Ramadan Poltics

The politics of Ramadan

Politicking runs deep in our community lives, be it a Mosque, Temple, Synagogue or a Church, particularly in the context of observing holidays.

To make the point, a Jewish friend shares this conversation, "When is Chanukkah this year?" The man replies, "Same as always: the 25th of Kislev." This makes a relevant point that Jewish holiday is on the same day every year, but on the lunar calendar and happens on a different day every year on the Solar Calendar. A quick review indicates that religious holidays for Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism and other faiths follow the moon cycles where as the Indigenous peoples of America, Bahai, Christianity, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and earth based traditions like Wicca and others follow the movement of equinox or the plain Solar Calendar that we see every day.

We wish a happy Ramadan, a peaceful and prosperous Rosh Hashanah, and truth triumphing Navaratri and other festivals that begin with the New Moon on September 19, this year.

Muslims are no different; a few scientifically-inclined-Muslims have adopted NASA’s calculation believed to be precise. However, four different traditions exist concurrently and follow; i) Lunar Calendar, ii) NASA and iii) Sighting with bare eyes and iv) accepting sighting by others in the community.

Since the beginning of Islam, there have been debates as to what constitutes moon sighting. Some interpret that there has got to be a minion to declare that they have seen it themselves with their own eyes, where as others do not accept it unless they have seen it themselves. In the United States there is an organization that monitors moon sighting called the Hilal committee. At one time it was acceptable if the moon was sighted elsewhere, but now, each group has to have their own moon sighting.

The objective guys miss out the fun, the NASA oriented and the Calendar group misses out the joy and exhilaration of waiting and watching the moon climbing anything above ground, including standing on some strong shoulders. It is like the belief in Santa Claus, Angels and other myths; each tradition fulfills one’s emotional needs and works for the followers.

In the tradition of Prophet, let every one celebrate the way their group feels, it is against the spirit of Ramadan to denigrate, diminish and devalue other practices. The essence of Ramadan is to become humble, simple and free from ill-will, anger, meanness and hate. Let’s fill our hearts with goodwill and honor Ramadan by saying “Eid Mubarak” (pronounced “eed” as in “eel” the fish) or Happy Eid to every one who celebrates on a different day in the same town. The essence of Ramadan is joy and let’s not prick any one’s bubble; God has not signed a pact with any one behind others back, let’s rejoice the differences. If you want to celebrate, go to every celebration.

In the spirit of Ramadan, I pray Ramadan gets into our hearts and minds and make us embrace all factions of Muslims without undermining their tradition and further pray that we treat every human on the earth with dignity, respect and care.

For Ramadan to be truly universal, its benefits must extend beyond the fraternal ties of Muslims to common humanity with others. Fasting is meant to impart a sense of what it means to be truly human, and its universality is reflected by its observance in Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Sikh, Zoroastrian and other faiths.

That is indeed the wisdom expressed in Qur’aan, Al-Hujurat, Surah 49:13: "O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. The noblest of you, in sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Allah Knows and is Aware."

The author’s previous article, “Ramadan's Spiritual Discipline” is available at: http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/08/ramadans_spiritual_discipline.html
(c) copyrighted material, please quote the author and organization if quoting or copying./ Pictures: courtesy of Boston Globe
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Does the mainstream public in America, Canada, India, Australia or elsewhere relate with Muslim customs and traditions? The following articles are written with the intent of developing that understanding.

1. Traditions of Ramadan
http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2009/09/ramadan-traditions.html

2. Politics of Ramadan
http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2009/09/ramadan-poltics.html

3. Spirit of Ramadan
http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2009/09/ramadan-spirit.html

4. Our Mission - http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/WorldMuslimCongress/Articles/Mission-Statement.asp

The language chosen is generic and incidences are relational, so the public can relate with what they are familiar with and extrapolate that to the politics, traditions and the spirit of Ramadan. Of course, we can write a book on each. I have learned over the years that news papers have a reason to limit the length of the articles and I have followed that to the best of my ability.

