(WASHINGTON, D.C., 12/17/2022) On behalf of our member institutions and American Muslims, the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) full-heartedly hails the two global heroes of World Cup 2022:
The State of Qatar for its Islamically stellar and unprecedentedly visionary accomplishments in winning, organizing, and hosting the very best FIFA tournament by far in the Federation’s 92 year history.
And Morocco’s Semifinalist Atlas Lions football family for their unimaginably inspiring team play, humility, and banner-raising performance for the global Muslim Ummah.
“By every meaningful measure – competency, hospitality, peace, security, diversity, athletic prowess, and the sheer shared joy and enthusiasm of fans worldwide – the significance and overwhelming success of the 2022 World Cup games cannot be exaggerated,” said Oussama Jammal, USCMO secretary general.
“Against a centuries-long continuous projection of a defaming and biased portrayal of Muslims, Arabs, Africans, and the Global South – Qatar’s World Cup and Morocco’s players, coaches, families, and fans emblazoned a sustained and unmistakably genuine, human picture of these peoples; the many-splendored beauty of their cultures, capacities, and humanity; and, above all, the nobility and uncontained breadth of the religion of Islam,” said Jammal.
Indeed, who could not be moved by the open prostrations of humility and thankfulness to God of Morocco’s players and staff in victory after victory carrying them ever-upward into the improbable heights of the semifinals.
And in the true spirit of all praise to God in every condition that Islam instills in its followers, the Moroccan players’ prostrations, foreheads to the earth in thanks to God, were even more moving in their loss to France. Grateful in victory. Grateful in defeat. Grateful, ever and always.
What an inspiration for our Muslim young – with no wholesome, global attention-grabbing event like it in our times – equally inspiring by their prayers and mutual goodwill, hope, and celebration, both in these Moroccan players’ passionate competitiveness in the heat of the fray and cool remembrance of the One who gifted them with all things, win, lose, or draw.
They played for more than themselves – set free to speak their hearts by their gracious Qatar hosts – never forgetting their besieged brothers and sisters in beleaguered Palestine. They and their fans raised the latter’s flag in victory alongside their own, singing loud the song of the Muslim heart in undying devotion. Oh Al-Aqsa, never are you forgotten. They loved for their brothers and sisters what they loved for themselves … and we sang and loved right along with them.
Through all the thrills and spills, the rollercoaster of World Cup 2022 emotions, the hundreds of thousands of fans from every corner of the world almost in unison bore vocal witness to the great living tradition of famed Arab hospitality and Muslim friendship, that turned this greatest tournament on earth back into a family festivity, a joyful celebration of our common humanity.
Qatar, team Morocco! We American Muslims applaud you, cheer you, pray for you and ask Allah to bless you, your peoples, your loved ones, your lands, and your livelihoods from the bottom of our hearts. Allah grant you life, light, and His Divine Love in this life and in the Hereafter.
Thank you for representing us and making us proud in the best possible way.
