Belal Muhammad is a UFC welterweight currently ranked the No 4 challenger in his division. Born and raised in Chicago, to Palestinian parents, Muhammad is well known for his Muslim faith and is a hugely popular figure in the Middle East. He has twice fought in Abu Dhabi, most recently last October, and has often spoken about his dream of winning a UFC title in the UAE capital. He is unbeaten in his past nine bouts.
Here Muhammad tells The National about the current holy month, experiences of training as a professional athlete during this time, and what Ramadan means to him.
What makes Ramadan so special?
“Ramadan is my favourite time of the year. It is the time of the year that is dedicated to one thing: it’s about bettering yourself for God, making the sacrifices you wouldn’t normally make. You are always telling yourself you want to be a better person, and a better Muslim, and this is the time of year to do it.
“Fasting is something a lot of people focus on, but it is not just about going without food and water. This is a time to recognise the negative things in life and stop them. Ramadan feels like a detox from the yearly stresses in life.
“At this time of year, I feel like I am showing that anything He needs; I can do for Him. It helps me out a lot. I am still working out twice a day and training. In between practices I normally just binge watch TV, but now I want to get closer to the Quran.
“I am reading it more and getting more knowledgeable. It is kind of like practice for MMA – every day you want to learn a little bit more. I want to read or listen a little more to the Quran every day. It gives you peace in your mind."
The principal reflections of this holy month
“This year I have really focused on understanding that life is so short. We put so much pressure on ourselves wanting to be the biggest and the best and it is such a small snippet of what life is all about.
“We are not successful because we have all the money in the world. We are not successful because we are the richest person. So many rich people are unhappy. Your happiness comes from knowing you are doing all the right things for God.
“I get stressed out so much throughout the course of the year, wanting to know why I’m not getting a title shot, or not getting this or that. But, at the end of the day, God has it all written for me and that it’s going to be OK – and I just need to enjoy being on that journey.
“We just need to be grateful. During Ramadan we go without food and water during the day, but there are people having to do that every day. They are suffering so much, and yet we are crying about the stupidest things, and it makes no sense.”
Experiencing Ramadan as a professional athlete
“As a professional athlete I still have to do my job and train. The life of an MMA fighter is incredibly hard on the body, so during Ramadan I have to listen to it even more than normal. If I need to take a round off, then I will.
“I have to make sure at night I am eating the right things to be able to push myself. Refuelling is critical. I have to have at least a gallon of water, the right carbs for energy in the morning practice, and the right vitamins to stay healthy – I have to be smart with how I treat my body.
“I tell myself all the time my opponents are not pushing how I am pushing. I know that when it comes time to show up for a fight and prepare for a fight I am going to be on a whole different level. Physically my body has been through the stresses of fasting and is stronger, but also mentally I am inspired and re-energised.
“My teammates already tell me during Ramadan that I feel stronger, and it is like my body is naturally adjusting, and mentally I am that much tougher. Ramadan makes me want to push myself even harder and show I am the same athlete with the same determination to give my all no matter the circumstances.”
Giving back and strengthening relationships
“Outside the gym, it is even more important for me to be able to give back to those less fortunate. I work with a company in Chicago called Pious Projects. They work in places that are war stricken, or the people don’t have access to food, water, clothes – all those things we take for granted. It is big for me to try and donate to them every day.
“Ramadan has a wonderful ability to bring people together, and one of the highlights for me is going to my mom’s house for dinner. She makes a great dinner and being able to go there every single night with my brothers and sister … the whole family is there together and there’s not a lot of time we can do that. So to have that for a whole month is incredibly special.
“Ramadan truly is the most beautiful time of the year, especially the tranquility it brings. This is a time to be better and then focus on being better during the rest of the year, too. I see this not only in myself, but the people around me too. It is a beautiful thing.”
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WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
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How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
2024%20Dubai%20Marathon%20Results
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Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
if you go
'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Brief scores:
Toss: Northern Warriors, elected to field first
Bengal Tigers 130-1 (10 ov)
Roy 60 not out, Rutherford 47 not out
Northern Warriors 94-7 (10 ov)
Simmons 44; Yamin 4-4
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
Qalandars 112-4 (10 ovs)
Banton 53 no
Northern Warriors 46 all out (9 ovs)
Kumara 3-10, Garton 3-10, Jordan 2-2, Prasanna 2-7
Qalandars win by six wickets
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The biog
Hobby: "It is not really a hobby but I am very curious person. I love reading and spend hours on research."
Favourite author: Malcom Gladwell
Favourite travel destination: "Antigua in the Caribbean because I have emotional attachment to it. It is where I got married."
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
