Praying Fields

Fasting During Football Season

Ohio State senior defensive tackle Nader Abdallah, the son of Palestinian immigrants, was raised a Muslim and began fasting for Ramadan when he was about 10 years old. Abstaining from food and beverages during the holy month is nothing new to him, but it has become more of a challenge since he started playing football. From sunrise to sunset, Nader does not eat or drink. He will not even take a sip of water during practice, no matter how hot and humid the day is.

Nader, who grew up in New Orleans, didn't start playing football until his junior year in high school. His father wanted him to concentrate on his schoolwork, not play games. It wasn't until his brother convinced his father that sports was a way to pay for college that Abdallah was allowed to go out for football. His family, which was displaced during Hurricane Katrina, now lives in Palestine. Nader is believed to be the first Palestinian to play major college football.

Tell me about Ramadan.
Ramadan is a month where people are fasting because it's a chance to feel how people who are less fortunate than us, people who don't have [advantages], who are unable to drink or eat, just to feel what they are going through. That's the reason we do this because there's a lot of people [less fortunate]. At nighttime, there's prayers. At nighttime, you go to the mosque and do prayer sessions every night. It's a real good month because it's a very holy month for us, and that's why we do it. It's a very holy month. Everything you do during this month, it counts extra. It's not all about fasting. It's all about treating people right, trying not to use bad words, doing all kinds of good things.

On game days, I excuse myself [from the fast]. I'll make it up after the month [Ramadan runs from Sept. 1 to 30 this year] is over. After the month is over, the days that I missed I make up. I do them over. I'll just go extra four days after the month is over.

How do you get through a day where you can't eat or drink?
It's all mental. When I was young, it was hard to do. But since I've been doing it for so long, you have to learn how to have willpower because it's extremely hard. Most people who haven't been doing it will crack, will cheat. It's a way bigger picture than that. It means so much more to just keep going.

I can imagine how hard it must be to get through a day when you're are not exerting yourself. How do you get through practice without drinking any water?
It's hard. It's really hard to explain. It's going to be very hard at times, and you have to keep pushing. There are some days out there where it gets real hard sometimes, but you have to keep pushing. You've got to believe that you can do it. You have to have willpower. You have to have a strong will.

Why is it important to you to play football and be true to your faith?
Because faith is number one at all times. You have to have that. Football is such an important thing in my life. These are two very important things, and I can't let one outweigh the other. You have to balance both. My core of my life is my religion, and that's everything that I go for. I'm not going to let football or anything interfere with that.

I understand that Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel asked you to bring him information about Islam.
Over the summer, coach came up to me. He was like, well, 'could you bring some Muslim hadiths, or quotes from the Qur'an, and bring it to us so we can put it in the winner's manual?' And I go, yeah, sure. So I did some research, went to a couple imams, people who preach in the mosque. We were going through some things, some good quotes, one on perseverance, one on faith, similar kind of stuff. I put it in the winner's manual. We have quiet time every day. Every day we pick a different section out of the winner's manual and have a couple quotes here and there. And I had a chance to read [the quotes] and get [the other players] enlightened about how we do things and what we preach. A lot of people say a lot of similar things [between Islam and Christianity], because it is very similar, both religions. They are very similar, but at the same time they're different.

What do your teammates ask you about Islam?
I have people all the time coming up to me saying, 'Hey, can you bring us some more things so I can learn more?' I have a couple coaches also who would like to know more. It's always good to broaden your horizons. I went to Catholic and Baptists schools [growing up]. It's always good to learn other religions and see what other people are preaching. It's really good to be well-rounded.

Growing up, I was mainly the only Muslim in school. But Coach Tressel does a great job. He doesn't discriminate in any way. He's open to all type of religions. He gives us a chance to be us. He understands completely my religion. He's always asking me questions about it, and he's always learning more.

Many football teams say the Lord's prayer in the huddle. What do you do during that time?
I bow my head and say my own prayer in my mind. When everybody is doing their own prayer, I'm down there bowing my head and doing my own prayer, just praying for the team. Pretty much like them, but in my own way.

