By Nile Hosni —
Before delivering an outstanding performance in the knockout stages of the World Cup, Egypt’s national team gathered for prayer — to curse Jews and Christians.
“Guide us to the straight path — the path of those upon whom you have bestowed favor, not of those who have incurred your wrath or of those who are gone astray,” they prayed in Arabic, reciting from Qur’an 1:6-7.
Normal interpretation among Muslims:
- those whom Allah has bestowed favor = Muslims
- those who have incurred Allah’s wrath = Jews
- those who have gone astray = Christians.
Then the soccer team prayed emphatically, repeating three times Qur’an 5:73: “Infidels are they who say Allah is one in a trinity. There is only one God. If they do not stop saying this, the infidels will be afflicted with a painful torment.”
After thus calling down Allah’s wrath upon their “Christian” Argentinian opponents, Egypt took to the field and lost 2-3.
The Egyptian Football Association released the video of the locker room prayers titling it “The Secret to Victory.”
So much for sportsmanship and unity through sport.
“A team that finds unity by reciting verses traditionally understood to condemn Christian beliefs is hardly creating an environment where Christian participation is welcomed,” observes the Hungarian Conservative.
Coptic Solidarity has documented a long-running history of excluding Christians from the Egyptian soccer team. Egypt’s team at the World Cup was 100% Muslim.
Related content: Jeremy Doku on being a son of God before being a soccer player, Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus praises Jesus in front of millions of fans, Khallil Lambin came to God by reading the Qur’an.
