Salah Must Repent to Allah

Mohammed Salah Ghaly

Mohammed Salah Ghaly is already being dubbed one of the finest African footballers ever with some observers drawing a similitude between the Nagrig born player and living legends such as Lionel Messi.  Salah caught the eye of many by not just being a gifted Arab footballer but also as a gifted practicing Muslim footballer. The 25 year old has been seen in a number of pictures not just holding a copy of the Qur’an but also reading it.

His skills and humility on the pitch of play coupled with his apparent devotion to Islam earned him the love and respect of most Muslim football lovers
including those who are neither Liverpool fans nor Egyptians.

However, this high status Salah enjoys in the Muslim world suffered a set-back in the build-up to the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid FC on 26th May 2018. On 24th May 2018, Liverpool FC’s physiotherapist, Ruben Pons, hinted that Salah will not fast in the days leading to the Final. He said, "We were in Marbella and the nutritionist established a work plan. Tomorrow and the day of the match he won't (fast), so it's not going to affect him."

And so it happened, devout Muslim Salah violated a pillar of Islam by not fasting, to ‘brighten’ his chances of winning the UEFA Champions League which would have given him a push towards the prestigious title ‘World Footballer of the Year’. As it panned out, Salah suffered a broken shoulder 26 minutes into the final, Liverpool went on to lose the game 3-1 to Real Madrid, and to pour salt upon injury, Salah has been ruled out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. However, on 4th June, the Egyptian FA announced that Salah would be included in the Egyptian World Cup squad. Salah went on to play at the World Cup but Egypt crashed out humiliatingly anyway. 

A school of thought believe there was nothing strange about what happened to the Liverpool linchpin in the Final, but another school believe Liverpool losing the trophy in that manner was a message from ALLAH. A message that sounds like, ‘Boy, you are only successful because of Me, how dare you turn your little back on Me’.

But, did Salah sin against ALLAH by not fasting the two days leading to the Champions League final even though the final was played after fasting hours? Let’s see.

Islam being a religion of ease has exempted some groups of people from fasting. According to some scholars, among them is a person who must do hard labour to feed. In place of fasting, this person is to feed one needy person per day of fasting in the month of Ramadhan. Some scholars in the present era have put footballers in this category.

On 15th April 2018, the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawki Allam, told Egyptian newspaper, Al-Masry Al-Youm, that even though it was best for footballers to fast in the month of Ramadhan; they didn’t have to. From the statement of Allam, the exemption was for the national team players only (local league players have to fast). In mid May of 2018, the President of Saudi Arabia’s FA, Adel Ezzat, disclosed that members of Saudi Arabia’s national team had received special concessions to postpone their fasts at the world cup. Even if it was not stated, we know the order came from the scholars of Saudi Arabia.

Prior to now, several Muslim dominated nations (especially Arab ones) have made similar moves but, are they right? It has to be born in mind that a statement is not true simply because it was made by an Arab.

Muhammad (SAW) said, “… an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action...”

Concerning disagreements among Muslims, Allah (SWT) said, “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result”. Suratul Nisa (4:59)

Now, let’s answer the question; did Salah have a reason to choose the Champions League final over fasting in the month of Ramadhan?

Salah has a net worth of $2.25 million (as of April 2018), Salah is far from being classified as a poor man. If Salah was to spend $10 per day, it would take him 616 years to spend $2.25 million. In so many parts of the world, a great percentage of the people live on less than a dollar per day.

We see that as of 26th May 2018, Salah did not fall into the category of people who have to do ‘hard’ labour to survive; he was not among those exempted from fasting.

Those who support the view that footballers should not fast while playing also buttress their argument by emphasizing that Islam exempts travelers from fasting. Herewith, scholars through the generations have emphasized that a journey that will exempt a Muslim from fasting must be the one embarked on for a sound reason. The Muslim could be on an emergency journey or a journey that comes naturally; like travelling to reunite with your family. These and reasons along this line are what could exempt a traveler from fasting. Travelling for worldly enjoyment or in pursuit of worldly status is not among the reasons that could exempt a Muslim from fasting. Salah travelled to Kiev on 24th May 2018 for either or both of these only; to make more money upon his millions or to gain fame. No Muslim was ever exempted from fasting for any of these reasons.

Salah really needs to trace his steps back to Allah. At the start of the 2017/2018 Premiership season, Salah would run to the corner flag and ‘prostrate to Allah’ whenever he scored a goal, but that changed. When Salah began to rank high among the premiership goal scorers, he ditched his sujud celebration. Whenever he scored, he would now run to the fans and raise his hands as if to say, ‘Yes, it is me your savior, the messiah’; Allah was now out of the picture.

Believe it or not, it is a blessing that Salah lost that Champions League trophy. What would have been the implication if he had won? It would have sent a negative message to the Muslim youths who love him, the youths would have been made to believe that they can also decide when and when not to uphold the pillars of Islam.

A bulk of other ‘Muslim’ athletes have dumped fasting in this manner, but what makes Salah’s case special is the fact that he showed the whole world that he is a devout Muslim and gained huge Muslim followership on that ground. Any religion centered action by him will leave a lasting impression on the minds of many.

People knowledgeable on the world of football should know of highly talented footballers who were not allowed to shine by incessant injuries. Popular mentions are ex-England star, Owen Hargreaves; ex-Czech star, Tomaz Roscisky and ex-Croat star, Eduardo Da Silva to mention just a few. Salah might be on the verge of joining this league of players.

Salah also revealed the fact that he is a loyalist of Egyptian dictator, Abdel Fattah al Sisi. On 9th January 2017, Salah met al Sisi in Cairo and donated $269,000 dollars to the ‘Long Live Egypt Fund’, an organization that was formed by al Sisi after he brutally and murderously took power from the Islamic government of Muhammad Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. Sisi had also been using the popularity of Salah as a campaign tool and also to create the notion that he (Sisi) has brought progress to Egypt. If Salah had lifted the Champions League trophy on 26th May 2018 and goes on to win the Balon d’Or al Sisi would have used his (Salah’s) fame to further legitimize his illegitimate rule.