Is it permissible for a Muslim to take payment for playing football or basketball?

It is permissible to play football or basketball if it is free from religious prohibitions such as exposing the 'awrah (private parts), missing congregational prayers, inciting tribalistic sentiments, or offering stakes (monetary rewards) in it. This is because the general rule for competitions is that it is not permissible to offer stakes except in what has been explicitly stated by the Shari'ah, which are competitions involving horses, camels, and arrows, and what is appended to them that aids in jihad, due to the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: "No prize is allowed except for arrows, or hooves (horses or camels)." Accordingly, football matches that involve money or prizes are forbidden because they constitute gambling. However, if the match is without stakes and does not distract from what Allah has made obligatory, and does not involve any forbidden elements, then there is no harm in it or in watching it.