NRL and All Blacks Great Sonny Bill Williams launched a debate on Muslim clothes simply by publishing a photo of his family on social networks.
The football star who became a boxer marked the end of Ramadan by showing his disciples on X a photo of him with his family – his wife Alana and Kids Zaid, Aisha, Imaan, Essa and Mohammed – as well as the words “Eid Mubarak of Williams”.
This Williams position – which converted to Islam in 2009 – was taken over by Ali al -Hadhrami, who republished it with the commentary, “ Refreshing to see converts dressing like Malaysians instead of the Arabs for once. ”
Williams then republished the comment of Al-Hadhrami, who refers to the former star of the Bulldogs and Roosters carrying a high Baju Melayu and Songkok Cap, like his sons, with his wife wearing a Tudong head cover.
These clothes are traditional in Malaysian culture, and Williams has close links with Malaysia now that he is the professional chancellor of the International University of Albukhary, which is located in the city of Alor Setar, north of the national capital of Kuala Lumpur.
Al-Hadhrami’s comment triggered a wide range of reactions on X, some commentators who have done it as an insult to Muslims who wear Arab style clothes.
Williams posted this photo of him with his wife Alana and their children Zaid, Aisha, Imaan, Essa and Mohammed to mark the end of the sacred month of Ramadan
The former LNR star tweet attracted this comment to the clothes that the family was wearing
A debate quickly followed while some commentators thought that the style of Arabic outfit was attacked
“What is your point?” What is the problem if they wear Arab clothes? No one sees a problem of cultural erasure if they wear jeans or a costume, but as far as Arabs are concerned, everything is different ” wrote.
“What is non-Arabic beef with Arabs?” Always hate when the converts try to show that they converted by wearing modern Muslim clothes like thobes and abayas. Are you jealous of the Arabs or do you feel lower because people choose to dress like them? Wallahi, it becomes ridiculous ” said another commentator.
“It is a cultural erasure, because I am Malaysian, and I know it’s true!” We can be Muslims but we can wear everything we love, but the obsession of Arab clothes to show that they are Muslim, a no no! added another.
“Arab hatred is so forced,” wrote a third, with another comment “non -Arab clothes are haram”, referring to a prohibited Arabic word.
Takes like those who led Al-Hadhrami to try to clarify his message by writing: “Some people seem to think that this tweet is anti-” converts wearing Arab clothes “. No, this is not the case, anyone can wear what he wants IDC, stop trying to read between the lines and take this tweet at its nominal value.
Other commentators on the post have mentioned Williams’ bonds with Malaysia, one stressing that he was in Johor’s state during the sacred month of Ramadan at the invitation of the region of the region.
Williams has become a devout Muslim since the adoption of religion when he played Rugby Union in France.
Last year, he admitted that he had tried to force his wife to wear a hijab during the first days of their relationship.
The commentator who sparked the debate tried to clarify what he meant with this tweet
Williams, who is a devout Muslim since his converting to Islam in 2009, has a leading job with a Malaysian university and had stayed in the country (photo) during Ramadan
He married Alana in August 2013 after a four -week swirling romance despite the admission that they were not in love at the time, rather adhering to Islamic tradition.
“Immediately, we said that we are going to do it islamically correct, so even in these first four weeks, I was not with her by myself, we always had a riding hood,” he previously admitted.
Williams was appointed guest lecturer during the first of a series of Islamic educational events for the events of the faith for 2024 in Malaysia and spoke with Shaykh Wael Ibrahim when he was asked about the head of his wife’s head.
The former winner of the first LNR and winner of the Black World Cup in New Zealand admitted that he had tried to put Alana to carry the hijab at the start of their relationship when he began his journey in Islamic faith.
“When I started to become religious, I started to learn more, because I was on this trip, I expected that those who are close to me, I started to expect them to be on the same trip,” he said.
“Where everyone is on their own trip.
“So I started putting pressure on my wife at a time, you have to put the scarf.”
At the time, Alana had nothing.
“My wife being the fiery Cape Malay (Muslim community in South Africa) that she is, she told me to watch, it is my trip, you worry about you and stop pointing your finger,” said Williams.
“So subhanallah (glory to Allah) I just made my own trip and I understand that I am the shepherd of my family.
“I had to carry out by my actions and that’s what I have always done as a rugby player.
“So I started to direct by my actions.