An Islamic cleric, Professor Sabitu Ariyo Olagoke has said that Islamic Tenets absolve footballers of fast during a matchday, likewise other sports men and women on important days of action.
He advised the players not put their lives at risk by playing a football match or competing in any other sporting activities while observing Ramadan fast.
The Islamic leader who is the Founder and Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen in Islam Worldwide, made the clarification while delivering paper at the 4th Annual Ramadan Lecture of the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Oyo State, at NUJ Press Centre, Ibadan on Wednesday.
Prof. Olagoke, while speaking on the topic, “Fasting during a Pandemic: The Takeaways”, said that Islam tenets do not make it compulsory for those saddled with the responsibility of defending a town or nation in a war.
He likened sporting activities to such, claiming “footballers are hired to defend their team in an energy sapping and rigorous exercise, and such player can pay back the missed fast after Ramadan as stated in Quran 4 chapter 212”.
Prof Olagoke, however cautioned that such individuals must understand that the privilege of skipping the fast did not mean an opportunity for them to engage in any unIslamic activity, adding that they must maintain decorum and be prepared to take steps to further strengthen their faith.
The cleric, who has been sponsoring a grassroots football tournament for teams in Oyo State for the past 16 years, added that sport is a legitimate way of engaging our youths as supported by Islam. He, therefore, advised that sports should be utilized by government to curb the prevalent restiveness among the Nigerian youths.
The Chairman of Oyo SWAN, Niyi Alebiosu, in his remark, thanked people who supported the Association to successfully organize the Ramadan lecture.
