The archangel Gabriel came down to a cave in Mount Hira and revealed the Koran to the prophet Mohammed. He did this in the month of Ramadan and since then it has been a special time for Muslims. As a consequence, professional sportsmen all over the world who follow Islam have faced a moral conflict. It is stated in Sura 2, number 185 of the Koran that all Muslims should fast, in order to give thanks to God and appreciate what they have. “The fast begins and ends when you can see the moon,” is what is written, meaning that between dawn and dusk they are not allowed to eat or drink.
Ramadan will begin on 6th June and run until the 5th of July this year, meaning that it will span most of the European Championship in France (from 10th June to 10th July). The Muslim professional footballers taking part will have to make a decision between their faith and their health, as it is indisputable that without the proper nutrition their bodies would end up damaged and their performances would suffer. This is something that Mesut Özil explained in the Express: “The weather is too warm in summer and we have intense training sessions and matches. Therefore, it wouldn’t be possible for me to fast.”
The World Champion knows that he is not going against his religious practices by doing this, something he explained before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The central council of Muslims has taken the stance that sportsmen are allowed to break their fast since 2010. Chairman of the council, Aiman Mazyek, outlined this in a meeting with DFB.de three years ago: “Professional footballers, as well as other professional sportsmen, are able to catch up on their fasting outside of Ramadan. The position we have taken is supported by Al-Azhar, one of the leading Islamic authorities. Our opinion on the point at hand is that professional footballers are employed in a line of work that demands a high amount of physical exertion. Professional footballers can catch up on their fast days later in the year.
The archangel Gabriel came down to a cave in Mount Hira and revealed the Koran to the prophet Mohammed. He did this in the month of Ramadan and since then it has been a special time for Muslims. As a consequence, professional sportsmen all over the world who follow Islam have faced a moral conflict. It is stated in Sura 2, number 185 of the Koran that all Muslims should fast, in order to give thanks to God and appreciate what they have. “The fast begins and ends when you can see the moon,” is what is written, meaning that between dawn and dusk they are not allowed to eat or drink.
Ramadan will begin on 6th June and run until the 5th of July this year, meaning that it will span most of the European Championship in France (from 10th June to 10th July). The Muslim professional footballers taking part will have to make a decision between their faith and their health, as it is indisputable that without the proper nutrition their bodies would end up damaged and their performances would suffer. This is something that Mesut Özil explained in the Express: “The weather is too warm in summer and we have intense training sessions and matches. Therefore, it wouldn’t be possible for me to fast.”
The World Champion knows that he is not going against his religious practices by doing this, something he explained before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The central council of Muslims has taken the stance that sportsmen are allowed to break their fast since 2010. Chairman of the council, Aiman Mazyek, outlined this in a meeting with DFB.de three years ago: “Professional footballers, as well as other professional sportsmen, are able to catch up on their fasting outside of Ramadan. The position we have taken is supported by Al-Azhar, one of the leading Islamic authorities. Our opinion on the point at hand is that professional footballers are employed in a line of work that demands a high amount of physical exertion. Professional footballers can catch up on their fast days later in the year.
