September 11, 2008 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

GFS senior Abdus-Salamm Muwwakkil — humble, patient
by Justin Goldman

Abdus-Salamm Muwwakkil heads the ball away from a Central opponent. (Photo by Jimmy J. Pack Jr.)

When it’s 95 degrees outside and you are in the middle of a hot, long practice, there is nothing more refreshing than a cold bottle of Gatorade or a cool cup of water. But for Germantown Friends senior soccer tri-captain Abdus-Salamm Muwwakki those feelings of refreshment and cooling off are a distant memory. Muwwakkil is a devout Muslim and until Oct.1 is observing Ramadan, which takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. During this time, observing Muslims do not eat or drink anything from dawn until sunset. This time of fasting is supposed to teach humility, patience and sacrifice.

Muwwakkil has exhibited all of those traits in the first two weeks of Ramadan. He never complains about being tired, or dehydrated, but just goes about his business as the center midfielder on the team even though he has to be exhausted.

“Since this is something religious, it is more of a will or me to do it,” Muwwakkil explains. “That (will) carries on to me being able to put the best effort I can into doing it and playing soccer.”

Muwwakkil wakes up daily at around 4:30 a.m., before the sun comes up. At that point, he’ll have breakfast, which is usually accompanied by a few bottles of water and Gatorade. After guzzling all of those fluids, he’ll normally try to eat something else before the sun comes up a 7:30.

Last year, Muwwakkil says that the sun would go down at about 5:30 p.m., which made things a little easier. Now, with the sun going down at 7:30, those last minutes are more difficult. He admits to really watching the clock and the sun at 7:27 until around 7:30 so he can just get some fluids in his system.

As he has gotten older, he has gotten a little better with his fast, but something like this is never easy. Muwwakil realizes that though this time is hard, it is a time for him to be able to reflect and build patience. He says that “applying a greater reason for doing it is what makes the one process worth it.”

Muwwakkil, a West Philadelphia native then makes his way to school, where once again he cannot eat or drink anything as he goes through his day.

“I avoid the cafeteria at all costs,” he says, chuckling. “It’s funny; I never realized how many people are eating something at GFS until I started Ramadan.”

And once school ends, Muwwakkil makes his way onto the soccer field where he is one of the leaders on a very talented team. GFS is known for its very difficult practices, and with the heat getting up to and beyond 90  most days in September, it’s hard for anyone to finish a long day on the field, let alone someone who hasn’t eaten or drank anything all day.

“We usually take five water/drink breaks per practice,” says head coach Matt Zipin. “To be out here and to work as hard as we work and not be able to replenish your fluids is amazing. I really don’t know how he does it.”

But Muwwakkil, who is known as Dus (like Duce Staley) by his teammates and friends, finds a way to push through and get the necessary energy he needs to make it through practice. Even when his team is breaking for water, he never says anything about his fast, he just goes along with his business.

“It’s funny, because when the team gets water, I can totally taste that water,” he says. “But for the most part, I try to look away. That makes things a little bit easier.”

This experience is one of faith and something that is beyond character building. It is something that he takes very seriously, and uses as a springboard and foundation into other aspects of life.

“When I am doing Ramadan, it gives me a feeling like I can complete anything,” he explains. “Since I have to go through this hard time, it makes other things that normally would be difficult a lot easier.”

The mental aspect of this whole process is the true test of fortitude for “Dus,” who also runs track at GFS, and admits that if tracks season came during Ramadan it would be a lot harder for him. During the games (when he is exerting an inordinate amount of energy) is when he truly starts to feel the affects. Zipin tries to give him more breaks than in practice. During a game, when Muwwakkil is on the sidelines, he usually pours water on his head to recover a little bit, takes a few deep breaths and re-laces his cleats; then he is ready to go back in.

Zipin reflects: “There are times during games when other guys are gassed and ask for a quick blow and one of them will run over to the sidelines, and I’ll say ‘No, you’re still in. Dus is the one that’s getting the break. Get back out there!’”

On top of being a standout soccer player, Muwwakkil also has to deal with the rigors of a very difficult classroom schedule at GFS. After practice, Muwwakkil finds his way home at a little after 6 p.m. and is usually very tired, but has to muster up the energy to do schoolwork.

“When I do break my fast when I get home, I am normally pretty tired at that point,” he says. “But I don’t have an excuse in terms of getting my work done.”

Muwwakkil admits that during this time, scheduling and time management are the most important things when it comes to getting his work done. He realizes that he needs to get more done during the day, so when he gets home, he can relax a little more when he breaks his fast.

There is no question that seeing Muwwakkil go through this is motivational for his teammates. When they see one of their leaders having to struggle a little bit, all of them rally around him. He says to them how he “won’t be able to give 150 percent, just 100,” and finds any possible way to motivate them that he can.

“When I was named captain of this team, it was one of the greatest things,” he says with pride. “The fact that I was chosen to be a leader was great, and I would never want to let these guys down.”

That sort of mutual respect that he and his teammates have for each other is one of the key elements in the Tigers strong will and performance over the last few seasons.

Muwwakkil is still a very effective player on the field, but the Tigers do miss him when he has to come off. On October 1, when Ramadan ends, there is no question that the Tigers will be a better team, because they will have a rejuvenated and replenished Muwwakkil for the rest of the season. And although it will be a little cooler at that point, at least he’ll get to have the refreshment of water and Gatorade with his teammates and not have to look away.