Fasting during Ramadan is obviously one disadvantage for you as a Muslim football player. But are there ways in which Islam helps make you a better football player?
Oh definitely, because having the willpower that you have to have to do what I do, it just makes you so much more stronger as a person and as a teammate and as a student. It gives you a great core. When you have a great core, you'll be able to succeed in life. I was blessed to be where I am and the opportunities that I've had, and I'm just trying to make the most of it.

What's the most misunderstood part of your faith?
That it is violent. Islam is a very loving faith. It's very peaceful. It always preaches peace and love. It's not about the negative things. The extremists out there give it a bad name. We're pretty much just a very peaceful, loving religion, just trying to do good for other people, do great deeds in life.

I'll often hear athletes thank God after a win or a spectacular play. Do you have those same sentiments on the field?
I thank God all the time. Allah, all that is is God in another language, which is Arabic. When I say God, I'm just speaking in English. We believe in one God and one God only. So I would always say, 'Yes, thank God.' The main difference is that we don't believe that Jesus is the son of God. He's a prophet. He was in the Qur'an many times and he's a very popular prophet. We believe he was a great prophet. Prophet Muhammed was the last prophet. There's only one God. Our God did not have any sons. There's no trinity. There's only one God.

You're a senior. I'm guessing you'd like to play in the NFL. Do you think you can fast during Ramadan and play on an NFL team?
I can definitely do it. You just have to have the willpower, and I believe I can do it.

By Kathy Orton  |  September 19, 2008; 10:01 AM ET  | Category:  Praying Fields
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Duderino:
"Yikes. There are some SEROIUS lunatics that read the wapost online. You people should be ashamed of yourselves. I suppose it should be taken as a clue into the general intelligence/sanity of this paper's general readership. Not very flattering for the wapost. But I suppose that's probably the defining characteristic of racist, pseudo-educated yahoos. Nonetheless, I'm still periodically amazed how irrational and childish literate people can sometimes be. The inability of this subset of people to use rational information via prefrontal cortical action to generate decisions and opinions, instead relying on their emotional, limbic systems, is well documented: see http://www.salon.com/env/mind_reader/2008/09/22/voter_choice/ for a nice summary on some of the more interesting studies. Very importantly, these sorts of folks (e.g., the bigots who dominate this message board) pathologically overestimate their general competence - for example, to use information judiciously, say to generate an informed opinion about what islam is, or what muslims are like. And that's exactly what you muslim haters are doing - you're relying on the evolutionarily ancient parts of your brain to inform your worldview and decisions, rather than on the most highly evolved, uniquely human parts of your brain. These former regions are the same parts of our brain that we share with the simpler apes, and those simpler apes use those brain regions in a similar fashion to human bigots, and the results are the same - i.e. the generation of irrational, unproductive in-group/out-group partitioning. Huge amounts of reliable, well-documented information that contradict your silly beliefs are readily available - in books, online, on tv, in everyday life! But you folks don't care to look. You just turn off the rational parts of your brains when appropriate, and poof, you're always right. Sometimes it's so silly it's funny, but more often it's disturbing, sad, and depressing. This is most definitely the last time I ever glance at the comments section here. As far as I can tell, it's just a disgusting lovefest for anti-muslim bigots. Can't you people go to your blogs/websites and chat amongst your hateful selves? Why do you have to vandalize an almost respectable periodical with your idiocy?"


Haha, dude that is so perfectly summarized... WP guys, this should be posted on the front page!

Posted by: OZZIE | September 22, 2008 3:30 PM
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Maıreen,

*Religious Freedom* can not and should not be Endless,Boundless.

According to Submission,male can take(not marriage) 4 women.
Shall you say *Yes* ?
And whenever he likes,he can kick out one of his wives,while women have no right to divorce her master,
Shall you agree ?

Will US or any nation be governed due to US Constitution and Human Rights or tenets of Cult ?

