Worship of Nike

[Muslimah]

Assalamu Alaykum:

I have learned that Nike was the winged goddess of victory that was worshiped by the Greeks. The Romans worshiped Victoria, the goddess of victory. The Romans believed Nike was the winged goddess of victory for athleticism and Victoria for victory over war. Victoria was a very common goddess worshiped in many temples by the Romans.

I believe that this is not a lost knowledge. This knowledge is known today. Nike is a very popular company make athletic shoes and clothing. They invest heavily in the Olympics. As Muslims, we do not worship the concept of Victory or strength or athleticism. We worship Allah and we know that there is no power or mighty except what is with Allah. In Toronto, Ontario, Canada, there is a statue of the winged goddess of victory holding a maple leaf at the Princes' Gate in front of the Canadian National Exhibition. This statue may be Nike.

Let us stay away from shirk and not be associated with the worship of victory or the flags that our nations carry, such as the maple leaf.