( CNN ) -- American football -- particularly at the NFL level -- requires stamina , which is usually in short supply when you 're hungry . Husain Abdullah , a safety for the Kansas City Chiefs , does n't let an empty stomach ruin his game . A devout Muslim , he observes Ramadan , which means adhering to a month without food or water during daylight hours . Far from hurting his performance , Abdullah says the act of fasting actually enhances his game . `` When you 're on that spiritual level , it actually kind of transforms you into being better , and playing better , '' he says . `` I 've had some of my best performances while fasting . '' It 's not the first time religion has played a role in his professional decisions . When he graduated from Washington State University , he landed his dream gig : backup for the Minnesota Vikings . Three years later , he quit the team travel to go on the hajj -- the pilgrimage to Mecca that all Muslims are expected to make during their lifetimes . `` This is what I needed to see in terms of advancing my level of faith in Islam , '' he says . `` Everybody 's coming to Mecca to do the same thing . Everybody 's asking for forgiveness . Everybody 's asking for guidance . '' When he 's on the field , Abdullah says he can feel a higher power guiding him . `` When we make a play , we 're not going to say I did that . We 're going to thank God , '' he says . Though his faith is more of a personal journey , there are some who take offense . `` People say it should n't be on the field , '' he admits . `` But you ca n't get away from it . If someone believes in God , you ca n't get away from it . ''
American football star Husain Abdullah says his Muslim faith is important to him . He left football to travel to Mecca in Saudi Arabia . He now plays for the Kansas City Chiefs . He fasts during Ramadan , even if it means playing football hungry .