I was really and truly inspired by Mohamed Salah. I’m a season ticket holder in Nottingham Forest, I can be myself, but I’m a Muslim since I made a statement of faith. I’m still myself and I took that from Mohamed Salah. I would love to meet him by shaking his hand and saying “Cheers” or “Shukran”.
News report on How Mohamed Salah inspired me to become a Muslim.I don’t really think my mates think I’m a Muslim because I haven’t really changed. Everything I think is better is my soul. During match days, I’m just trying to change.
It’s usually a bar, put on a bet, then return to the pub after the match and find that you’ve lost a lot of money. When you’re used to such a culture, it’s tough and for a lot of people, it’s part of football.I’m embarrassed to say that, but my feelings about Islam used to be that faith, culture, and people were backward; they didn’t fit and they wanted to take over. I’ve always looked in the hall at Muslims like an elephant. I had Muslim hatred.
It was a time when I was in the sixth form where I thought I needed to blame someone for my misfortunes. Unfortunately, Muslims got the brunt of it and I found pages of right-wing media easily. Through giving me long pieces of propaganda and so on, they kind of groomed me.Even though I had such bad Islamic thoughts, I would never tell a Muslim about them. I knew no Muslims at this stage. My degree at Leeds University in Middle Eastern Studies changed everything.
We had to do a thesis and I decided to do something a little different. I remember telling me about my dyslexia tutor: “What about the song of Mohamed Salah?”I knew it, and I thought it was fantastic, but in those words, I hadn’t considered it.
I got the question finally: “Mohamed Salah, Allah’s gift. Is Mohamed Salah’s success igniting a debate within the media and political realms that battles Islamaphobia?”The song of the Liverpool fans–in line with Dodgy’s hit Good Enough–contains the line’ If he scores a few more then I’ll be Muslim too,’ and I’ve taken that to my heart literally.I was a typical white-boy student who was moving to a different city, getting hammered and living the student’s life. My degree was the first time I academically heard about Islam.University gave me the chance to meet with a lot of Saudi Arabia students.
I figured they were evil people holding weapons, but they were the most beautiful people I met. I had completely dissolved the assumptions regarding Arab countries.The first Muslim to whom I can relate was Mohamed Salah. It’s how he’s living his life, how he’s talking to people. He posed for a picture the other week with a fan from Liverpool who had a broken nose running after him. I know some other football players are going to do that, but you want Salah to do it now.
I interviewed Egyptian students at university and when they learned that my work was about “Mohamed Salah, a gift from God,” which is also another Liverpool album, they would speak to me about how good he is and what he has done for their country for hours. One million Egyptians spoiled their ballots and voted last year for him as president.One of the Egyptians I spoke to tell me that, observing Islam right, Salah embodies what a Muslim is.
He claimed Salah would help Muslims love people again.That was really resonating with me. I believe he scores for confidence if Salah scores. I told my friend that it was a victory for Islam when he won the Champions League. Salah performs the sujood (prostration) after each of his goals and reveals to the world a very Islamic sign. How many viewers every week watch the Premier League? Globally, millions of people.
Salah taught me that if that is the right phrase, you can be ordinary and a Muslim. You can be on your own. He’s a great player and the sports world and his politics, his faith, loves him, doesn’t matter–and that’s what football can do for me.As people read the Quran and talk about Islam, they see something else that doesn’t often show in the news. I’m young and I’m still studying in the Islamic community. It’s hard. It is a change in lifestyle.What would I tell the old Ben? To be honest, I would give him a slap, and I would say:’
How dare you to talk about such diverse people. You have to start talking to people. You need to start asking the questions.’ We live in a global multicultural society that is multifaith.Fans of Chelsea sang “Salah is a bomber” last season. It’s the first time I’ve had a good go on my social media. I’ve been livid because I’m a banter for football, but you know when it’s not real.Now, I would say to Muslim children:’ Don’t be afraid to go to a football match.’ I think that’s an issue that we need to look at from both sides.
I was told I was separated. I don’t want my friends to be lost because I see them as my family. Today, as brothers and sisters, I have a fifth of the world’s population.The community needs to branch out, play soccer, go to college. It’s up to us to remember we’re together in this. And Mohamed Salah might be the perfect spokesman for that. News report on How Mohamed Salah inspired me to become a Muslim.
Source: APN