Dua For Success Of Cricket/Football Team/Player.

Question:

Assalamualaykum
People say that make Du’a or I am making Du’a that such & such (football or cricket) team wins or such and such Muslim or Non-Muslim player does well.
1. I know/suspect that this is most probably wrong but how is it wrong & how can one explain to another person the reason for it being wrong?
2. Is it correct that one rationale is that Allah Ta’ala’s not involved in games of chance, such as football & cricket & hence it’s invalid to make Du’a for such matters?

Answer:Wa Alaikum As Salaam,Games like football and cricket are mere pastimes and things of amusement and play, which have no seriousness and objective. Dua is a great act of worship which is dear to Allah and must not be connected to pastimes and games. Applying Dua for such frivolities is a grave disrespect to ‘Dua’ which is a high form of Ibadah (worship).

And Allah Knows Best.

Mufti Waseem Khan.

5/5/2014