The first duty of professional footballer or any profession is *best performance*,not *religious show*.Field of Football is the place of struggle,not place of worship.

Posted by: halozcel | September 22, 2008 1:45 PM
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Yikes. There are some SEROIUS lunatics that read the wapost online. You people should be ashamed of yourselves. I suppose it should be taken as a clue into the general intelligence/sanity of this paper's general readership. Not very flattering for the wapost. But I suppose that's probably the defining characteristic of racist, pseudo-educated yahoos. Nonetheless, I'm still periodically amazed how irrational and childish literate people can sometimes be. The inability of this subset of people to use rational information via prefrontal cortical action to generate decisions and opinions, instead relying on their emotional, limbic systems, is well documented: see http://www.salon.com/env/mind_reader/2008/09/22/voter_choice/ for a nice summary on some of the more interesting studies. Very importantly, these sorts of folks (e.g., the bigots who dominate this message board) pathologically overestimate their general competence - for example, to use information judiciously, say to generate an informed opinion about what islam is, or what muslims are like. And that's exactly what you muslim haters are doing - you're relying on the evolutionarily ancient parts of your brain to inform your worldview and decisions, rather than on the most highly evolved, uniquely human parts of your brain. These former regions are the same parts of our brain that we share with the simpler apes, and those simpler apes use those brain regions in a similar fashion to human bigots, and the results are the same - i.e. the generation of irrational, unproductive in-group/out-group partitioning. Huge amounts of reliable, well-documented information that contradict your silly beliefs are readily available - in books, online, on tv, in everyday life! But you folks don't care to look. You just turn off the rational parts of your brains when appropriate, and poof, you're always right. Sometimes it's so silly it's funny, but more often it's disturbing, sad, and depressing. This is most definitely the last time I ever glance at the comments section here. As far as I can tell, it's just a disgusting lovefest for anti-muslim bigots. Can't you people go to your blogs/websites and chat amongst your hateful selves? Why do you have to vandalize an almost respectable periodical with your idiocy?

Posted by: Duderino | September 22, 2008 1:45 PM
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Maureen claims her son remarked:
"You know, the Puritans came to America for religious freedom, but then they really didn't want to give religious freedom to anyone else."

Tell your son that this is called projection. Teach him that the hallmark of his religion is intolerance of other religions and the absence of freedom in his religion. Just tell your son to go to any predominantly Muslim country and say he is an apostate and see what will happen to him. Or let him pretend to be a non-Muslim and try to visit Mecca or Medina.
As for this football player not asking for special provisions, your Muslim organization are now suing public and private institutions for not building foot baths, providing special gyms for women , providing a special facilities for the five daily prayer rituals. etc. Wait till there are more than one football player in a major league before pontificating.

Posted by: AMH | September 22, 2008 12:43 PM
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If this young man wants to maintain his Ramadan fast during football season, I would suggest that he look at how professional athletes who are Moslems handle the same problem. Document their solutions, follow their suggestions, and present his case to the NCAA. Use the Internet - that's what it's for!

Posted by: Athena | September 22, 2008 12:24 PM
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I would have tolerated this interview about the fraud that is Ramdan had not the young Muhammadan footballer made snide remarks about Christianity, Trinity etc. The Trinity is about belief and Catholics believe that there is one God that has three aspects. It is no less or more credible tha the Muhammadan belief that the Arabic god Allah is the one and only God and that Muhammad is his last prophet.

Question for the Muhammadan footballer:

Would God have chosen a pedophile, a murderer, a thief , a child molester and a slave owner and dealer who murdered 800 Jews in one evening ( all this from Muhammadan books such as the hadiths, the Koran and the Sirat Rasuallah) as His prophet?

