By: Samsul Nizar
Professor and Head of STAIN Bengkalis
Almost every FIFA world cup event contains many surprises. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar was no exception. It is fascinating to consider the early surprises that occurred during the competition. Every time it rolls across the green field, “the round skin” (ball) reveals the lesson-packed surprise.
The State of Qatar has observed the defeat of major nations such as Argentina at the hands of Saudi Arabia and Germany at the hands of Japan as if learning a valuable lesson. However,powerful football nations are still capable of picking landslide victories, such as Spain’s over Costa Rica and England’s against Iran. In addition to everything else, the fall of great power is analogous to an “elephant in the hands of an ant,”There is ample proof that nothing is impossible if Allah wills it.
Several important lessons can be derived from this occurrence, including:
First, a round ball reflects the future and human fate. One can observe human attempts, but no one can predict their outcomes. Everything continues to rotate and roll with the same opportunity area on all sides. Depending on one’s efforts, everyone has equal rights and possibilities. Every maximum effort and munajat accompaniment that is predicated on seizing fate will be able to provide opportunities for achieving the desired outcome. This is described by the Arabic proverb man jaddawajada (whoever is serious will surely succeed).
However, labour without prayer leads to arrogance and forgetfulness of God. Without faith, effort and prayer cause individuals to forget themselves. The onlyattempt, prayer, and resignation will provide the results attained through gratitude and modesty. However, if nothing is completed, lethargy and despondency are born. Allah SWT reminds people of this through His words: “That man receives only what he has worked for, and that his efforts will be revealed; then he will be repaid for his (charity) with the most excellent reward; Verily, to your Lord is the end (of all things)” (QS. An-Najm: 39-42)
This verse describes Allah SWT’s command to His servants to continually engage in suitable activities and undertakings. The human obligation is limited to trying, whereas Allah SWT decides the outcome. However, if all efforts are made under Islamic teachings, they will inevitably result in submission to the teachings of Allah and His Messenger. If the activity is conducted in violation of religious precepts, it will result in confusion and evil.
The ball skin at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar concealed a message from God encouraging humankind to persevere even if they are ignored. Suppose Allah wills it. Nothing is impossible so long as all efforts are made to their maximum. In that case, the method used always follows religious teachings. Munajat continues with the Almighty, relies on preparedness to accept all of His decrees, and employs all abilities to their fullest. According to humans, it is theoretically impossible, but according to God, it is possible.
For this reason, Allah enjoins humanitynever to surrender and give up. Allah declares this in His words: “Do not lose hope in Allah’s kindness. “No one despairs of Allah’s benevolence except disbelievers” (Surah Yusuf: 87).
The aforementioned verse encourages humans to adopt a positive outlook, persevere in their efforts, and take their hopes seriously. This is because a pessimistic, difficult-to-move-forward, constantly grumbling, and “moringa-leaf” view of the future is the result of a pessimistic outlook.
Second, refrain from being arrogant about being “large” and feeling terrific. In the meantime, do not quit, be pessimistic because you are “little,” or feel humiliated because you are the underdog. As long as the planet turns, day and night alternate, etc., nothing in human life is impossible. Everything, like a spinning wheel, has its time. Nothing endures eternally. Encourage self-correction and appreciation for the abilities of others while maintaining objectivity and sportsmanship. Allah is reminded of this by His words: “And do not turn away from mankind (out of pride) and do not swagger upon the earth. “Indeed, Allah disfavours people who are haughty and conceited” (QS. Lukman: 18).
A Jew’s arrogance will result in their demise. Avoid evaluating yourself as exceptional and deserving of “winning.” However, it is not overly optimistic to believe that you are the best. In reality, the self has no abilities. As the proverb goes, “measure the body by its shadow.” Or another adage states, “When you wish to embrace a mountain, your hands cannot reach it.” Naturally, everything must begin with evaluating one’s talents, not wishes. Safety will be attained if self-awareness (objective and professional) is present. However, if one’s own will is more prominent, one will experience grief. Do not gaze down with one eye on other individuals. Persons who are underestimated may become obstacles. Like the adage,“Beware of little pebbles, as they might be a tripping hazard and lead you to fall.” A proverb that requires thoughtful consideration. Because this adage teaches us to appreciate others without looking down on the tiny and praising only the great.
Present a mature outlook on life by recognising the equality of all people. This mindset becomes the capital for perpetual introspection. Everyone has an equal opportunity to demonstrate mutual respect through supporting healthy competition and professionalism.
