Will Muslims be at a disadvantage?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.nytimes.co...create-conflicts.html

Since the 2012 Olympics fall during Ramadan, will Muslim athletes be at a disadvantage?

But then perhaps this solves the problem?

http://www.dailymail....tml?ito=feeds-newsxml

[boxtops]

If they chose not to eat, yes - but there are circumstances (as you show) where with dispensation, they can either pay for food for others, or can undertake to fast at another time.

[sp1814]

Yes - from what I've read, for any day that a Muslim doesn't fast during Ramadan, they can make up for it by fasting on a day outside Ramadan.

The option this young athlete has taken is quite admirable.

[sandyRoe]

Eric Liddell, featured in the film, Chariots of fire, wouldn't compete on the Sabbath as he was a devout Christian. It's good to see religious people now can find a way to accommodate their faith and their sport.

[Brenden]

I suppose it is all according to how strong your faith is whether you compete or not. Is that a mistake in the DM when it said he would have to fast for a month for every day he did not during Ramadan.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

***from what I've read, for any day that a Muslim doesn't fast during Ramadan, they can make up for it by fasting on a day outside Ramadan***.

Yes that is correct sp, but just look at the consequences.

/// But an imam he consulted warned that for each of the 30 days of Ramadan that he transgressed the rules he would incur an entire month of fasting later on. ‘That could have meant years of not eating between sunrise and sunset,’ Moe, 24, told The Mail on Sunday. ///

***The option this young athlete has taken is quite admirable.***

I second that, with an estimated 3,000 Muslim athletes at the games if they all follow his example, there will be less of the poor Muslims going hungry.

[jomifl]

You can rely on muslim scholars to find a 'workaround' so that islam is not disadvantaged. If muslim men can temporarily 'marry' prostitutes then I don't think that they will have any problem with this.

[boxtops]

Imams' judgement often varies (as we know from past pronouncement) - there is guidance which says how many days you have to make up, but it's something like several days for any of the important days you miss. Don't quote me.

[sp1814]

I wonder what accommodations have been made for whole teams from Muslim countries? Perhaps their governments have made donations on their behalves.

[boxtops]

You don't need to read all of it, but this seems to say you just make up the missed days, or pay the "fine" equivalent http://qa.sunnipath.c...sue_view.asp?ID=16286

[modeller]

This reminds me of a R.C friend of mine who having failed to attend service
the previous Sunday showed me a letter she had received from her priest , the essence of which was .# Sorry you were unable to attend church last Sunday but if you send us £10 we will say a prayer for you. #
This was back in the 60s so it would be the equivalent of £100 today.

[FredPuli43]

The NYT link doesn't suggest there'll be a real problem. The rower in the DM link may be doing more than necessary, if he gets the right imam to advise. .

Jews have this problem, and worse, mostly solved by interpretation of the law. There has to be some justification for the Jerusalem Hilton having lifts which don't operate on the Sabbath unless the guest has a room on the 12th floor or above, in which case it's fine, the lift not stopping at other floors in between.

[jomifl]

I didn't know lifts could be circumcised, how is it done?

[jomifl]

going up or coming down ?

[FredPuli43]

On a lift? Something to do with adjusting your elevator to leave the top bit open for Friday night, I expect

[ludwig]

// Will Muslims be at a disadvantage? //

No. It looks like it's fairly easy to get around religious rules when they don't suit you.

Just a thought on donating to feed others as a way of avoiding fasting yourself. If it's valid within the religion, why don't they all do this all the time? It would be a far more useful excercise.

[pdq1]

Religion should not get in the way of athletics. It reminds you of that British long jumper who refused to participate on Sundays due to his religion.

[naomi24]

I think Ludwig has hit upon a perfect solution. Give up fasting and feed the hungry instead. Much more sensible. That surely has to get them a tick in God’s Big Book, doesn't it?