Posted by: Ted Baines | September 22, 2008 11:40 AM
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Wow!! How one story about one young man can unleash such vitriol and misinformed hatred. No where in the story does is imply that the NCAA is making ANY accomodations for this young man. On the contrary, the whole point is that he is following his faith DESPITE the "normal" world around him. How anyone could criticize this is amazing. My three children have fasted while playing football, taking AP classes, playing in marching band, taking SATs. They have sat with their friends in the school cafeteria and watched everyone around them eat and they have never ONCE complained. This discipline has helped keep them focused and dedicated to their studies. Our school has many Muslim football players. The best part is going to the Friday night games and seeing whole families, complete with women wearing traditional headscarves, yelling and screaming for their teams just like any other AMERICAN!!! Get over yourselves.My son who is taking AP US History this year made an interesting observation: "You know, the Puritans came to America for religious freedom, but then they really didn't want to give religious freedom to anyone else." We should all be supporting any young person who is following a good path. Would you be happier if he were doing drugs, having beer binges, and knocking up young girls, but in a "Christian" way?

Posted by: Maureen | September 22, 2008 10:08 AM
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Halozcel:
You correct me thus :"Besides, there was not any written quran during his lifetime.”
The Quran was not compiled during Mohammad’s lifetime, but was recorded on different materials and kept by different people. Below is an excerpt to that effect from the listed cite.

“There is a strong tradition that Aisha recalled a Sura that prescribed the death penalty for adulterers. It was written on a palm leaf that was in her home following Muhammad's death. Unfortunately, a goat wandered into the house and ate the leaf before it could be collected and merged into the other hodgepodge of writings that became the Qur'an.”
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/001-adultery_punishment.htm

You corrected me again thus:
"He was not a book keeper,but *gamel driver."
He travelled with Khadija's loaded camel caravans to Yemen and Syria, not because he knows how to lead a camel. Almost anyone could do that, but because his wife trusted him with her business.

Again you wonder "how could an unlettered man got *read* revelation?
He did not read the "revelation". He presumably heard it and then recorded it.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 22, 2008 9:43 AM
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Anonymous,

In your post,there are many *logical mistakes*.Yes.

1-*He merely claimed that in order to convince his follewers that he did not write quran*
-In that case,he was a manipulator and deceiver.This is an insult to the founder of islam.
-Besides,there was not any written quran during his lifetime.

2-*....sure he learned to keep her books*
-What you wrote doesnt prove his literacy.
-He was not a book keeper,but *gamel driver*(He used to know very well how to drive gamels and bedouins)

3-Lets suppose,assume he had been literate(not unlettered)
-Had it been possible to graduate from Oxford or Harvard ?

Anon,
You try to face a contrdiction in islam that how could an unlettered man got *read* revelation.
It is one of fifty contrdiction in submission.

Posted by: halozcel | September 22, 2008 6:03 AM
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An::: says in defence of the wars of aggression of the early Muslims:
“it is the nature of wars, especially tribal wars of days gone by, that people get slaughtered and the defeated are taken (some) into servitude.”

That is not necessarily so, but granting it was so, Jihad, which is a code for looting killing and enslaving, is the sixth pillar of Islam. You and your ilk consider it a divine command. That is the difference; it has the Creator's blessings. Got that?
“ who fought and were slain...I (Allah) will most certainly make them enter gardens beneath which rivers flow; a reward from Allah, and with Allah is yet better reward”
(Quran (3:195)


There are 164 similar Quranic gems listed in the cite below:
http://www.answering-Islam.org/Quran/Themes/jihad_passages.html

Posted by: Ibrahim Mahfouz | September 21, 2008 10:35 PM
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Mahfouz,

it is the nature of wars, especially tribal wars of days gone by, that people get slaughtered and the defeated are taken (some) into servitude.

Stop pontificating about cruelty of early muslims....

the Crusades were no different.

We know better now.

