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"They can help clear misconceptions about Islam and prove that the Muslim faith is a way of life," Tikriti said.
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CAIRO — Superstar Muslim footballers leading
several high-profile European teams in Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup are
contributing to a paradigm shift, showing a face of Islam some have
not seen and many others have claimed never existed.
"Muslim players in European soccer teams are a
proof that their faith and cultures are not stumbling blocks hindering
contribution to the development of their societies in all
domains," Anas al-Tikriti, former chairman of the Muslim
Association of Britain, told IslamOnline.net.
"They can help clear misconceptions about
Islam and prove that the Muslim faith is a way of life," he
added.
Many Muslim players have captured the limelight
during their participation in the world football gala.
Among them is French playmaker legend and
three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane.
His expected successor, midfielder Franck Ribery,
has also made headlines during his country's opener against
Switzerland.
Ribery, a native French revert, raised his hands
and supplicated to God like a typical Muslim before the kickoff.
Among the other prominent Muslim names in the
mondial are Dutch Boulahrouz Khalid and Van Persie Robin as well as
Swede Ibrahimovic Zlatan.
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Burgat said the successes refute misconceptions about Islam and ease hardships facing Muslim minorities in the West.
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Renowned French intellectual Francois Burgat said
successes in sports and other fields help refute allegations about
Muslims and ease hardships facing the Muslim minorities in the West.
"Those players are giving the best example of
the true nature of Islam," he told IOL.
"The consecutive selection of Zidane as
France's most popular man is a step in this direction," Burgat
believes.
Tirkriti agreed, saying such stars can help in
better integrating Muslims in their European societies and being
accepted by fellow citizens.
"A footballer can have a greater influence
than a scholar or a preacher if he offers a good example to
others," noted the activist.
He recalled one incident while delivering a sermon
at a mosque in Aberdeen, Scotland, during the last holy month of
Ramadan.
"The place of worship was unusually teeming
with people and when I asked the imam about it he said that two
Muslims who play in the Scottish league attend prayers during
Ramadan."
Tirkriti said European Muslims who make it to the
top in any field serve as models for fellow Muslims.
He believes that such superstars can also
contribute to solving many of the problems young European Muslims
suffer.
The British Muslim leader regretted the lack of
self-confidence and engagement by many young Muslims because of the
increasing anti-Muslim rhetoric.
