The UK’s Daily Mail reports:
In 2004, Bahrain’s Ruqaya Al Ghasara, a devout Muslim, was the first athlete to ever take part in an Olympics wearing a hijab.
In 2006, she won the women’s 200m final at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, making her the first Bahraini-born athlete to win a major international athletics gold medal.
Last week, she was Bahrain’s flag-bearer at the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony in Beijing.
Today, Al Ghasara won her heat of the women’s 200m sprint in the Olympic Games.
Subhan’Allah, how beautiful and inspiring!
[HT: Nerda]
11 comments
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August 19, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Haleem
Here’s hoping she wins tonight!
August 19, 2008 at 8:03 pm
UmmZaid
Salaam ‘Alaikum
I believe she was the first to compete in “athletics” (track & field) in hijab, but Iranian women have been competing for years in fields like archery and air rifle in hijab. Whatever I think of their government and their laws, they were blazing trails when it came to this stuff.
I was happy to see a large contingent of hijab’d ladies from many different countries — I even saw one w/ the Canadian team (dunno if she is an official or athlete).
August 19, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Baraka
Salaams,
Haleem: Do let me know – we don’t have our TV hooked up so haven’t been watching the Olympics.
Even if she doesn’t win, being there and winning today is amazing. Insh’Allah she’ll do well!
UZ: Thanks for the clarification!
They probably meant participation in an event that required moving around more than archery and air rifle, and therefore one in which the hijab could have been seen as “hampering”. I’m glad she proved them otherwise!
Warmly,
Baraka
August 19, 2008 at 11:47 pm
yasmine
oh, what a beautiful photograph (and moment), that second one!
August 20, 2008 at 4:01 am
Ruba
I really think it’s nice,but I hope she choose something more flare to wear….
don’t get me wrong anyone please
August 20, 2008 at 12:36 pm
yasmine
ruba, as an olympic-level athlete, her hijab is probably more about function than about flare. =)
i’m giggling, imagining if i were sprinting while wearing my headwraps. hahaha
August 20, 2008 at 4:05 pm
safia
Assalamualikum,
Wow,mashAllah i didnt know this!
MashAllah its really great to see this.
August 21, 2008 at 9:18 am
Ruba
Yasmine I’m well-aware of what you said…
which is why I wouldn’t join a marathon for istance if I know that wearing flare pants would hinder my movement!
anyways,may Allah guide us all
August 24, 2008 at 1:00 am
Alle Olimpiadi col velo islamico » Panorama.it - Mondo
[...] preso parte ai giochi e hanno anche, in qualche caso, ben figurato. E’ il caso ad esempio di Ruqaya al Ghasara, 25enne sprinter del Barhain, che dopo aver superato le resistenze dei più conservatori, è stata [...]
August 25, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Fatima
Just yesterday someone had told me that right after Roqaya won the 200m heat, she made sujood (bowing down) to Allah, the Almighty. I didnt know that so all day today I have been searching for youtube and google videos and searching internet articles in hopes of finding the picture of her bowing after her win. I finally found it on this blog. I thank you very much for portraying this specific picture. It just goes to show her sincerity and her love to Islam and more importantly, God.
September 8, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Baraka
I’m glad you all agree that the second photo is compelling, beautiful & inspirational.