Posted by: An:: | September 21, 2008 6:13 PM
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CCNL says:
‘Mohammed was an illiterate, womanizing, lust and greed-driven, warmongering, hallucinating Arab.“

Please allow me to correct you. Mohammad was not illiterate. He merely claimed that in order to convince his followers that he did not write the Quran.
How could an illiterate person manage the far-flung business of his very rich first wife? Even if he were illiterate when he married Khadija, who was 25 years his senior, she would not have allowed him to assume the tremendous responsibility before making sure he learned to keep her books? She did not become very rich by being stupid.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 21, 2008 2:47 PM
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*Football is ''Haram''(Sin) according to the Prophet*

Had there been Football at time of prophet/founder ?

Football(NFL) in USA and Football/Soccer in Europe.

Chealsea 1 - Man.United 1

Have you seen from wide-screen HD TV ?
Have you seen Rouney and Lampart ?

Please,watch NFL,watch Soccer,watch NBA,watch Horse Race and observe stocks and try to swim and have a girlfriend and walk with her hand by hand.
Please,drink water(or a bottle of German beer or a glass of French wine or two sips of Scotch)...
Please,drink water,you shall be successful...
You shall achieve...

Posted by: halozcel | September 21, 2008 1:53 PM
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Posted by: Hark! Today is U.N. "PEACE-DAY"; Happy G-D Hunting & Happy Everyday | September 21, 2008 1:27 PM
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Football is "Haram" according to the Prophet, peace be upon him. Nader Abdallah should stop playing football if he truly is a devout follower of Islam.

Posted by: Muhammed | September 21, 2008 1:17 PM
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When Are Muslims Required to Fight, And Against Whom?
http://muslimsforasafeamerica.org/?p=4

Muslims For A Safe America encourages honest and informed discussion about how to make Muslims and America safer.

Posted by: MFASA | September 21, 2008 12:33 PM
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Hi,
Thanks for a great interview. It was really appreciated. Please continue with this type of interviewing of all people of good will.

Regards

Posted by: Alexandria | September 21, 2008 10:43 AM
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Thank you for the article. I too am a muslim but living in the UK and I am fasting at the moment, and it was refreshing to read . There is a difference about telling someone who wants to know about a religion and preaching. Though I attend a catholic college, it's multi-faith and learn about different faiths. I don't have to agree with you but I'll listen to what you have to say. Each to their own

i cant be bothered to read the other comments cos i'm sure there are some bigots about and I haven't got time for that

Posted by: sparklin_diamonds | September 21, 2008 8:07 AM
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Islam is just an excuse to murder infidels. Anyone who says otherwise is in denial and not looking at the facts. There is not a day that goes by when mulsims do not murder or plan to murder people who believe in a different faith. In a few years they will surpass the 6000000 people murdered by the nazis and we will still have people telling us it is a peaceful religion because they have met a muslim who does not kill

Posted by: TerpfaMA | September 21, 2008 7:47 AM
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What is the most misunderstood part of your faith ?

*Islam is very loving faith.It's very peaceful*

Would you please to show any peaceful islamic country ?

*It always preaches peace and love*

Does islam know what love is ? Where is love in islamic countries ? Saudi Arabia,Iran,Afghanistan or Pakistan etc.Who are walking hand by hand ?

*We're just trying to do good for other people*

What did you do good for other people that means infidels ?

Submission drinks blood(They drank at least 100 people blood in Pakistan yesterday)
Please,please try to drink water,not blood.

Posted by: halozcel | September 21, 2008 6:32 AM
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So the fast can be suspended on game day, but not for practice.

Who makes these decision? How can they be credible?

I agree that Islam is peaceful. Such has been my experience with muslims.

It's just that Islam contains so much ignorance.

Posted by: Tom Moran | September 21, 2008 4:47 AM
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Gasoline is expensive. I was in advance auto today and a guy came in reeking of the smell of gasoline. Three people in the store comment on it including the store manager. I was so bad that the manager was ready to ask the gut to leave.

