Husain Abdullah Penalized By NFL For Muslim Prayer, Is Tim Tebow’s Tebowing So Different?
Kansas City Chiefs player Husain Abdullah was apparently penalized for performing a Muslim prayer after successfully completing a touchdown against the New England Patriots. Already, some critics are highlighting that Abdullah’s actions are not so different from Tim Tebow and the “Tebowing” phenomenon that occurred in 2011.
In a related report by the Inquisitr, some fans argue that Tim Tebow is the NFL antithesis of Ray Rice and other bad examples. While everyone agrees Tebow is a great guy, Rush Limbaugh claim its Tebow’s throwing arm that is the bigger issue, not whether or not Tim Tebow was “blackballed” from the NFL over his Christian beliefs and the overwhelming media hype it generated.
The openly Christian Tim Tebow became well known for humbly giving all praise to his team, wearing the Bible verse John 3:16 on his face, and for his Tebowing to praise God for any victory, even if small. Oddly enough, when Tim Tebow faced the Steelers in 2011, the Nielsen rating of 31.6 and Tebow’s passing yards (316) and yards per completion (31.6) evoked the Bible’s John 3:16. So when Tebow went to one knee in the end field it was always very noticeable.
Similarly, Husain Abdullah is well known as a Muslim NFL player. The Chiefs safety even disappeared for the entire 2012 season so he could make the pilgrimage to Mecca. Abdullah even feels the need to offer a Muslim prayer by dropping to both knees and putting his forehead to the ground.
Unfortunately, this Muslim prayer resulted in a flag being thrown and a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty enacted. When the head referee announced the infraction, the reason given was “falling to the ground on the knees.” The NFL does have a rule that prohibits anyone “from engaging in any celebrations while on the ground” although in general any religious celebrations like prayer and Tebowing have been ignored.
you’re not penalized for going to the ground to give praise after a TD
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) November 25, 2013
Of course, Husain Abdullah himself says he was probably penalized for sliding on both knees into the Muslim prayer position.
Husain Abdullah was very gracious about the penalty. Says he was praying but thought he was flagged for sliding into it. “I got too excited” — Danny Parkins (@DannyParkins) September 30, 2014
Abdullah said the ref didn’t say anything to him and he didn’t ask for an explanation because he was pretty sure it was for the slide.
— Danny Parkins (@DannyParkins) September 30, 2014
Abdullah’s agent CJ LaBoy was not so nice about the issue and already fired off a warning to the NFL.
If the NFL tries to fine @HAbdullah39 for his TD celebration there’s going to be some problems. — CJ LaBoy (@CJLaBoy) September 30, 2014
Do you think the referee was right to penalize Kansas City Chiefs player Husain Abdullah for his sliding Muslim prayer?
