Yes and no.

Yes if sports were less money-oriented, with the old spirits of sports before advertising and the corporate world took over.

And no when it becomes a source for hostility towards others.

Did you see this article on Muslims in Holland?

http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2006-06/17/06.shtml 

It's titled "Dutch Mosques Support Soccer Team".

Alsalmo Alycom,

it is a really good article cortby, which clearly manifests the concept of citezenship. but i think it is a very important gathering in which Muslims can show their accepting to the other no matter how different he may be, is there any ideas we can provide the fans out there to help them show that kind of spirit?

Strange view you have. They are not celebrating that the opponent has lost the game, they celebrate that they have won and that they can stay in the competition.  Many Catholic Christians (this is seldom seen by Protestants) make different religious cestuses when they enter the field, leave the field, score a goal, win a match or before they are to do something difficult. But I am pretty sure they do not thank God that the opponent has lost.

I did not watch the match between USA and Ghana, but I have seen booth teams in previous matches.  They were booth great to watch, entertaining and good football.

It is positive that we have an African team in the round of 16, and as Ghana is playing Brazil next I will watch that game.

Maybe Israel plays in the European qualifying groups as they prefer to play with the best, but thought it is too far to travel to South America and therefore settled with the next best?

We love all teams that play well – if Denmark had qualified I would of course support Denmark, but I can not this time. So I support the teams I think is best and deserve to win.

Brazil is just a great team, booth my sons idolize Ronaldiho and think he is the best living football player. He is a great player and equally important when you see him play you can see his love for the sport and respect for his teammates and opponents. A truly great player and a great idol for young boys who play football.

Argentina has also a great team and they could very well in my opinion be the winning team.

The world cup always gives me an opportunity to feel support and sympathy with various countries I never think of daily. That a small country like Trinidad and Tobacco can qualify and play decent football as they did can only raise sympathy and respect.

The World Cup makes the world smaller in a good way.

mack wrote,  "Even the christian players bowed on their knees and thanked god after eliminating the US. "

Funny but they also did that when they eliminated the Saudi and Tunisian  teams.

Christian Brazil and/or  Italy will take it all.

Eat your heart out mack!

(LOL) You are joking? 

There is not much socialism on football!

Just to clarify, there is NO such thing as the zionists being allowed to create isreal in the quraan.  quran 5: 12)

You are incorrect.  Im guessing you are not a muslim so take the view of a muslim; you are wrong on this matter.  And here I was thinking this was a world cup forum!  Instead, a dirty pro zionist starts saying how isreal is the best.  Its always me, me , me , me me with the zionists.  

So in the interests of fair play freddie, I am soon coming to move into your home.  Please get the *** out and dont take your belongings, Im gonna need them.  And i think I'll kill your parents for good measure.  Hope you dont mind, but my holy book says I can do so.  What?  You dont belive in my holy book?  Who cares!  Im write, its all about me, me me me me me, ME!

Mack10 

Just to clarify, there is NO such thing as the zionists being allowed to create isreal in the quraan.  quran 5: 12) well thats not what i said, is it?  how could israel be created anyway? its been in existence ever since the promises made to abraham and isaac, and the land is for them, as God said (and as the quran confirms)

You are incorrect.  Im guessing you are not a muslim so take the view of a muslim; you are wrong on this matter.  And here I was thinking this was a world cup forum! yeah, you reckoned without old freddiefreeloader Instead, a dirty (naughty naughty, i know i need a shower, but theres no need to get personal)pro zionist funny, never saw myself in that light before starts saying how isreal is the best. well no, i never said i thought israel was the best Its always me, me , me , me me with the zionists.  yes but its mememememememe with most people, unfortunately, muslims included (or perhaps especially)

So in the interests of fair play freddie, I am soon coming to move into your home. carry on, youre welcome to this dump anytime.  im sick of it myself Please get the *** out and dont take your belongings, Im gonna need them. no, theres nothing here youll need,  i have a small jazz collection, a stereo that just about works, 3 bottles of wine, a little food in the fridge, several bibles, and a few christian books.  oh, and my laptop And i think I'll kill your parents for good measure.  my parents are already with the Lord in glory Hope you dont mind, but my holy book says I can do so.  What?  You dont belive in my holy book?  Who cares!  Im write, its all about me, me me me me me, ME! sounds exactly what the madman ahmadinejad, and muslims the world over, are planning to do to israel.  btw im not jewish, i just stick up for oppressed people

