What Being Muslim Means to Me
again the muslim/christian chasm widens. i am happy to say a lot has changed about my perspective since i first hear the phrase al quaeda. now when i think of islam i think of ashfa, tarek, parbez, hafsa, ashifa, aasimah, rukan and their families. through these children i have had a glimpse into the reality of islamic life, and this is what i see.
i see families who want the best for their children, so they leave the life, country, and family they know in search of a better future of possibility and hope. i see families grateful and kind to anyone who wants to help their children. i see adults struggling with how their traditions and religion fit in a world changing as fast as the internet can run. i see beautiful clothes with sequins and amazing stitching. i see people kind enough to share and explain their food to me. i see children terrified of secondary school. i see shopowners struggling to understand what in the world it is i am looking for in their store. i see people curious and respectful about my culture. i hear strange music blaring from the latest stereo equipment. i smell dinner cooking that i wish were mine. i see the most amazing detail work in henna tattoos on young women's hands. i hear tons of laughing and tons of questions about life and the world.
recently an islamic leader here in london made a controversial comment, a suggestion. he recommended that islamic women in london quit wearing their hijab (headscarf). he said this was for their own safety as many women have been harassed since the recent bombings. hate crime in london has risen by 600% in the last few weeks. when asked their opinion, the women interviewed said they did not see removing their hijab in public as a possibility. another person said it would be like telling conservative nonislamic women that they would be safer in public if they wore less clothing, revealed more of their bodies. being muslim means wrestling with these kinds of decisions.
daddy, thank you for my muslim friends and what they have to teach me. i thank you that you have brought them into my life, not just me into theirs. give me wisdom to know how you are leading me in these friendships.
i see families who want the best for their children, so they leave the life, country, and family they know in search of a better future of possibility and hope. i see families grateful and kind to anyone who wants to help their children. i see adults struggling with how their traditions and religion fit in a world changing as fast as the internet can run. i see beautiful clothes with sequins and amazing stitching. i see people kind enough to share and explain their food to me. i see children terrified of secondary school. i see shopowners struggling to understand what in the world it is i am looking for in their store. i see people curious and respectful about my culture. i hear strange music blaring from the latest stereo equipment. i smell dinner cooking that i wish were mine. i see the most amazing detail work in henna tattoos on young women's hands. i hear tons of laughing and tons of questions about life and the world.
recently an islamic leader here in london made a controversial comment, a suggestion. he recommended that islamic women in london quit wearing their hijab (headscarf). he said this was for their own safety as many women have been harassed since the recent bombings. hate crime in london has risen by 600% in the last few weeks. when asked their opinion, the women interviewed said they did not see removing their hijab in public as a possibility. another person said it would be like telling conservative nonislamic women that they would be safer in public if they wore less clothing, revealed more of their bodies. being muslim means wrestling with these kinds of decisions.
daddy, thank you for my muslim friends and what they have to teach me. i thank you that you have brought them into my life, not just me into theirs. give me wisdom to know how you are leading me in these friendships.
posted by jamie at 4:22 AM
Comments on "What Being Muslim Means to Me"
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Anonymous said ... (11:03 AM) :
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jamie said ... (11:59 PM) :
post a commentso, the random comment of thanks daddy at the end makes me wonder if the new miller has arrived or is it just hopeful thinking.
Great blog - Islam to me is my friend Rukshana at Holloway who wants to know about the voice of God and answers all my questions.
no new miller yet. daddy is what i often call god in my prayers. so, that is just a prayer. isn't it great to put a face to something like "islam" rather than just generalities. thanks for reading!