Ironically, one of the people in the store was someone that I know, haven’t seen him for a long time but it was nice to see him again. Jim said to me that gut smells like he has been rolling in gasoline, that’s when the manager said he was going to ask the guy to leave because he smelled so bad. The guy in the parking lot said his engine caught fire from a gas leak and that he poured water on it and it didn’t stop the fire, he was in a black truck, and I could recognize both of them. The guy in the truck was talking about burning his wife to death with gasoline. I told him that he would go to jail for murder and that I would be a witness to what he said. He also told me that he has hidden cameras in his house to spy on his wife with microphones and that he put a GPS system on her car so he could track her whereabouts. I told him that he will go to jail for doing these things and he laughed and said I won’t get caught. I said the very ones that think that they are above reproach are the ones that get caught. He said he didn’t care that he had people to do it for him and that they would lie for him.
The guy said “she has to pay for what she did to me.”

Posted by: Anonymous | September 21, 2008 3:22 AM
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And Nader Abdallah would have answered:

Israel was established by the United Nations in 1948. Many Arab countries disagreed and fought two wars and continue to support guerrilla warfare activities over said establishment. Israel won the two wars and expanded the lands surrounding Isael as a result. They continue to fight Arab/Islamic "guerrillaism".

If the followers of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam would correct the flaws and errors in their religions, this conflict would end tomorrow as said religions would cease to exist.

Posted by: Concerned the Christian Now Liberated | September 21, 2008 3:13 AM
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Here are some questions that Kathy Orton should have asked:
1)What do you think of human rights organizations that champion tibet freedom, while supporting the ongoing ethnic cleansing of palestinains by the only apartheid democracy in the world.
2)Do you think palestinians are paying for western guilt over the "hollocaust".
3)Do you think zionists control "free american media". How do you feel about 6 million palestinian refugees living in concentration camps less the ovens.

Posted by: Truth | September 21, 2008 1:32 AM
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If Nader Abdallah only knew the truth about Islam, he would not be putting his life in jeopardy by not hydrating his body during practice and games i.e.

Mohammed was an illiterate, womanizing, lust and greed-driven, warmongering, hallucinating Arab, who also had embellishing/hallucinating/ plagiarizing scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers.

This agenda continues as shown by the assassination of Bhutto, the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/ mosque bombers, the Islamic bombers of the trains in the UK and Spain, the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani “koranics”, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases, the Taliban nut jobs, and the Filipino “koranics”.

And who funds this muck and stench of terror? The warmongering, Islamic, Shiite terror and torture theocracy of Iran aka the Third Axis of Evil and also the Sunni "Wannabees" of Saudi Arabia.

Current crises:

The Sunni-Shiite blood feud and the warmongering, womanizing (11 wives), hallucinating founder.


Posted by: Concerned the Christian Now Liberated | September 20, 2008 11:27 PM
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Why is this newsworthy, or even interesting? Is it that different from a football player who decides to go on the South Beach Diet when the season starts? "WOW! What a great role model he is for eating fewer carbs before a scrimmage!" Next I guess we'll get to hear what the NBA stars are giving up for Lent (no adultery for 40 days, Kobe Bryant!).

Even if this guy REALLY walked the walk (i.e., if he fasted on game days instead of bending the rules to suit his career), who cares??

Posted by: orthodox heathen | September 20, 2008 11:00 PM
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It's sad that people believe the garbage written in silly old books from the days when people knew nothing, and thought everything was spooky and supernatural; and were unable to separate the real from the imagined.
They would learn from us; not us from them.

Posted by: yoyo | September 20, 2008 10:29 PM
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It is great that this student of islamic parents wants to play college football. But that somehow he the entire NCAA needs to accommodate his needs is asinine, silly and frankly imposing his religious beliefs on rest of the society. If his religion is important then he needs to choose between his religion and his secular activities. he should not thrust his choices on us as an obligation.

I know there are Hindhus who do not eat at all for the whole day on the 11th day after full moon or new moon day, they don't go on asking the rest of the society to accommodate them. Not only that what ticks me off of these whiny muslims is that they demand all sorts of accommodations of their host countries but will not make a peep about making even the simplest accommodations to non-muslims, in their home countries.

