All India Muslim Jamaat president Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi has criticised Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami for not fasting during Razadan. The cleric stated that fasting is an obligatory duty in Islam, and anyone who deliberately avoids it is committing a sin.
Maulana Razvi claimed that by choosing not to fast, Shami had committed a grave wrongdoing in the eyes of Islamic law. “Islam mandates fasting as one of its fundamental obligations. If a healthy person does not observe Roza, they are guilty in religious terms. Mohammed Shami was seen drinking water during a Champions Trophy match, which means he was not fasting. This is a serious offense in Islam,” he said.
The cleric added that since Shami was playing a match, it indicated that he was physically fit. “If he was capable of playing, he was also capable of fasting. By drinking water in public, he has sent the wrong message to the community. He will have to answer to God for this,” Maulana Razvi asserted.
The cleric’s remarks have sparked mixed reactions. While some religious figures expressed their disappointment, others defended the cricketer, arguing that professional athletes often have different requirements due to the physical demands of their sport.
Maulana Zaheer Khan calls the controversy uncalled for. “Islam is a progressive religion. It has some prohibitions for persons keeping Roza. It is up to a person to keep Roza on that day or not. In case of Shami, he is on national duty and it is of paramount importance that his body remains hydrated during each game. So, drinking water or not keeping roza on match days is permissible,” he said.
Shami’s coach, Mohammed Badruddin, dismissed the criticism, asserting that the bowler was not in the wrong. “Nothing is above the nation. Shami is playing for his country, and that should be the priority,” he stated.
Senior BJP leader and MLC Vijay Bahadur Pathak defended Shami and said that sports and religion should not be intertwined. “Shami is a dedicated athlete who has brought glory to India on multiple occasions. If he felt fasting might affect his performance, it must have been a difficult decision for him. He is a proud Indian, and his commitment to the game should not be questioned,” Pathak said.
Shami played a crucial role in India’s four-wicket victory over Australia, helping the team secure a spot in the Champions Trophy final. The Indian bowling attack, led by Shami, restricted Australia to 264 runs, with the pacer claiming three wickets for 48 runs in his 10-over spell.
This is not the first controversy to emerge during the tournament.