People are saying that to participate in kuffaar sports is a form of da'wah.

Answer

There are many atheists and drunkards, fussaaq and fujjaar who have beards. Islam is not encapsulated in the beard. There are millions of kuffaar who do not have alcohol logos on their clothes. Shaitaan knows how to manipulate stupid Muslim sportsmen who dwell in self-deception. For from bringing people closer to Islam, he is in fact bringing them closer to Jahannam. Allah Ta'ala says in the Qur'aan Majeed: "And, they ask you (O Muhammad!) about liquor and gambling. Say that in these two (acts) there is sin and many benefits for mankind. However, their sin is greater than their benefit."

In all things on earth there is benefit and harm. When the Shariah prohibits an act, we are not allowed to legalize it on the basis of its benefits. Assuming that participation in kuffaar sports is beneficial, then too it will be haraam on account of the numerous evils and sins.

The Muslim sportsman dwells in satanic deception if he thinks that the Deen could be spread by way of haraam. Even if someone embraces Islam as a result of associating with the faasiq sportsman, it will be like a kaafir man who commits adultery with a Muslim prostitute, then because he fell in love with her, embraced Islam and married her. Regardless of the end product, the prostitution remains haraam.

The obligation of Muslims is to obey the commands of the Shariah. The commands of the Deen may not be abandoned because of what we perceive will be beneficial effects stemming from such abandonment. Allah Ta'ala guides whomever He wills and the means of guidance are chosen by Allah Ta'ala. It is not for us to consciously embark on haraam, violate the Shariah and deceive ourselves that we are doing this for the sake of the Deen. Such lopsided and haraam logic is the product of Talbees -e-Iblees (the deception of Iblees). Our book, Sports and The Mu'min discusses sport in the light of the Shariah. Anyone interested may write for the book.