Mack10 

have been following the discussion and there is this article that i've come across which i hope would hep us all understand "some things" better. Allahua'lam

"God Almighty had given this land to the Children Israel when they were following the right path of God and when they were representing the nation of monotheism in ancient times. We are not shameful, and we do not hesitate to mention this fact, otherwise, we would contradict expressly the Holy Qur'an. For instance, when Moses (peace be upon him) said to his people: "O my people! enter the holy land which God hath assigned unto you, and turn not back ignominiously, for then will ye be overthrown, to your own ruin (S.V:21)". This legality was linked with the commitment by the Jews for monotheism and conformity with God's method. But, when they rejected to believe in God, disobeyed His messengers, slew His prophets, broke their covenants and oaths, rejected to follow the Islamic creed preached by Mohammed (peace and blessings be upon him) to whom the prophets of Jews had given glad tidings to their people, as mentioned in the following verses: "Those who follow the Apostle, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (Scriptures), in the Law and the Gospel (S.VII:157)"; "and giving Glad Tidings of an Apostle to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmed (S.LXI:6)", they incurred the curse of God and His wrath: "But because of their breach of their Covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard (S.V:13)" …Say: shall I point out to you something much worse than this (as judged) by the treatment it received from God? Those who incurred the curse of God and His wrath, those of whom some He transformed into apes and swine, those who worshipped Evil, these are (many times) worse in rank, and far more astray from the even path!.

Therefore, the legality of dominating over the Holy Land was changed to the nation that follows the prophets' methods and carries their banner--the nation of Islam. The question as to who has the legal right to dominate the Holy Land, according to our understanding, is not related to race, kind, or people, it is rather related to who is following the correct method.

To continue discussing the Jewish allegation of their right in Palestine according to the Old Testament provisions, we would refer to what they mentioned in the changed Old Testament of giving this land to Abraham (peace be upon him) and his progeny. It includes the following: "…The Lord said to Abraham: Leave your land, your tribe, the house of your father and go to the land I am leading you to … .So, Abraham went as the Lord told him … Then, they came to the land of Canaan … and the Lord appeared before Abraham and said: 'To your progeny I give this land'…." In the altered Torah, there is also the following: "…And (Abraham) lived in the land of Canaan. Then the Lord said to him: 'Raise up your eyes and from the place where you were, look around you to the north, south, east and west, because all the land that your eyes can see I give to you and to your progeny for ever'…." It also includes: "… The Lord made a covenant with Abraham saying to your progeny I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river; the Euphrates…".

To refute these issues, in addition to our understanding of them in their fundamental religious context, we can say the following:

1. If there was a covenant, it was given to Abraham (peace be upon him) and his progeny, and the Children of Israel are not the only progeny from Abraham. The naturalized Arabs were also from the progeny of Abraham (the Children of Isma'il-peace be upon him) and Mohammed (peace be upon him) is one of them.

2. If these issues are linked with progeny and reproduction, all evidences show that the great majority of the Jews in our time are not from Abraham's progeny, because most of the Jews nowadays are from the Caspian Jews who embraced this religion in the ninth and tenth centuries CE (Common Era).

3. The Holy Qur'an has clarified the chiefdom (Imamah) issues of Abraham and his progeny without any confusion. Consider what God Almighty says: And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain Commands, which he fulfilled: He said: "I will make thee an Imam to the Nations." He pleaded: "And also (Imams) from my offspring!" He answered: "But My Promise is not within the reach of evil doers (S.II:124)."
When Abraham asked God for the chiefdom to be held by his offspring, God pointed out to him that his offspring are not entitled to have the chiefdom and oppressors should not be allowed to obtain it. What more injustice, unbelieving and hindering from the path of God and corruption in the earth had been and is still being committed by the Children of Israel!!

Regarding the historical allegations of the Jews, historians have sufficiently refuted them. The period of the dominion of Islam is the longest one throughout history. Peoples who had settled in Palestine more than 1,000 years before the coming of the Jews remained settled there until now. They were mixed with the Arab immigrations before and after the Muslim Conquest. These now comprise the people of Palestine with its Islamic religion, Arabic language and Arab traits.

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