Stop Focusing On My Religion: Sania
(Comments in RED are Mine)
Hong Kong: Sania Mirza has hit out at the obsession with her religion, saying more attention should be paid to her tennis than her Muslim faith. The 19-year-old is regarded as a trailblazer for Indian and Muslim women but she said people should stop confusing her profession and beliefs.
"I think everyone mixes up religion and sport. I'm a sports
person and religion is something very personal," she told AFP. "Yes, I'm a practising Muslim but I don't understand why only I'm asked about my religion. Everyone's got a religion out there, I wonder why no one else is asked about it. "I feel it's a very personal thing. It's my personal choice and I don't feel the need to justify it to anyone."
Mirza grabbed the headlines in 2005 when she became the first Indian woman to win a WTA tour event and soared more than 100 rankings places to finish the year at 34.
But she attracted criticism from religious conservatives who said she was standing "half-naked on the tennis court while playing, which is against Islam". Later she created a storm with comments interpreted as condoning
pre-marital sex.
But the Hyderabad India
"I've learned in the past year that everyone's going to have their own opinion but it's my choice whether to take it on board. I don't think everyone's opinion really matters to me as long as I go out there and do my best."
However, Mirza said she thrived on the enormous expectations generated by her Hyderabad Open win and by reaching the Australian Open third round and US Open fourth round. "I think everyone expects me to do all kinds of things, probably things I can't even do, but that's just the part of the package that comes with playing well you have to take it in your stride," she said.
"In some ways it does motivate me too. I like the pressure and I think the day I stop liking the pressure will be the day I'll say I don't want to
play any more. I like playing when people are expecting things." She is also happy to be a role model in India
"I love the fact I'm being an inspiration to a lot of young girls, especially in India
"It's just a way of giving back and hopefully tennis is going to be very big and we'll have not just one but a lot more India
But despite missing almost five months of last season with ankle and back injuries, she said she would not modify her aggressive style. "I love hitting the ball hard. I don't think I'm as patient as a lot of people expect me to be on the court I think that's the reason I've pulled off a lot of matches I'm not supposed to," she said.
"I'm not saying everything in my game is perfect but I think the main strength in my game is aggressiveness. I think if I remove that and just rely on my forehand and backhand it's going to be zero. "It's going to take my oxygen away so I want to keep my aggressiveness and build up a few other things like a good defence."
Comments - Mine
I believe the best thing that the Muslim community can do is to distance itself from her making it public that she does not represent Islam or the Muslims. öAny success that she achieves in the Tennis arena must not be portrayed as a success for Islam or Muslims. Of course there will be certain sections in the Muslim community who will be glorifying her due to the dearth of heroes in the Muslim world in any field.
She should realize that when you are in the world stage one cannot compare oneself with the behaviour of the man / woman on the street In this situation one should try ones best to ensure that their actions does not tarnish the image of Islam & the Muslims.
She will
be joining a long list of Indian Muslims in Bollywood who are tarnishing the image of Islam & Muslims day in & day out.
Of course the Non Muslim world will glorify her & portray as the icon of Muslim womanhood. For the Non Muslim world any Muslim who tarnishes the image of Islam or Muslims is a hero & is regarded as a progressive & enlightened Muslim.
AB
"For to us will be their return; then it will be for us to call them to account." (Holy Quran 88:25-26)
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(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
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[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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