Imagine you are a teenager who loves football. It is Ramadan and playing during the day while you fast is tough. So you join the Midnight Ramadan League, a community initiative, which organises matches after iftar, when the day's fast has ended and before the next early morning meal of suhoor. But playing football after ending a fast and late at night is a struggle because of the fatigue.
Qaiser's younger sister Aaminah kicks a ball at him because he’s dozed off before iftar. “Stop being lazy,” she scolds him. After the family ends their fast together, Qaiser heads off to the league at night. He’s exhausted when he plays, and gets knocked over by a tackle. Hamza Choudhury, a Fifa ambassador and midfielder from Leicester City appears, gives him a hand and says: “If I can do this, so can you”.
A screengrab of FIFA 21's Inspiring the Next Generation of Footballers: Midnight Ramadan League. EA Sports FIFA / Youtube
I will be honest. I am no football fan. But I don't need to be one to appreciate the ad's depiction of a person's motivation and his struggle to resolve competing tensions in life. The sense of being part of something bigger, and the feeling of being given a hand in that endeavour – or being the one to lend a hand – are worthy sentiments. The experience of trying to navigate life while holding on to your goals is universally refreshing.
In fact, the director Bassam Tariq commented: “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever direct such an unapologetically Muslim commercial with my fellow sisters and brothers in faith.”
Unfortunately, as studies show, too often in popular culture in non-Muslim majority countries, Muslims are not typically depicted as being equal to everyone else: people with aspirations, goals and struggles – just like everyone else. Troublingly, Motivations of the Muslim community, espeically in some cultures, are too often seen as suspect.
A study published in the UK in 2019 by the Muslim Council of Britain found that media reports on Muslims contribute to a rise in Islamophobia. The "negative and misleading" coverage of the Muslim community is not new.
More than 100,000 news articles and broadcasts in the UK in 2018 were analysed and "serious problems" were identified in the way Islam and Muslims are written about. In some print media, the study found 59 per cent of articles associated Muslims with negative behaviour, while more than a third misrepresented or made generalisations.
Nadiya Hussain, a national treasure in the UK, 2015 winner of The Great British Bake Off. Getty Images
Citing statistics to keep underscoring the constant negativity surrounding Muslims is tiring. But no matter how many statistics you quote, these facts rarely change some minds or perceptions.
Being treated equally as a consumer or audience is not a given
That is why personal, humanising stories that portray Muslims being, again, just like everyone else – and this should hardly be a surprise – are so important. And it is also why it warms the heart when Muslims are easily and without a fuss established into a general mainstream narrative.
Take for example, the actor Riz Ahmed being nominated for an Oscar. Or Nadiya Hussain winning the TV show TheGreat British Bake Off and becoming a national treasure in the UK. There are many such heartening examples and it is always nice to see more.
Riz Ahmed was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in "Sound of Metal". AFP
Honest, normal portrayals of Muslims in popular culture and in the mainstream are a relief. They are not yet the norm but such portrayals are a reminder of an obvious but often forgotten fact: that it is just fine to be who you are, without explanations, justifications or caveats.
So when you see an ad like this one, is a joy as well as a shock to the system – to watch TV without being on edge that a portrayal of who you represent could undermine your humanity. It means being able to relax and be your full self.
The aim of the ad was to raise representation of British Asians in professional football. In 2020, only 0.25 per cent of the UK’s professional footballers were British Asians, compared with 7 per cent of the population and 9.7 per cent of recreational footballers. About two thirds of UK Muslims are of Asian heritage.
I love the ad also because the narrative is so natural, normal and celebratory. It does not explain or announce itself as an ad about being Muslim or Asian.
Anyone who watches it can tell that the ad also harbours a feeling of inclusivity. Any young Muslim football player – or any Muslim viewer, for that matter – comes away feeling as important and significant as anybody else – any other footballer, viewer, shopper or consumer.
When a brand or an organisation or a business really sees you, regardless of faith and belief, with no discrimination or preconceived notions, it fosters well-being, as it would have for the thousands of viewers of this ad.
Being treated equally as a consumer or audience is not a given. In our culture it is significant and noteworthy. And during Ramadan it feels particularly special.
Shelina Janmohamed is an author and a culture columnist for The National
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
ATP China Open
G Dimitrov (BUL x3) bt R Bautista Agut (ESP x5)
7-6, 4-6, 6-2
R Nadal (ESP x1) bt J Isner (USA x6)
6-4, 7-6
WTA China Open
S Halep (ROU x2) bt D Kasatkina (RUS)
6-2, 6-1
J Ostapenko (LAT x9) bt S Cirstea (ROU)
6-4, 6-4
ATP Japan Open
D Schwartzman (ARG x8) bt S Johnson (USA)
6-0, 7-5
D Goffin (BEL x4) bt R Gasquet (FRA)
7-5, 6-2
M Cilic (CRO x1) bt R Harrison (USA)
6-2, 6-0
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
1 Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.
2 To date, the only two players to win the PGA Championship after winning the week before are Rory McIlroy (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and Tiger Woods (2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational). Hideki Matsuyama or Chris Stroud could have made it three.
3 Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.
4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.
5 In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.
6 For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.
7 Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.
8 Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.
9 Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.
10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.
11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.
12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.
13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.
14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.
15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.
16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.
17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.
18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
MIDWAY
Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment Directed: Roland Emmerich Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss Rating: 3.5/5 stars
