Saliba’s Mid-Sha‘ban post sparks debate over faith
- Created by Juma Namlola
- Football
The footballer has never publicly spoken about his religion in interviews.
Arsenal defender William Saliba has drawn attention online after sharing an Islamic message on his verified Facebook page to mark Mid-Sha‘ban.
The night is significant in the Muslim calendar that precedes Ramadan.
In the post, Saliba described Mid-Sha‘ban as a time for reflection and prayer, asking God to bless Muslims ahead of Ramadan.
"Mid-Sha'ban is a beautiful reminder that Ramadan is near. May this night be a fresh start for us all," he wrote.
"O Allah, bless all Muslims around the world and make this a night of answered prayers and happiness."
The post concluded with an image of the Al Kaaba.
The message quickly sparked reactions from fans, some surprised and others welcoming the gesture.
The more than 4.4k comments that followed showed surprise.
"Broh is confusing me. Is he a Muslim?" wrote Jamil Ahmed.
Mohamed Ilkacase responded to the prayer with, "William Saliba,
Ameen. May Allah allow us to reach Ramadan with purified hearts, accepted Du’a and abundant mercy. Āmīn."
The post comes from Saliba’s verified account, confirming its authenticity.
However, the footballer has never publicly spoken about his religion in interviews, leaving some followers curious.
Saliba’s case is not unique. Several high-profile Muslim players have Christian or Western first names. Examples include Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kanté, and Franck Ribéry, all of whom practise Islam openly.
In many cases, names reflect family choices or cultural influences rather than religious identity.