You are welcome to share, forward, comment and make suggestion to make it better in the comments section of each article. You can publish it as well.

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Mike Ghouse is a Speaker, Thinker and a Writer. He is a frequent guest on talk radio and local television network discussing Pluralism interfaith, political and civic issues. He is the founding president of the Foundation for Pluralism and is a founder of the World Muslim Congress with a simple theme: Good for Muslims and good for the world. His comments, news analysis and columns can be found on the Websites and Blogs listed at his personal website http://www.mikeghouse.net/. Mike is a Dallasite for nearly three decades and Carrollton is his home town. He can be reached at Ghousemike@gmail.com
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Ramadan Spirit

The Spirit of Ramadan

From the moment we are born to the last rites of our life and every moment in-between is laden with rituals, though some of us may deny it. Whether we go to the gym, eat our food; go to sleep, wear clothes, drive some place, in our intimate moments, or picking that phone up, we follow rituals.

Rituals signify the mile stones of our daily life. Every significant moment of the day is a ritual. It is an unwritten way of measuring our progression; a memory pattern to bring discipline to our actions.

Discipline is necessary to do things on time, managing personal relationships, driving to a destination or keeping within budget to achieve the goals; the result is worth the discipline to most people. When joyous, whether we are a theist or not, we have to express that sentiment, otherwise a sense of incompleteness lingers in our hearts.

The Spiritual masters have captured the human gravity for rituals and have molded it with the art and science of self-discipline in their respective religion. The noble purpose of each one of them was to bring a balance in our lives and a balance with things that surround us; life and environment.

The Spirit;

Every faith is composed of a set of unique rituals to bring discipline and peace to human life. Fasting is one of the five key rituals that Muslims around the world observe.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is generally observed with a ritual precision; it is an annual training or a refresher. It requires one to abstain from food, drink, intimacy, ill will, ill talk, ill actions or any temptations from dawn to dusk, every day for a month. One has to rise above his or her baser desires. Islam gifts this month to its followers to inculcate discipline to bring moderation in their daily lives. Twenty five hundred years ago, Buddha, the enlightened one taught that human suffering is caused by unrestrained desire to own and had recommended a middle path, and the same recommendation was made by Prophet Muhammad fourteen hundred years ago.

Although Ramadan is popularly known in the West for its culinary delicacies and fancy Iftaar (ceremonial breaking of fast at sun down), the spirit and intent of Ramadan lies in a human transformation in a month long inner spiritual journey of finding oneself in tune with spirituality.
God has no need for the hunger or thirst of someone who hurts others, violates their dignity or usurps their rights, said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The fasting of the stomach must be matched by the fasting of the limbs. The eyes, ears, tongue, hands and feet all have their respective fasts to undergo. The tongue's temptations, for example - lies, backbiting, slander, vulgarity and senseless argumentation - must be challenged and curbed to maintain the integrity of the fast.

Consciousness of behavior and vigilance over action are the most profound dimensions of fasting: the fasting of the heart focuses on the attachment to the divine. That is when Ramadan really becomes a source of peace and solace, just as Christmas goes beyond the rituals to bring forth kindness, charity and caring.

True fasting is self-purification; and from this, a rich inner life that bring about values such as justice, generosity, patience, kindness, forgiveness, mercy and empathy - values that are indispensable for the success of the community.

Knowing about hunger is different from knowing hunger. Empathy is not an intellectual equation; it is a human experience. Our hardness of heart often springs from our distance from the human condition of others. The poor, sick, disenfranchised, oppressed - we rarely walk a mile in their shoes, not even a few steps. "Rest assured," cautioned one teacher, "if you do not taste what it feels like to be hungry, you will not care for those who are."

For fasting to be truly universal, its benefits must extend beyond the fraternal ties of Muslims and must extend to forging a common humanity with others. Fasting is meant to impart a sense of what it means to be truly human, and its universality is reflected by its observance in Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Sikh, Zoroastrian and other faiths.

