Letter From America
Ramadan In The Usa
Wherever Muslims are, they are required to fast during the holy month of Ramadan. Fasting in a non-Muslim country such as the United States, presents unique set of challenges.
Unlike Muslim countries, the US as a nation is not geared towards fasting. Normal life goes on; with no allowance for those abstaining from food or other physical pleasures. One is required to work, travel and contribute full time. In a way, is that not the essence of Ramadan, anyway? That one has to sacrifice in the sake of Allah (SWT), purify the body and the soul, while going about one's normal daily routine?
Americans are not overly impressed when they learn someone is fasting. Fasting in one form or another is practiced by the Jews and the Christians as well. However, when they learn that a Muslim cannot even have a sip of water, they are truly astounded.
Inevitably, the question leads to why fasting is prescribed. "So that one acquires a first hand knowledge of how it feels to go hungry, so that one can be more compassionate towards the hungry", we reply. After all, fasting and charity are supposed to go hand in hand. More important, fasting is commanded by God; human beings cannot always rationalize God's commandments.
Abstaining from food is much more difficult at younger ages, especially when their non-Muslim friends are snacking all around them; yet, Muslim kids insist on fasting. I have wondered why. Although normally kids like to be a part of a crowd than to stand apart, in this case they prefer to stand apart. Muslim kids sit in one corner of the school cafeteria and commiserate, as their non-Muslim friends eat and sometimes mischievously dangle food under their nose. Yet, Muslim kids persist. All I can think of is, Allah put them up to it.
Whenever Americans learn that someone is fasting for religious reasons as opposed to dieting, it elicits sincere respect. On a work related trip a few years ago, when he learned I was fasting, a colleague refused to eat anything, even a soda, in my presence. Since Iftar was going to be after 9 P. M. in northern Iowa, I told my friend to go ahead and have his dinner at the usual time of 6 P.M. After nine, there was a knock on my door. "It's after nine; aren't you hungry? Let's go!" My American friend had not eaten his dinner either!
One of the beauties of being a practicing Muslim in the USA is that one gets to meet the Muslim umma from all over the world. Our Islamic Center boasts of Muslims from over 35 countries. There are Egyptians, Saudis, Syrians, Lebanese, Turks, Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis of course; we even have Bosnians and Chechens! Every year "Mukris" (Hafezs who recite the holy Quran beautifully) from Egypt come to our center during Ramadan and lead the Taraveeh prayers. To pray behind the Quranic recitation of the best, Shaikh Jibreel of Egypt, is a spiritual experience of another dimension.
Muslims have come a long way in the USA. New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman has proclaimed January, 1998, as "The Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan" in her state. Many other states, with significant Muslim population, do the same.
It may come as a shock to my co-religionists, but it is true that it is easier to be a practicing Muslim here in the USA than in many Muslim countries. The holy Quran says that lying lies at the root of all evil. Yet, lying is so common in so many Muslim countries that one forgets to even notice it. Lying is a crime here in the US; perjury lands people in jail. The late President Richard Nixon lost his Presidency for lying to the nation.
In many Muslim countries, nothing gets done without bribes - bribing has been institutionalized and carries no social stigma. Again, in the United States bribing is a serious crime punishable by a stiff jail sentence.
For Muslims, Zakat or charity at 2.5 per cent of one's net worth is mandated by their religion. Yet very few Muslims abide by this pillar of Islam. If all the wealthy Muslims of the world contributed 2.5 per cent of their net worth annually to Zakat, there would be very little poverty in the Muslim world. Americans, on the other hand, are very generous people. Every year they give away a significant part of their income to charity voluntarily.
Drug dealers and gold smugglers with ill-gotten wealth are respectable and influential members of society, in many Muslim countries. How one acquired so much wealth so quickly, is never questioned. In the USA, these criminals and fugitives from law are always on the run. Once caught, instead of getting a chance to pontificate to the government, they rot in jail for the rest of their lives.
Criminals with the right connections escape punishment in many Muslim countries. A criminal on the run in the USA, can never call up someone in power and influence to get off the hook. If he tried and was successful, the public official himself or herself would be severely punished.
Sometimes it is puzzling as to how the US and several western nations have adopted these truly "Muslim" values, enshrined in our holy Quran, whereas the real Muslims have gone away from it.
Could it be one of the reasons why the West is so advanced and we are not?
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