After Fat-Shaming Rohit Sharma, Shama Mohamed Wades Into Mohammed Shami Roza Row: ‘Very Important…’
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Mohammed Shami is currently representing India in the ongoing Champions Trophy in the UAE.
Mohammed Shami (right) is India’s current leading-wicket taker in the ongoing Champions Trophy. (AP Photo)
Having stormed into the limelight after her now-deleted post that fat-shamed India men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma, Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed has now responded to row over fast bowler Mohammed Shami being called ‘criminal’ for not fasting during India’s semifinal match against Australia in the ongoing Champions Trophy.
When visuals of Shami having an energy drink during the match went viral on social media, few users began criticising the cricketer for not observing ‘Roza’.
Later, president pf All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi, created a controversy by terming Shami a “criminal” for skipping fasting during the holy month of Ramazan.
“One of the compulsory duties is roza… If any healthy man or woman does not observe roza, they are a big criminal,” he said.
Backing Shami, Shama says the India cricketer doesn’t have to fast since he’s traveling.
“In Islam, there is a very important thing during Ramzan. When we are travelling, we don’t need to fast (Roza), so Mohammed Shami is travelling and he’s not at his own place. He’s playing a sport where he can be very thirsty. Nobody insists that when you’re playing a sport, you have to fast…It is your deeds which are very important. It (Islam) is a very scientific religion,” Shama Mohamed told news agency ANI.
However, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, has defended Shami.
“In Islam, fasting is obligatory, but it is clearly mentioned in the Quran that if a person is travelling or unwell, they have the option not to observe fasting. Shami was on an international tour, so he had this option. No one has the right to point fingers at him,” he said.
Shami, 34, is part of India’s Champions Trophy campaign in Dubai where they are gearing up to face New Zealand in the title clash on Sunday.