Ramadan will come and go with such stealth that we cannot but be reminded of our mortality. What is it that we value and why? Habits, customs, even obsessive behavior like smoking can be curtailed with relative ease in the face of a higher calling.
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Eid Mubarak

Does the mainstream public in America, Canada, India, Australia or elsewhere relate with Muslim customs and traditions? The following articles are written with the intent of developing that understanding.

1. Traditions of Ramadan
http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2009/09/ramadan-traditions.html

2. Politics of Ramadan
http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2009/09/ramadan-poltics.html

3. Spirit of Ramadan
http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2009/09/ramadan-spirit.html

4. Our Mission - http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/WorldMuslimCongress/Articles/Mission-Statement.asp

The language chosen is generic and incidences are relational, so the public can relate with what they are familiar with and extrapolate that to the politics, traditions and the spirit of Ramadan. Of course, we can write a book on each. I have learned over the years that news papers have a reason to limit the length of the articles and I have followed that to the best of my ability.

You are welcome to share, forward, comment and make suggestion to make it better in the comments section of each article. You can publish it as well.
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(c) copyrighted material, please quote the author and organization if quoting or copying./ Pictures: courtesy of Boston Globe

Mike Ghouse is a Speaker, Thinker and a Writer. He is a frequent guest on talk radio and local television network discussing Pluralism interfaith, political and civic issues. He presides the Foundation for Pluralism and is a founder of the World Muslim Congress with a simple theme: Good for Muslims and good for the world. His comments, news analysis and columns can be found on the Websites and Blogs listed at his personal website www.MikeGhouse.net. Mike is a Dallasite for nearly three decades and Carrollton is his home town. He can be reached at Ghousemike@gmail.com
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Adult Muslim Babies

What is wrong with 100th's of 1% of Muslims?
What is wrong with some 5 or 6 Muslims out of the 12,000+ I communicate with?

Even if you find 12 to mess around, it will be still less than 1/100 th of 1% of Muslims in this group. I can take 6 more people to attempt to tear me down.

I have nothing to gain from this work, in fact, I could make money like everyone else working, instead I have chosen this path. I am simply doing what needs to be done, none of this will benefit me. Prophet Muhammad had said (I do not use the word OUR PROPHET - because he is not ours, he belongs to the whole universe and I don't intend to reduce him to Muslim exclusive) good deed is like sowing a seed, which benefits others when it becomes a tree and bears shade or fruit, it was intended for.

Cant' the 1/100th of 1% of Muslims understand the simple word "focus".

# 1 No matter whose birthday it is, the kids want it to be theirs. It is the “me, me, me” attitude that children demand. Some adults still live in that stage.

# 2 In a large group if some one mentions ten names, the “me, me, me” adults complain that their name was not recited in the same breath.

# 3 No matter what the topic is their concern is what they are interested in. When we are talking about a certain subject, we have to remain focused on it and not talk about 50 other things, each thing must be dealt separately. Palestine issue should not be a part of one issue; it is a full time issue in itself and must be reserved for it.

# 4 If I list the atrocities, massacres and genocides of the world, can you write a 600 word article, listing all of them, and still write the article? Better, yet can you recite all of them in one breath, in one sentence? Guess what, if you miss one due to the length of your breath, some one will complain.

We need to focus, you are acting no different than the same percent of Jews who quickly jump with the "Anti-Semitism" rhetoric even if some one sneezes in Europe. That's how bad the 1/100th of 1% of Muslims are in my list of Muslims. They are significant and that is why I address them, instead of ignoring them.

Isn't this one of the reasons we cannot move forward?

We are hung up with petty stuff?

Let's look at the big picture and not get entangled with small stuff.

In all the instances mentioned above, the adult babies are hung up with their need. Now let’s take a look at the following comments that came when I wrote about the 9/11.

