Source: Wikipedia - Hakeem Olajuwon - Wikipedia
In Olajuwon’s college career and early years in the NBA, he was often undisciplined, talking back to officials, getting in minor fights with other players such as Magic Johnson, and amassing personal fouls. But later, Olajuwon took an active interest in spirituality,[35] becoming a more devout Muslim. On March 9, 1991, he altered his name to the proper Arabic spelling, saying, “I’m not changing the spelling of my name, I’m correcting it”.[36] He later recalled, “I studied the Qur’an every day. At home, at the mosque…I would read it in airplanes, before games and after them. I was soaking up the faith and learning new meanings each time I turned a page. I didn’t dabble in the faith, I gave myself over to it.”[36] Olajuwon was still recognized as one of the league’s elite centers despite his strict observance of Ramadan (e.g., abstaining from food and drink during daylight hours for about a month), which occurred during virtually every season of his career. Olajuwon was noted as sometimes playing better during the month, and in 1995 he was named NBA Player of the Month in February, even though Ramadan began on 1 February of that year.[3][37] He also gained recognition for his sportsmanship and his charitable pursuits. In 1994, after receiving his MVP award, he spoke at the ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) Convention.[38] He is a hero to many Muslim youth throughout the United States.[38]