Muslim snooker player who fears Allah

It was narrated that Ma’qil ibn Yassaar said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “For one of you to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle is better for him than that he should touch a woman who is not permissible for him.”

Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, 486. Shaykh al-Albaani said in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5045, that this hadeeth is saheeh.

Often when a brother reaches the top of their career or the heights of fame they fall down in their deen, putting on the cross of St George of the Union Jack and speaking out against Islam and the practicing Muslims in the interests of their new kuffar awliyah.

Mashallaah it is therefore good to see a brother setting a good example to the youth even if it means taking flack for it, when others are quick to turn against the teachings of the deen over even small easy matters nevermind big more difficult beliefs and actions of our deen.
Muslim snooker player, Rory Mcleod has had a big run-in with a top match official after refusing to shake a female referee’s hand after a match.

Brother Rory wouldn’t hands with Chinese referee Ivy Zhu after winning his qualifying match for the Australian Open, prompting top referee Jan Verhaas to criticise the player for what he saw as a snub even though the female referee herself didn’t seem to have any issues with this Rory putting his deen before western customs.
McLeod, from Northamptonshire, was in 2009 the first black player to take part in the world championship at the crucible in Sheffield and reverted to Islam in 2000 and has explained in the past how his faith helps him with his game.

Rather than relaxing to music or chatting up some young female fans like other sports he is instead usually seen listening to verses from the Quran on his iPod, a habit which he claims, “calms me down… I find there are no better words or speech than that to help put me in the right state of mind.”

May Allaah (swt) reward Rory for his courage in putting this small teaching of islam first, ameen.
We are Muslims first and we should be submitting to Allaah first then everything else comes after this, and there is no obedience or pleasing the creation that should be done if it is displeasing to Allaah.

As Muslims we are forbidden to touch women we do not have a close relationship to or are married to, as touching is often the first step leading to flirting, and later fornication and Allaah says in the Quran “Do not come near fornication” meaning stay away from whatever leads to it.

Many Muslims make light of this teaching, or think it is acceptable to go against it just because their boss / lecturer / teacher or kuffar friends may think less of them, but what is worse? that a non-practicing muslim or kafir thinks less of you and is angry with you or that you anger and displease the creator of those beings?

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