India’s fast bowler Mohammed Shami is making headlines, not just for his amazing bowling but also for a big debate. Some religious leaders are questioning him because he didn’t keep Roza (fasting during Ramadan) while playing for India. Others are defending him, saying he did nothing wrong. The question is—Is Shami a sinner or a hero who put his country first?
Shami Chose Cricket Over Fasting—Right or Wrong?
Shami is one of India’s best bowlers right now, especially since Jasprit Bumrah is not playing. There’s a lot of pressure on him to perform well. To stay strong and play his best, he decided not to keep Roza (fasting during Ramadan) during the tournament.
Many fans supported his decision. But some religious leaders (people who guide others in religion) strongly opposed it. One of them, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi said, “Fasting is very important in our religion. Breaking it without a strong reason is a sin.” He even called Shami a criminal (someone who does something wrong) in the eyes of religion.
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Some Religious Leaders Stand with Shami!
While some religious leaders are angry, others have spoken in his support. Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli, another well-known religious teacher, said, “In Islam, if a person is traveling or doing very hard work, they are allowed to skip fasting and do it later. Shami is traveling and playing for India, so he has done nothing wrong.”
This has divided people into two groups—one side says Shami disrespected religion, while the other side says he just followed the rules of Islam correctly.
This Happened Before Too!
This is not the first time a Muslim cricketer has skipped fasting for cricket. Many players from different countries have done it before. Some fast while playing, while others choose not to.
#WATCH | Lucknow, UP | On Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami, Executive Member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahli, says, "It is compulsory for all Muslims to observe Roza, especially in the month of Ramazan. However, Allah has clearly… pic.twitter.com/aseHrTkaYR
— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2025
Fans Are Talking—What’s Your Opinion?
Fans have different opinions too. Some say “He is playing for India, he must stay strong!” while others say “Faith comes first, he should have fasted!”