Being a Muslim Elite-level Athlete Competing during Ramadan: A Multidisciplinary Reflection on Adaptation and the Pursuit of Excellence while Fasting

Authors

  • Karim Chamari Naufar, Wellness and Recovery Center, Doha, Qatar,, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, University of Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia
  • Walid Briki Independent researcher, Grasse, France https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6298-811X
  • Asma Aloui Physical Activity, Sport and Health Research Unit, UR18JS01, National Observatory of Sport, Tunis, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5054-1540
  • Khaled Trabelsi High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Research Laboratory Education, Motricity, Sport et Santé, EM2S, LR19JS01, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Tunisia , Department of Movement Sciences and Sports Training, School of Sport Science, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2623-9557
  • Olivier Hue ACTES Laboratory, UFR-Staps, University of the West Indies, Fouillole Campus, 97157 Pointe à Pitre, France https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2155-0816
  • Helmi Ben Saad Research laboratory LR12SP09 ‘Heart failure’, Farhat Hached Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse , Tunisia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7477-2965

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v103i7.6070

Keywords:

Adaptation Physiological, Athletic Performance, Culture, Religion and Medicine, Sleep Wake Disorders

Abstract

NON APPLIED

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

  • Helmi Ben Saad, Research laboratory LR12SP09 ‘Heart failure’, Farhat Hached Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse , Tunisia
    • Professor of Physiology and Functional Explorations at the Faculty of Medicine of Sousse - Tunisia, Department of Physiology and Functional Explorations at EPS Farhat HACHED - Sousse - Tunisia.
    • President of the College of Physiology and Functional Explorations (terms: 2014-2017 and 2021-2023).
    • Master's degree in Biological and Medical Sciences from the University of Montpellier I, France.
    • World expert in spirometry (ranked 1st in Africa): https://expertscape.com/ex/spirometry/c/afr.
    • Diploma of Advanced Studies in "Human Movement Sciences" from the University of Montpellier I, France.
    • Interuniversity Diploma "Pathophysiology of Exercise and Functional Exercise Explorations" from the University of Montpellier 1, France.
    • International PhD in Sciences between the Universities of Montpellier I (France) and Monastir (Tunisia).
    • European Spirometry Driving License Part 1 (theory only) and the European Spirometry Training Program (Part 2: knowledge and competence in practice) and the European Spirometry train-the-trainer course.
    • Invited speaker at numerous international congresses on respiratory functional explorations.
    • Author of over 250 scientific articles in indexed and impact factor journals.
    • Potential reviewer for over 100 indexed and impact factor journals and potential external reviewer for the University of Cape Town (South Africa), uwait (Kuwait) and Mutah (Jordan).
    • Winner of the Sadok BESROUR Award for Excellence in Medical Research (2021).
    • Web:
    1. http://scholar.google.fr/citations?hl=fr&user=oeV_0OwAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdatehttp://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helmi_Ben_Saad
    2. https://publons.com/author/602231/helmi-ben-saad#profile
    3. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helmi_Ben_Saad

References

Lefèvre B, Raffin V. Institut national de la jeunesse et de l'éducation populaire. Les pratiques physiques et sportives en France. 2023. Lien: https://injep.fr/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ouvrage ENPPS.pdf (Dernière visite: 27 mai 2025).

WWF France. Les Français pourraient perdre jusqu'à 2 mois d’activité sportive par an dans un monde à +4°C. Lien: https://www. wwf.fr/vous-informer/actualites/dereglement-climatique-sport (Dernière visite: 27 mai 2025).

DeLang MD, Salamh PA, Chtourou H, Saad HB, Chamari K. The Effects of Ramadan Intermittent Fasting on Football Players and Implications for Domestic Football Leagues Over the Next Decade: A Systematic Review. Sports Med. 2022;52(3):585-600.

Periard JD, Eijsvogels TMH, Daanen HAM. Exercise under heat stress: thermoregulation, hydration, performance implications, and mitigation strategies. Physiol Rev. 2021;101(4):1873-979.

Périard JD, Nichols D, Travers G, Cocking S, Townsend N, Brown HA, et al. Impact of exercise heat acclimation on performance in hot, cool and hypoxic conditions. SSEJ. 2024;6(3):275-87.

Chamari K, Roussi M, Bragazzi NL, Chaouachi A, Abdul RA. Optimizing training and competition during the month of Ramadan: Recommendations for a holistic and personalized approach for the fasting athletes. Tunis Med. 2019;97(10):1095-103.

Chamari K, Aziz AR, Moumen Jamai T, Sayrafi OAL, Khalladi K, Bragazzi NL, et al. Aspetar clinical guideline: Ramadan fasting and exercise for healthy individuals. N Asian J Med. 2023;1(2):7-19.

Chamari K, Guezguez F, Khalladi K, Chtourou H, Moumen Jamai T, Chaouachi A, et al. Aspetar clinical guidelines: Ramadan fasting and exercise for healthy individuals. Tunis Med. 2023;101(1):1-14.

Aloui A, Briki W, Chalabi H, Chamari K. Understanding Ramadan fasting and its challenges for athletes: A general overview. Tunis Med. 2025; 103(7):859-861. DOI: 10.62438/tunismed.v103i7.5766.

