“I want to be an example for children everywhere, showing them that you can thrive when challenged—fasting for Ramadan, for instance, but also going all out in the NBA playoffs,” wrote Enes Kanter Freedom in 2019 for The Washington Post, when he announced he’d be fasting during the NBA playoffs.
According to the Darul Uloom Moonsighting Committee, the first day of Ramadhaan 1445 AH/the first day of fast is today.
The crescent moon to commence the month of Ramadhaan 1445 AH was looked for after the sunset of Sunday. Reports from committees (locally and regionally) confirmed that the moon was not sighted.
Ramadan is the holiest month for people who practice Islam.
The month of Ramadan presents a challenge for Muslim sportsmen and women with regards to planning for competition and training, whilst fasting.
This is a world where there is significant bigotry, discrimination, Islamophobia, anti-Muslim bias, and racism.
How in its stated objective to be inclusive, and diverse and to foster tolerance and non-discrimination is the sports world accommodating and creating a safe space for Muslim sportsmen and women of all age groups and levels from the professional to recreational?
What is the enabling environment here in Trinidad and Tobago and by extension the Caribbean?
What are national sports organisations (NSOs) and national governing bodies (NGBs) doing to create awareness and informed decision-making to protect the welfare of Muslim sportsmen and sportswomen? When you look at what’s involved in this holy month—the commitment, discipline, focus, and perseverance it takes to fast and still participate in sports. Those are attributes and character traits that translate into success not only in sports but life.
How do NSOs and NGBs ensure the Muslim community can enjoy the benefits of sport and exercise during Ramadan?
In the 1990s, Houston Rockets star basketball player Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon was vocal about his fasting. Before Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was intent on changing the public perception of Islam.
The six-time MVP and 19-time All-star converted to Islam at the age of 24 and left his birth name of Lew Alcindor behind.” I have never wavered or regretted my decision to convert to Islam,” Abdul-Jabar wrote in 2015.
In the NBA, fasting players can sub out of the game at sunset for a snack and a drink without disrupting the overall action and then re-enter the game a few minutes later.
Newspaper reports indicate that the MLS has joined the English Premier League and Germany’s Bundesliga in allowing officials to pause games to permit players to break their daily Ramadan fasts.
Here in T&T, have the TTFA and the T&T Premier Football League adopted a similar approach? What about other sports such as cricket, basketball, volleyball, hockey, and rugby to name a few?
What’s the position in school sports? The Trinidad and Tobago International Marathon this year is scheduled for Sunday March 24—during Ramadhaan. Will this impact Muslim athletes who may want to participate?
As it relates to Islam in Trinidad and Tobago, Muslim migration to Trinidad began with the enslaved Africans then came the Indentured Indians.
The role and contribution of Black Muslims in the history of Islam here in T&T seems to be a bit of a hidden history going back to slavery days. One can only wonder about the historical and sociological factors for this and its impact on the contemporary reality of the relationship between Islam and sport.
Sport and exercise during Ramadhaan- what is the Trinidad and Tobago and Caribbean reality?