announce his verdict on the matter following a review of some 40 studies. Saleh Bin Mugbel Al-Usaimi is expected to conclude that prostration on the football field is not acceptable in Islam. Prostration to give thanks usually occurs when receiving good news, such as the birth of a baby or upon obtaining a large amount of unexpected money. “So we must first ask ourselves,” says Sheikh Asem Al-Hakim, imam of Ja'fer Al-Tayyar Mosque in Jeddah, “if a goal is a blessing from God or not. If it is, then the player may in principle prostrate himself in thanks.” “But there are other issues involved,” Al-Hakim says. “How can the footballer, for example, perform prostration while he is wearing shorts and has not performed the required ablutions?” “Sport does nothing for the nation,” he continues. “Players and coaches earn enormous amounts of money even though they do not contribute to the development of the country.” Other Islamic scholars see the practice of prostration as at worst harmless. “Prostrating in a football stadium is better than saying or doing something offensive or imitating the behavior of Western players,” says scholar Abdullah Al-Jefn. “Footballers should present a good image of Islam and the Kingdom, especially when playing abroad.” Al-Jefn warns, however, that the actions must be sincere. “Is the player giving thanks to God, or is he merely showing off in front of the crowd?” he wonders. “Every society has non-verbal behavior with its own special meanings,” says Mansour Bin Askar, Professor of Islamic Social Studies at King Saud University in Riyadh. “It is acceptable for a player to prostrate himself on the football field, as this is taken as a sign of his thanks to God.” “All kinds of behavior are acceptable,” Bin Askar continues, “as long as they are not harmful to others.”