Third, humans are only can plan, hope, and predict, whereas God’s decree is the most definitive. God’s law is absolute, even thoughArgentina and Germany are the clear favourites who will win because of their superior quality. Thus, Allah reveals every incident. However, people frequently doubt the veracity of His verses. Humans have always prioritised the predictions and calculations of their limited creatures, believing in fortune-tellers who are said to be able to “speak and command nature” to submit to them rather than the power of God or prioritising “whispers” news over the conscience that He provides to guide the truth. In truth, it is occasionally odd that animal fortune-tellers are trusted and that whisperers who are mentioned or heard are of poor quality. It is odd and absurd. The lofty man stooped to the level of animals and listened to the words of the leader of a lowly civilisation.
Fourth,build sportsmanship into the events that take place. Both Argentina and Germany conceded defeat and accepted the match’s outcome. No attempt was made to create a “scapegoat” to cover up his loss. All were accepted cordially, and his team’s deficiencies were swiftly addressed in preparation for the following encounter. Even though they were disheartened by their loss and departed the arena with their heads bowed, they will confidently enter the next match to accomplish victory. Sadness does not require mourning but dismay to correct one’s errors in order to gain more success.
Such an admirable attitude was demonstrated. A good approach that should serve as an example among the growth of “alibi innovators” who provide a formula for “scapegoats” in the event of defeat. A low self-image is characterised by a reluctance to acknowledge one’s own shortcomings and errors, despite a history of recurrent failures. Argentina and Germany exhibited the true sportsmanship of a highly civilised civilization when they experienced a real setback, not the sportsmanship of a lowly civilised nation.
Fifth, the game of round skin relies on teamwork rather than individual skill. It is impossible to separate a team’s success from the precision with which players are positioned according to their strengths. All players cooperate, assist one another, share, give and receive, work according to place and function, and never do harm. All players have a strong work ethic, are aggressive and dynamic when chasing and handling the ball, and have the same objective of getting the ball in the opponent’s goal and keeping the goal impregnable. When the ball successfully enters the opponent’s goal, everyone celebrates the victory.
In actuality, only one person was able to enter. The steadiness and collaboration of all teams make everything tangible. The view of collaboration that is harmonic, dynamic, avoids jealousy, is not selfish and greedy, and is “grateful” when winning is a shared success on and off the field.
What a sighted life is outside of the football field. When humans are more concerned with the individual side, want to control the ball but only wait for the ball and not “pick up the ball,” want to control themselves and don’t want to share, feel the greatest and most qualified by looking cynically at others, don’t want to help but always expect help (especially efforts gaining support), have a happy party amidst the suffering of friends, and so on.
In reality, people inhabit God’s spherical, skin-like planet. Although the small round skin can develop a harmonious life in a limited area, humans are arrogant and live in harmony on a giant round planet. What a difference!
Sixth, the Achievement Award, a gift from the Saudi Arabian government to the players in the form of a whip and a show of gratitude to the “heroes” who brought honour to the nation. Prizes are awarded to people with actual accomplishments, not those who are just good at speaking or making funny expressions. Prizes are awarded to those who make the nation proud, not those who dishonour it and sell its prestige. What is being done is in accordance with Allah’s promise via His word: “And those who believe and perform good actions, We will eventually admit them to Paradise, where rivers flow, and there they will remain forever. And Allah’s promises are fulfilled. Who is more faithful than God? (QS. An-Nisa’: 122).
This is the correlation between God’s promise of “heavenly gifts” to his righteous servants and his promise of “hell gifts” to his servants who perform evil deeds. Lessons that frequently conflict and contradict one another in a life filled with “interests and deceit.” When humans prefer to provide “pleasure gifts” to wrongdoers and “sanctions and punishment” to those with virtue and integrity, everything is contingent on the “gift type” giver’s character. In social science, the type of gift and the recipient of the gift depends on the quality of the gift provider. The description of the types of presents and the recipients is a reflection or description of the character characteristic of the gift giver.
If self-righteousness is present, it will bestow blessings on the righteous. However, if self-error is a quality, it will reward people who are incorrect. Then, do you still question the veracity of God’s power when His verses are so eloquently demonstrated? God gave people the ability to choose which types of plants to cultivate. Because everything will bear fruit and be harvested by people in the future, based on the selection of plants they planted on Earth, we anticipate other surprises at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and other surprises that (may, are, or will be) occurring as the world evolves. Hopefully, it will be a positive surprise that brings goodness to the entire universe. Amiin
WaAllahua’lam bi al-Shawwab ***.
Translated by RiskaSaputra, S.Pd
Alumni of the English Education Study Program of STAIN Bengkalis
Master Student at Graduate Institute of Network Learning Technology in National Central University, Taiwan
