The Middle Class and Islam
Posted on August 23, 2007 by Tariq Nelson
Last year, I posted this on the topic of telling college educated/middle class individuals about Islam. A few days ago, Amir posted this similar post on Austrolabe. What goes on in Australia is eerily (and sadly) similar to what often happens here in the US in spite of them being ‘down under’.
What is the common denominator? Not used to “outsiders” coming in? The insular culture? Do you feel comfortable bringing a friend to your neighborhood mosque?
Filed under: Muslim Isolation, Sloganism over Reality, The Culture of Denial and Pretense
ADAMS center isnt bad. It seems to be clean and friendly. I remember walking in there when I first moved to the area and was greeted friendly by Lebanese man whom I now know is well respected there and an African American covert.
Every year at my work we have a cultural day and our Islamic association here hands out materials about Islam. This year we gave away, free, some 500 Qur’ans and several thousand pamphlets, booklets and other items to educate about Islam. We did a little quiz about Islam and if you got it right you could choose a couple of different hardback books, one of them being the new Tariq Ramadan book about Mohammed and the other being a Karen Armstrong book about Islam.
We gave out water and baklava and a few of the sisters did Henna for people, another brother got some nice papyrus and wrote people’s names in Arabic for them. All for free.
My work place is all engineers, scientists, doctors and the like. I find the best way to deal with educated professional people is to provide them with the materials they need and be able to answer any questions they might have.
I have also found that having a person to answer questions who knows how to frame the answers from a Western Christian perspective is a good thing as well. This year a older gentleman came and asked one of the immigrant brothers there about the Fatiha and if, in it’s use and symbolism, it could be compared to the Lords Prayer for Christians.
The immigrant brother tried to answer, but just was pretty much unaware of the Lords Prayer or it’s significance to Christians. I was able to step in and explain from a Western Christian background how they could compare. I ended up having a 15 minute conversation that ranged from the Shi’a/Sunni split and comparisons to Protestantism and Catholicism to the Muslim view of death and the afterlife.
Educated professions need answers and educational materials. It is my experience that you get them hooked on the ideas and basics of Islam before you take them to mosques and other places.
Common Denominator: Very few of us understand Islam, our character should reflect our beliefs, instead it acts like a repellant. Besides how can we give a person a Quran and the first thing they read is “… not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).” Let’s face it most us have earned Allah’s anger and have gone astray, otherwise Tariq, Umar and the others wouldn’t have anything to blog about, and I wouldn’t have anytime to laugh about during work surrounded by hypocrites and racists.
Yes, the insular culture plays a huge role. I’ve noticed the first thing we do when a woman walks in is attempt to cover her hair. If she’s dressed modestly, and most are compared with the ones who wear a scarf on their head, frankly I don’t see the problem since she’s seeking info and not going into the musalla. I remember the days I used to cover, but didn’t pray, but everyone said, “MASHA ALLAH, she’s a GOOD SISTER!” ROFL.
CUSSWORD NO, I don’t feel comfortable bring my friends or family to the mosque, the last time I did that my mother told a few folks off (she’s so sharp they didn’t realize they were insulted), and my father complained that the place being funky - it was it, deodorant and windows -FRESH AIR - exists for a reason. I think he was more insulted because everyone ASSUMED he was middle eastern because he lacks melanin and has eyes which change colors (sometimes green, sometimes grey).
The day I feel comfortable at the masjid, is the day I will bring my family and friends to the the open house.
What I fail to understand is how are these brothers and sisters coping in the real world? Most work in corporate america, have government jobs or for non profit organizations and have to INTERACT with the general population on a daily basis. What happens when we set foot inside the masjid? Who are we attempting to fool?
Eduated black America sees right through this charade and looks at Muslims view tinted glasses. I’d love for my buddies to come to the masjid, but I’m always dealing with addressing why muslims are so racist, sexist, hypocrites, liars, unorganized, etc…
Each one of us make up the environment of the masjid. It is a reflection of us. If it is empty it is because WE are not there. If it is not friendly, it is because WE are not friendly. Each person has to do their individual part instead of crying about it. The real question is how involved are you at the masjid?
I am very involved, you’ll find me there all day Saturdays, Sunday and some evenings. I have spent many nights at the masjid…working for the sake of Allah because they pay is not good at all compared to what I’ll get in corporate america.
I’ve been cursed out and verbally abused (recently, but being the sister I am I chewed the last misogynist pig out, in front of a few brothers, he came back with his head hung down WHISPERING I AM SORRY) by many our beloved and wonderful brothers. I used to work at the masjid (7 days a w week from 7:30 am until 6:30 PM) until I got mentally drained because of the fitna and misogyny. YA’ANNI I am very involved and will CRY LOUDLY about the crap that goes on, especially behinds the scenes.
How can I be friendly when spoken to like a child, because I am black or a woman?! I know because te same folks do not approach other sisters or the brothers in the same manner. HOw can I be friendly when my salaams are left hanging in the stale air? How can I be friendly when my family doesn’t feel comfortable because of people? How can I be friendly when I know the hearts of my sisters and brothers because of their actions OUTSIDE and worse INSIDE the masjid. Heck, just look at our how brothers speak to the sisters on islamic forums and blogs… I’ve seen dogs get spoken to in a gentler manner
Bint Will, calm down. Make sure the problem is with them rather than with yourself.
I’ll give you an example; nine times out of ten, when I lower my gaze in the presence of women (supposedly ‘Muslim’ ones anyway) I get called either retarded or arrogant. Since the world apparently revolves around them, if I don’t return salams for whatever moral or personal reasons, it’s because I’m a rude person. It seems women have forgotten what modesty is.
@WM
From your post, it seems to me ,you are implying that in order for a woman to be modest she can not even speak?
I do not believe Bint Will is at all overreacting.
My non-Muslim family, especially the elderly feel the same way.
I’ve brought members of my family to Dar us Salaam and would feel comfortable doing so again.
@Anonymous:
No. I’m only implying that, should I not wish to return her salams, she’ll respect my wishes.
Assalamu Alaykum,
WM, on what religous basis would you refuse to return the salaams of a woman brother? I’m seriously late on this discussion…but infinitely curious nonetheless.
Keep on keepin’ on sister Bint Will, and I agree wholeheartedly with poster that suggested that we only need look at ourselves to correct what is wrong with our mosques….we are our mosques.