Posted by: Secular | September 20, 2008 6:35 PM
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Tom Weaver

The reason I posted the Ramdan " fasting" is that it is not fasting but merely skipping lunch. Muslims take enough food, most eat more than normal, and this gets them through the day. By eating fruits and leafy vegetable it is possible, but not beneficial, to go through the daylight periods without food and water, especially if one eats less salt with the first meal.

Also depriving the body of fluids is almost criminal and imposing this bad practice under the guise of a divine command is a crime.

Besides the Koran calls on all men to stay in the mosque and pray during daylight hours of Ramdan but almost no Muslim I know does what the Koran commands in this regard.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 20, 2008 5:28 PM
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I actually consume alot less when I am fasting-
It goes from about 5:30AM to 7:00 now, so it's more than missing lunch.

When it is time to break my fast- I eat about half of what I normally do for dinner.

You don't realize how much water you automatically drink until you fast from it.

It is amazing that this young man is playing sports, sweating, and still maintaining his fast.
It requires an extraordinary strength and faith to do that.

Good for you, young man.

Posted by: VICTORIA | September 20, 2008 2:56 PM
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I guess Gatoraid is now evil too. Yesterday capitalism was a sin and today water is a sin. Maybe for Sunday we can call love a sin and start eating the soil and sand while we are at it. Don't wash the sand down with a glass of water.

Posted by: 007 | September 20, 2008 11:44 AM
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I wish these people would not fast, Muslims countries are plagued by the fasting police. They are forced to fast with a result that nothing is accomplished in the work place. They are low in sugar which causes them to be crabby, angry, short tempered and lethargic. Work suffers and output is minimal in already poor economies. Fasting like this causes tension too, everyone is busy minding the others business; "Are you fasting?" is the first question. People who choose not to fast are looked down upon-peer pressure!
Here in the West one "athlete" is singled out and a big deal is made of it, we really don't give a F#$% whether you fast or not. Really!!!

Arif (pbuh)

Posted by: Arif | September 20, 2008 11:37 AM
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"Much to my chagrin, the press has now characterized the faith of Islam as war-mongering and hateful people whose only goal is the subjugation of the world under the banner of Islam as depicted in Medieval times."

The press reports what people do, the Muslims kill someone for allah every day, should the press not report it then? Muslims characterize the faith of islam for what it is; violent texts put into practice.

Arif (pbuh)

Posted by: Arif | September 20, 2008 11:25 AM
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Nelson says:
“They (Muslims) do not think that the violent acts of a few extremists are representative of the whole of Islam and would rather not have these people talked about as if they are representative of the whole of Islam.”
Moi:
Off course not, especially if they are living among “infidels”. There is a principle in their religion called Taqiyya where lying and deception are condoned by Allah if that would further the cause of Islam.

Nelson says:
“Should the last letter writer wish, I can show him the peaceful side of Islam”
Moi:
I do not know if you were referring to me , but I like you to show me “the peaceful side of Islam”.
On the other hand I invite you to feast your eyes on over 300 “Peaceful “ injunctions similar to the one below.

"Choose not friends from them [unbelievers]. ... Take them and kill them wherever ye find them.-" (Quran 4:89 )

http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/Quran/cruelty/short.html

Posted by: Ibrahim Mahfouz | September 20, 2008 11:20 AM
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"Fasting is great for the body and I detest it when religious connotations are linked to fasting. The Muslim fasting is harmful because Muslims eat more during the month of Ramadan then the other months of the year and more animals are slaughtered during Ramadan than at any other time."
------------------------------------------
That's because you are confusing the use of fasting as a dietary tool, and the use of fasting as a religious tool. The two are not at all similar.

You remind me of fanatics who disparage any "adulteration" of "true chili", meaning, of course, the version using beef and chilis. Since chili dishes with meat existed for thousands of years before Europeans arrived in the Americas, the idea is ridiculous, of course, but it doesn't stop some Texans from complaining, either. Fasting as a religious tool existed for thousands of years before fasting for health reasons existed, so there's no reason for you to get your dander up...