Here was response to a few ugly comments
a few are non-publishable
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My Commitment remains to bring a positive change, a positive contribution from Muslim Americans in uniting us, the Americans in adversity.

Finding the truth is also our responsibility and indeed, I supported an even where the videos and discussions of 9/11 were carried out whole day at a college campus in Plano.(None of these jumpers see this)

God has sent this opportunity to present ourselves in a positive light and Insha Allah, we will achieve it. The only ones I have to struggle with are Muslims, every one wants us to get on a level playing field, it is us, who hold back. Had the French been a part of the society, they would not have seen what they are seeing today.

May Allah's mercy be upon you and release you from anger and give you the
freedom from ill-will in this holy month of Ramadan.

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These were the comments from a Muslim:

"go fuck yourself. Take me off your list. 911 was an inside job you bastard" - ztminhas
"Hey shit face, if you want to dedicate something to Why don't you work on this" - anonymous

Even my friend Dr. Jamil talks about the issue of Muslim suffering in one breath. No Dr. Jamil, it is a separate topic in itself.

Every one of us is driven by our interests - you have your own and mine is Islam and co-existence. You and I can do only so much with the given amount of time we have in a day. I know you and I both put nearly 25 hours a week for serving humanity. How many of us do that? I am not talking about doing the selfish things like praying and fasting, I am talking about doing things for the benefit of others.

The attitude of Pluralism originated in Islam and thank God more and more people are unraveling that. Prophet Muhammad was the first interfaith dialoguer that there was and that is my focus, although I have other things in my peripheral vision.

Those comments were received against the following article that went out to some 24,000 individuals around the globe of which ~12,000 are Muslims.

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2009/09/mike-ghouse-dedicates-this-day-/911-to.html

The Ramadan Article:
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/08/ramadans_spiritua/l_discipline.html

Thanks
Mike

In a message dated 9/12/2009 11:00:37 A.M. Central Daylight Time, TSidd writes:
Mohtram Javed Bhai, ASA

Have you please sent this mail to your dear friends like Br MikeGhouse who are blindly following the dictates of Government version without blinking their eyes. It was a preplanned TRAGEDY committed by MUSAD/CIA/Zionist agents on innocent American people to build their momentum against Muslims, Islam, capture their oil resources and kill the "probability" of emerging Islam as a political entity somewhere in the ME, specifically in Afghanistan

On the very day of this mishap I wrote an article: WHO DID IT and challenged President Bush that you are totally wrong in pointing your fingers to Osama and Afghanistan which was becoming the hub of Islamic Renaissance at that time. That paper is still available on my Website. It was published in The Muslims, NY.

It is a tragedy no doubt but we must have courage to ask the political parties of this country, the "all-powerful" Congress and UN to investigate the cause and its horrible effects of this tragedy, as rightly and la-mentally pointed out by you, through the International Court of Justice and persons like "Bush, Blare & Musharraf" responsible for this great Human tragedy must be hanged to death in front of "old" WTC otherwise the wounds will continue to bleed for centuries together and the people will commemorate the "drama" of this self-sustained tragedy till doomsday.

Shamim Siddiqi

-----Original Message-----
From: javed jamil
Subject: sept 11 programmes

If US had hunted the attackers, there was absolutely no problem. It would have been the victory of justice. But the problem is that the US first decided without any substantial investigations that a few people guided by some masterminds currently living in Afghanistan were behind the attacks. And then they began the hnting, which remains unsuccessful till now with all the major "masterminds" still alive. But in the process, more than 2 million innocent Muslims have been killed. Now what is the way to give justice to these innocent Muslims? Should they also hunt their killers in the style of the US? Should they pray to God to punish the culprits?

It is nothing wrong to commemorate the victimsof 9/11. But please also find a moment to think and pray for those 2 million Muslims killed in the aftermath. It is good to condemn those that killed the 3000 people in New York. But please also find some time to condemn those that killed the 2 millions.

