Not Fasting?

Coach Hamza's Story

I fasted every year of my football career except one. During my time with the Arizona Cardinals, I found it unusually difficult as I prepared. I asked Allah, “O Allah... if I am to Fast, then make it easy for me, but if I am not to Fast, make it clear to me; so clear that I can't go any other way.”

On the first day of Ramadan, during the first live contact period, my teammate Reagan Maui'a — nicknamed “The Juggernaut” — hit me so hard he gave me a concussion. The team trainers told me I couldn't fast, as part of the recovery protocol required monitoring whether I could keep food down.

I realized I could now let others know that I wasn't a superhero. I am human and had to break my Fast just like others.

Important Reminder

Learn the difference between “suffering” and “struggling.”

Fasting is a struggle. If you find yourself suffering, break your Fast and seek professional help.