Posted by: Tom Weaver | September 20, 2008 8:30 AM
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The Muslim ritual of missing lunch is not true fasting. I miss lunch most days of the year and do fine. It is criminal to deprive the body of fluids for more than 4 hours. We should drink at least water. Muslims eat huge amounts of food between sunset and sunrise and that is enough to get them going through the day. Ramadan is more aptly called SkipLunchaadaan. I fast one day a week, then for three days every quarter and then for 8 days once a year. The evening before my fast begins I have my last meal and I break my fast morning after my period of fasting. During the fast I drink psyllium husk and water with a touch of lime juice to clean out my colon. you will be amazed at how much stuff is retained in the colon even if one is regular. It takes about two days to clean out the innards. But after the fasting ends, especially the eight day fast I feel great, lose a lot of weight yet am energetic. Fasting is great for the body and I detest it when religious connotations are linked to fasting. The Muslim fasting is harmful because Muslims eat more during the month of Ramadan then the other months of the year and more animals are slaughtered during Ramadan than at any other time.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 20, 2008 6:50 AM
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Much to my chagrin, the press has now characterized the faith of Islam as war-mongering and hateful people whose only goal is the subjugation of the world under the banner of Islam as depicted in Medieval times.
I, am Roman Catholic and have known and visited many congregations of many faiths. In all of the time that I have been seeking the truth and finding that the truth lies within all of us, I have yet to see the extremism that has been so clearly portrayed by the Main Stream Media and the current administration towards Islam.
Most of the Muslims that I have had the pleasure of knowing are ones who are moderate in their faith and practice an Islam that takes into account the 21st Century. These people do not breathe fire and eat Christians and Jews for lunch. They are peaceful people, who, given the chance are kind and considerate of others and their faith. They do not think that the violent acts of a few extremists are representative of the whole of Islam and would rather not have these people talked about as if they are representative of the whole of Islam.
I for one, will stand up and loudly proclaim my affinity for those who are peace loving and peaceful seeking people including those of the Islamic Faith. In my presence, no one will disparage or denigrate those of another faith for the sake of feeling better about themselves.
Should the last letter writer wish, I can show him the peaceful side of Islam and the legalistic side of the Christian faith.
I would hope that one day all men will be judged by the content of their character and not their religion or the color of their skin.

Posted by: Nelson | September 20, 2008 6:12 AM
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Poor Kid! The crazies will attack him for being Muslin. If he funmbles the ball it would be because he is Muslim.

feel sorry for Nader.

Posted by: Center | September 19, 2008 9:09 PM
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Many NFL teams would be happy to sign you... really.

No really.

Posted by: Kenneth | September 19, 2008 7:13 PM
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Nader says:
“Islam is a very loving faith. It's very peaceful. It always preaches peace and love."

The Muslim ideology had institutionalized for all times the customs and traditions of a primitive 7th Century desert community. They accomplished this by claiming that the Quran is the literal word of the Creator.
The extremists are the fundamentalists. The fundamentalists are those who follow the teachings of their faith closer than the so-called moderates. The violence that we see now and which has been the hallmark of Islam for the past 14 hundred years is a direct result of incitement by their scriptures and the example of their prophet. Within ten years their prophet took part in 27 raids out of 84 ones that he had sanctioned. In those “Battles” men were massacred, properties were looted and women and children were enslaved.
Muslims are the first and foremost victims of their ideology. This explains their downward spiral in all facets of life relative to the rest of the world. Many do not know about their faith more than some of the rituals and what their clerics tell them. That is why you see otherwise intelligent people make outlandish claims as the above.

Quran 9:29
"Fight those who believe not in God nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by God and His Apostle, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya [tribute] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."

The cite below has a number of similar peaceful gems.

http://www.bahai-faith.com/islam-uncensored.html

Posted by: Ibrahim Mahfouz | September 19, 2008 5:15 PM
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