Dr Javed Jamil
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Ramadan diversity and spirituality

I am pleased to read this article appearing in Saudi Gazette.... diversity is the foundation for peaceful sustainance of a society. Glad to see this article

Mike Ghouse

Ramadan is truly a month of diversity and spirituality
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2009090148497

IN this feature on Muslims celebrating Ramadan in the United States courtesy America.gov, three young Muslim American writers explain what Ramadan means to them. The most compelling aspect of each account is the juxtaposition of established Islamic principles with absolute diversity. All three accounts are based on three very different backgrounds and experiences, with only faith forming the identical foundation of them.

Ramadan in a multi-faith family

Ilana Alazzeh was born in San Francisco to an Israeli mother and Palestinian father. She currently attends Smith College in Massachusetts, where she stays active in community service and interfaith work, regularly speaking on panels regarding Islam and religious pluralism.

Celebrating Ramadan at Smith College has always been difficult. My thoughts always drift back to celebrating with my family, such as heading to the beautiful masjid every weekend for Iftar. Smith’s masjid is less dazzling: It’s a large, bare room. Still, it is a truly blessed place of Salaam, and I try to go whenever I am not too tired from homework.

The community there is small but diverse, and is one of the most sincere I have ever encountered. It’s not only Muslims, but the religious, the curious and the ambiguous all join each other for breakfast. Ironically, this diversity still reminds me of home.

When my Israeli mother celebrates Ramadan, she always incorporates her heritage into the holiday. For example, while my Pakistani step-father is downstairs making pancakes, she will loudly sing Hebrew songs from her childhood to wake us up for Suhoor. Although she has converted to Islam, she still keeps her Jewish customs alive.

Once, my mother’s father came to visit during Ramadan. He is a small, mischievous and comical man, a Palmach war veteran of Israel. Unlike my mother, he refused to celebrate Ramadan. He would begrudgingly come to the masjid with us, and even though he knew Arabic, he only spoke in Hebrew or English.
While we were inside doing our night prayers, he would smoke outside with my step-grandmother: a Southern Baptist African American who converted to Judaism. It certainly wasn’t the traditional picture of Ramadan.
But even though my grandfather did not celebrate with us, he did respect the holiday. I remember him giving my younger brother a clap for teasing me with food when I was fasting. Even though he wasn’t fasting with me, he honored my decision.
I’ll never forget the night during Ramadan that my puzzle of a family and I piled into our van to see the Christmas lights. We sang Jewish, Christmas and Dawud Wharnsby songs. (Watch the YouTube video “We’ve scanned the sky Dawud Wharnsby.”) My family of different cultures and religions were all celebrating together, enjoying each other’s company and acknowledging our diverse faiths. Although our coexistence was rough at times, it was built out of respect and real love.

My celebrations at Smith will never be able to match Ramadan at home, despite its best attempts. Iftar at Smith’s modest masjid are usually a sad but wholehearted attempt at what’s made at home. However, as my mother stresses, “Ramadan isn’t about Iftar.” And she’s right.

Ramadan for me is a time of peace and introspection, which ironically happens the most in congregation. It is when I celebrate with others that I feel closer to God. Community begets personal faith and personal faith begets the community thriving with full spectrum in God’s multi-faith world.

Ramadan: An American-
Egyptian perspective

Mustafa Abdullah is an American-Egyptian Muslim who has lived in Egypt, Spain, and the United States. He currently attends Wake Forest University in North Carolina, and he is involved in several interfaith organizations, both on and off campus.
Across cultures and peoples, the principles of Ramadan are the same: self control and the cleansing of the body and mind. However, my celebration of Ramadan varies, depending upon where I am and the existing culture there.

