Some images stay with us long after the headlines have faded.

One such image emerged after Spain's victory in the FIFA World Cup final. While emotions boiled over around him - players arguing, tempers flaring, cameras chasing the celebrations - 19-year-old Lamine Yamal quietly walked away, knelt on the pitch, and prayed. It was a brief moment. There were no speeches, no dramatic gestures, no attempt to perform for the cameras. Yet, in many ways, it became one of the defining images of the tournament. Even as chaos unfolded around him, he chose stillness.

Predictably, the reactions were polarised. Many Muslims celebrated him as an inspiring representative of Islam. Others immediately objected, pointing to aspects of his personal life they considered inconsistent with Islamic teachings and questioning whether he should be praised at all. The debate quickly shifted from the beauty of the moment to the familiar business of judging the person.

I think both sides missed something important.

The significance of that image was not that Yamal prayed. Millions........

© The Express Tribune