What is the ruling upon the prostration of gratitude (Sujood Shukr) done by the players in a game (referring to football)?
Answer.
The ball and playing with the ball (in a game) aren’t from a Ni’amah (blessing), and the Sujood Ash-Shukr (prostrations of gratitude) are done upon the recieving of a blessing. And it’s a Bid’ah (innovation) to do it in this context (of ball-games). What did we get from this ball (game of ball)? And how did the Muslims benefit from this? Except by wasting their youth, and not benefitting from that … rather it is (these games are) a harm upon the Muslims. End quote.
-Shaikh Saleh Al-Fawzan from his explanation of Mukhtasar Za’ad Al-Ma’ad of Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab (22/5/1430 AH, 61:08 mins).
-Translated by Mohammed bin Thajammul Hussain Manna.
Saheehus-Seerah 