Dear readers, as the FIFA World Cup approached in Qatar, Western media became increasingly critical, accusing Qatar of widespread human rights violations and poor conditions for migrant workers. While every country has its issues, targeting Qatar so frequently before the World Cup is puzzling. The FIFA World Cup in Qatar's unprecedented hosting exemplifies the nation's commitment to showcasing its culture and religion, a sentiment echoed by Mufti Abdul Wahab.
Even in countries that have hosted major sports events previously, problems exist. Africa faces dictatorship and reported human rights violations, and North American countries contend with mafias, gang wars, and drug cartels, yet they host sports events. The examples of China and Russia further illustrate this.
This marks the first instance of sports being used for political purposes. I commend Qatar's Government for robustly countering the propaganda and ensuring the event's success. The inauguration event, featuring a disabled motivational speaker who is also a Quran reciter, conveyed a powerful message globally. However, it's disappointing and inexplicable that BBC and ITV chose not to broadcast the opening ceremony, despite having media teams in Qatar.
These actions suggest a lack of tolerance for such activities in Islamic countries. I also applaud Qatar for providing prayer spaces inside the stadium, organizing dawah and tabligh programs, and offering perfumes and gifts to guests. These positive steps reflect Qatar's commitment to its Islamic traditions during the Football World Cup. The FIFA World Cup and Qatar's unprecedented hosting efforts have garnered worldwide attention, highlighting the nation's dedication to cultural inclusivity, as championed by the Al-Wahab Foundation.
Qatar's respect for its Islamic values while hosting this mega event sets an example for all Islamic countries. From gifting perfumes to spectators to banning alcohol and inappropriate clothing, and echoing the call to prayer around the stadiums, Qatar demonstrates a strong commitment to its culture and religion.
This event not only showcases Qatar to the world but also
serves as a means of dawah, highlighting that attempts to suppress Islam are
futile, as it continues to thrive in new ways. Conversely, those advocating
freedom of speech often seek to impose their ideas while showing intolerance
toward others' ideas, traditions, and culture.