In the Tradition of Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammad Ali [May Allah mercify him]), Khabib Nurmagomedov has taken the World by storm. He’s not only proven his Fighting-Skills to be Top-Notch, or that his Athletism is Unmatched within the UFC Professional-Arena-He’s offered more to the World than his current Undefeated-Record…he’s offered his very High-Profile, Unapologetic-Adherence to al-Islām. (As a Personality/Celebrity especially) being a Muslim is most definitely smothered with Islāmophobia, Scrutiny, Ridicule, etc. This is particularly true regarding where Khabib hails from: Dagestan, a Semi-Autonomous Region of the Russian Federation (Former USSR/Soviet Union). This Region, within the Greater Caucasus-Region of Asia, has had 2 Major-Legacies: al-Islām & Military-Resistance. As far back as atleast the 17th-Century, C.E., Dagestan has fought against being Militarily-Annexed by Russia. As a Result, the Muslims of Dagestan have historically evolved their Culture around Fighting-Spirit, Fighting-Skill, something which most of the Muslim-World has totally forfeited for Countless-Reasons. In fact, Dagestan is probably one of the only Places within the Muslim-World where just about every Able-Bodied Muslim-Male is 💯%-Ready for al-Qitāl/al-Jihād (Combat/Armed-Struggle)…yes, I said Jihād, the “J-Word”, if you don’t like it, then too bad for you…🤓😁😎
And, so much like Cassius Clay, Khabib Nurmagomedov evolved both religiously & personally out of Centuries worth of Theft, Rape, Murder, courtesy of Imperialism, Xenophobia, Islāmophobia, etc. via the Power of the Machine. So, of course, him being the Container of historical Spiritual/Psycho-Emotional Trauma, you can/should expect a Prize-Fighter to react in Ways which any other Muslim (who has never had Fights, never lived under Systemic-Oppression, never constantly/consistently lived under threat of Active-Wafare, etc.) wouldn’t behave (perhaps prior to as well as after a Fight), especially after fighting an Opponent like Conor McGreggor who blatantly attacked Khabib spiritually, psycho-emotionally, went out of his Way to directly/overtly mock al-Islām, his Family, his Home, etc. Ironically, there were/are many Muslims who’ve (instead of being happy, grateful, that such a High-Profile Muslim stuck it to such a High-Profile Islāmophobe) resorted to criticizing the Character of Khabib, as though he possessed absolutely 0 Islāmic-Character before, which is completely Unjust, Unfair, Dishonest, and Muslim-Coonish. Cassius Clay faced the exact same Scrutiny, when he refused to accept Military-Conscription Orders/the Draft to fight in the Vietnam-War. Also, Chris Jackson (Mahmoud Abdul Rauf), when he refused to stand for the Flag & National-Anthem of the United States, because of the Oppressive-Actions of the US-Government (via American Law-Enforcement & the American Judicial-System specifically) against Afro-Americans, which ironically hasn’t really changed that much since he was a Basketball-Player for the NBA: he was tarred&feathered even by Fellow-Muslims, accused of being “Unpatriotic”.
It’s almost as though the Muslim-Male is supposed to be afraid of his own Shadow…to just merely be Emmasculated within the Mundane, at any/all Levels. Well, Khabib has sparked something very special within the Psyche of the Muslim-Male, in Ways which no `Ālim/Scholar, no Imām/Religious-Leader, no Shaykh/Religious-Teacher, etc. has been able to do as of late. His mere presence, as a Visible-Muslim, is empowering to countless Muslim-Men, he represents Strength while the Muslim-World dwells pitifully in an unprecedented Duration of utter Weakness.
All in all, regardless to how one either favors or banes him: Khabib Nurmagomedov has without any Doubt has envigorated Generations of upcoming Muslim-Youth, Muslim-Men especially, to rise to the Occassion & to train to resist.
Gareth Bryant
1440, AH./2018, C.E.
View more of Gareth’s pieces on his blogsite: garethbryant.wordpress.com