Aloui A, Abaïdia AE, Chtourou H, Chaouachi A. Impact of the month of Ramadan on sport performance. Tunis Med. 2025; 103(7):862 867. DOI: 10.62438/tunismed.v103i7.5767.

Chamari K, Briki W. Training and competing during Ramadan Practical recommendations for athletes and coaches. Tunis Med. 2025; 103(7):868-876. DOI: 10.62438/tunismed.v103i7.5757

Boujelbane MA, Ammar A, Trabelsi K, Jahrami H, Briki W. Monitoring the mental health of athletes during the month of Ramadan. Tunis Med. 2025; 103(7): 877-882. DOI: 10.62438/tunismed.v103i7.5823

Abaïdia AE. Post-exercise recovery during the month of Ramadan. Tunis Med. 2025; 103(7):883-890. DOI: 10.62438/tunismed. v103i7.5775

Fitouri C, Yaakoubi A, Dellal A, Aloui A, Latiri I, Chamari K, Ben Jomâa H. Ramadan and sport: A pilot study on the perspectives of professionals and athletes in diverse cultural contexts. Tunis Med. 2025; 103(7):891-898. DOI: 10.62438/tunismed.v103i7.5795

Khacharem A, Trabelsi K, Dellal A, Dupont G, Chalabi H, Chamari K. Optimizing communication with athletes during the Ramadan fasting period: Strategies and tips for coaches. Tunis Med. 2025; 103(7):899-906. DOI: 10.62438/tunismed.v103i7.5800

Trabelsi K, Morillas Pedreno JJ, Bertrand C, Chalabi H, Chamari K. Nutritional strategies for fasting athletes during Ramadan. Tunis Med. 2025; 103(7):907-916. DOI: 10.62438/tunismed.v103i7.5826

Trabelsi K, Romdhani M, Morillas Pedreno JJ, Bertran C, Jahrami H, Chamari K. Assessment of hydration status and sleep in athletes during ramadan month. Tunis Med. 2025; 103(7): 917-927. DOI: 10.62438/tunismed.v103i7.5828

Dhouibi J, Jellad A, Chalabi H, Ben Saad H. How can medical staff support athletes during Ramadan? Tunis Med. 2025; 103(7):928 -935. DOI: 10.62438/tunismed.v103i7.5763

Briki W, Chamari K. Fasting and performing during Ramadan: Faith and autonomous spirituality as psychological resources for adaptation in muslim athletes – A theoretical reflection within a Western context. Tunis Med. 2025; 103(7):936-942. DOI: 10.62438/ tunismed.v103i7.6043

Farooq A, Herrera CP, Zerguini Y, Almudahka F, Chamari K. Knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of Muslim footballers towards Ramadan fasting during the London 2012 Olympics: a cross sectional study. BMJ Open. 2016;6(9):e012848.

Damerval T. Sport et activité physique: la science entre en jeux. Lien: https://anr.fr/fr/actualites-de-lanr/sport-et-activite-physique la-science-entre-en-jeux/ (Dernière visite: 27 mai 2025).

Queval I. Le corps-machine. In: Laffont R, éditeur. Le sport, le diable au corps. Paris 2021. p. 115-31.

Smith R, Smoll F. Logical positivism. Quantitative measurement in the study of coaching behaviours, their effects on athletes, and their modification In: Nelson L, Groom R, Potrac P, editors. Research Methods in Sports Coaching. 2nd ed. London: Routledge; 2025.

Bahr R, Hassanmirzaei B, Tabben M, Chaabane M, Chebbi S, Rekik R, et al. Injury prevention in football. Aspetar Journal. 2023:66-72.

Chamari K, Haddad M, Wong del P, Dellal A, Chaouachi A. Injury rates in professional soccer players during Ramadan. J Sports Sci. 2012;30 Suppl 1:S93-102.

Briki W, Amara M. Perspective of Islamic self: Rethinking Ibn al Qayyim's three-heart model from the scope of dynamical social psychology. J Relig Health. 2018;57(3):836-48.

Aggerholm K. Existential philosophy and sport. In: McNamee M, Morgan WJ, editors. Routledge handbook of the philosophy of sport. 1st ed. London: Routledge; 2015. p. 142–160

Reybrouck M, Schiavio A. Music performance as knowledge acquisition: a review and preliminary conceptual framework. Front Psychol. 2024;15:1331806.

Richard V, Holder D, Cairney J. Creativity in motion: Examining the creative potential system and enriched movement activities as a way to ignite it. Front Psychol. 2021;12:690710.

Washif JA, Aziz AR, Chamari K. The impact of Ramadan intermittent fasting on muslim and non-muslim athletes: A global perspective. Tunis Med. 2024;102(6):321-3.

Dergaa I, Zakhama L, Dziri C, Ben Saad H. Enhancing scholarly discourse in the age of artificial intelligence: A guided approach to effective peer review process. Tunis Med. 2023;101(10):721-6.

Dergaa I, Chamari K, Zmijewski P, Ben Saad H. From human writing to artificial intelligence generated text: examining the prospects and potential threats of ChatGPT in academic writing. Biol Sport. 2023;40(2):615-22.

Additional Files

Published

2025-07-01

Issue

Vol. 103 No. 7 (2025): Tunis Med Jul 2025

Section

Ramadan Fasting, Health and Sport

Categories

License

Copyright (c) 2025 La Tunisie Médicale

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.