When I was living in Egypt, I noticed the culture is heavily influenced by an Islamic lifestyle. Every sunrise I heard the adhan which is delivered over a loudspeaker in every mosque. The adhan marks the beginning of the fast. In addition, we Muslims are required to observe rules of the public domain. The obligations are twofold: The society must be managed in accordance with the consent of the Muslim constituency as well as God’s commandments. The Holy Qur’an states: “You who believe? Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, so perchance you may attain God-consciousness.” (2:183)

In Islam, religion and spirituality are not limited to the private life. The principles that govern the private lives of Muslims are often exhibited publicly through social obligations and rights.

While celebrating Ramadan in Egypt, I saw the structure of the day shift in accordance with Ramadan. The work day and school day is shortened. Some businesses (mostly restaurants and cafes) open early for Suhoor. In Egypt, the majority of people are fasting: The struggle is group oriented.

During Ramadan, we Muslims are obliged to give charity, repent sins, make a strong effort to commit good deeds, read the Holy Qur’an, pray, and offer Iftar to those who fasted. When I lived in Egypt, these public acts of religiosity surrounded me.
Celebrating Ramadan in the United States has been a very different experience. I have a whole other set of challenges in the month-long celebration. It seems the public is not that aware of Ramadan. The work schedule is not adjusted to fit my family’s needs, and since Islam is not the status quo, only a minority of the population is participating in Ramadan.

I think the culture of Ramadan in America is created by Muslims who are most honestly and sincerely interested in completing religious obligations and enhancing spirituality. Unlike Egypt, where the ceremonies happen all around me, in America my family and I have to put forth a strong effort in preparing the celebrations. Ramadan is more of a private matter in America: Our Iftar takes place at home and mosques, and there is no adhan that marks the beginning of the fast.
But it’s still Ramadan, and although the celebrations may be different, we still follow the two principles.

The lessons of Ramadan

Ansaf Kareem, the son of Pakistani parents, was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He is a senior at Stanford University in California, active in the Muslim Student Awareness Network, and is senior class president.

Recalling the Ramadan of my youth, I now realize that this holy month meant little more to me than an excuse to hang out with friends at my mosque, located in Portland, Oregon. Although I should have been more attentive to the spiritual aspects of the ceremonies, my focus was on having fun with a diverse group of friends from various backgrounds.

As young kids, however, our differences didn’t matter to us; we cared about who could throw the ball the farthest and tell the funniest jokes, not who spoke with the thickest accent. But although we were unaware of the important lesson we were learning, many of the elders at the mosque observed our interactions knowingly.
Today, as our mosque celebrates ethnic diversity, many say that it was these early bonds of friendship that helped shape the culture of the mosque.At Stanford, these same pluralistic and tolerant values are reflected in my Ramadan experience. Our Muslim student groups put on breaking of the fast ceremonies every night during Ramadan, attended by students from every corner of the world.

Many of these students state that, despite coming from countries with homogenous religious cultures, their experience of diversity in America has simultaneously challenged their negative perceptions of others and reinforced their own faith in Islam.

Although some aspects of their Ramadan experience are new and different, some remain unchanged. The international students enthusiastically indicated that no matter how far away they felt from home, the familiar sights of communal gathering made them feel welcome. The breaking of the fast, the call to prayer, and the services that followed reminded them of home, enabling them to cherish these fourteen hundred year-old Islamic traditions in a new way.

These examples of pluralism affected others on campus as well. When we held our annual Fastathon, students from all different faiths and backgrounds participated in fasting for a day to promote awareness for poverty. When Yom Kippur fell on a date during Ramadan, we held a joint breaking of the fast ceremony with Jewish students, sharing our traditions and fasting stories with one another.

This year, I will be observing Ramadan in Pakistan. I look forward to the opportunity to compare this experience in a Muslim-majority country to my experience in America. Although some aspects will surely be different, I am sure that many of the practices will be very similar.

This provides a reminder to all Muslims of the powerful tradition we all share. I pray that this reminder of unity and pluralism embodied in the month of Ramadan will extend beyond the walls of mosques, serving as a positive force to overcome prejudice and promote pluralism.

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Another Article on Ramadan: http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/08/ramadans_spiritual_discipline.html

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