Farkhunda Muhtaj is playing for something bigger than soccer

Ask Farkhunda Muhtaj how big of a moment it will be and she won't mince words. 

In six weeks, the Calgary Wild FC midfielder will become part of history as one of the players lining up for the inaugural season of the Northern Super League — Canada's first women's professional soccer league. 

"I see it as an opportunity to impact change," the Afghan Canadian midfielder said. "To influence young women and girls who feel that this opportunity is so distant."

But the accomplishment represents something much bigger for Muhtaj. Preseason preparations intersect with Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and dedicate themselves to the faith.

As a practising Muslim woman, it's something she'll observe — and the 27-year-old is not taking the occasion for granted. 

"What makes this experience extremely meaningful to me is not only being a Muslim competing in the Northern Super League or an Afghan in this league, but being one that's proud of her culture and her faith," Muhtaj said.

"A lot of my achievements have come through my academics and athletics, because my parents were aware of the gender equitable foundation that our faith is based on."

According to the Qur'an — Islam's holy text that was revealed during Ramadan and which the Muslim faith's teachings are based on — education is a fundamental right. Several verses within the book highlight the role of education for both personal and societal development.

The text also emphasizes gender equality for men and women and states they have equal rights.

Muhtaj was born in Pakistan after her family fled their Muslim-majority home country of Afghanistan during that country's second civil war.

Fifteen years after the move, she