Twenty-six years and a few days ago, according to the lunar calendar, I became a Muslim.
I didn't really know what I was doing at first. I studied Islam, and other religions, for five years before converting. But when the moment came, I just jumped in with both feet. And have never considered turning back.
Islam is the culmination of all my religious studies. Muslims believe that the Qur'an is the last revealed message. I see other religions as stepping stones to this final and complete revelation.
Ramadan is always special. But for me, the 19th of Ramadan holds special meaning. That was the day I took the leap into Islam. And I have never looked back.
The story of the day I converted is posted at www.Islamonline.net. Click on the link "Shahadah in Ramadan" for my story.
With all the conflict in the world, some people find it hard to believe that Islam is the religion of peace. But it's true. On a global scale, and on a personal level. My life has been far from perfect these last twenty-six years. But I do have peace.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Walking the Walk
I've been quiet these last several days, with good reason. It's Ramadan.
I grew up as a Christian--a Lutheran, to be specific. My parents sent me to a parochial elementary school where I learned that one should be a good person, pray, be kind to others, remember God. Fine.
When I discovered Islam, I continued to be basically the same person I always was. Trying to be good, to be kind to others, praying, remembering God. But with an important difference.
As a Christian, I talked the talk. Now I'm walking.
Ramadan is the best time of year to illustrate the practicality of Islam. Many religious traditions recognize fasting as a desirable way to increase spirituality. Catholics and Buddhists fast. But Islam is the only religion which demands a full fasting, from food, water and sexual relations, from dawn to sunset for an entire month.
If I weren't a Muslim, I wouldn't fast. I wouldn't pray five times a day--many days, I wouldn't pray at all. I wouldn't remember God as much as I do now. I don't have the discipline.
Some people do. Monks, nuns and regular people who are so spiritually directed that they do not need any external prodding. I respect them for that.
But most people, like me, need a little extra encouragement to make us really practice our religion, even for one month out of the year.
And that's what is special about Ramadan.
I grew up as a Christian--a Lutheran, to be specific. My parents sent me to a parochial elementary school where I learned that one should be a good person, pray, be kind to others, remember God. Fine.
When I discovered Islam, I continued to be basically the same person I always was. Trying to be good, to be kind to others, praying, remembering God. But with an important difference.
As a Christian, I talked the talk. Now I'm walking.
Ramadan is the best time of year to illustrate the practicality of Islam. Many religious traditions recognize fasting as a desirable way to increase spirituality. Catholics and Buddhists fast. But Islam is the only religion which demands a full fasting, from food, water and sexual relations, from dawn to sunset for an entire month.
If I weren't a Muslim, I wouldn't fast. I wouldn't pray five times a day--many days, I wouldn't pray at all. I wouldn't remember God as much as I do now. I don't have the discipline.
Some people do. Monks, nuns and regular people who are so spiritually directed that they do not need any external prodding. I respect them for that.
But most people, like me, need a little extra encouragement to make us really practice our religion, even for one month out of the year.
And that's what is special about Ramadan.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Is Racism Universal?
I made a broad comment in my latest post, stating that racism is strictly an American problem.
I recognize that the comment was too broad. Now I would like to explain.
I know that prejudice of one type or another exists in nearly every society. My husband's aunt taught me that. "Tay" was a very special woman. Very sweet and gentle. She had no formal education, and she spent her life working to help the family and bring in the rice harvest in rural Thailand.
On the day I met "Tay", she took my hand and said, "Khow, khow." White. She had the naturally-brown skin of a Malay, and the naturally-formed rough brown skin of a farm laborer. She was impressed by my hands because they were the hands of the middle-class. White is good. White is rich enough not to have to work in the fields.
There are many examples of ethnic strife throughout the world. Most are politically- or economically-based. As in the case of my husband's aunt. White skin is better off. White skin doesn't perform manual labor.
But I have been a Muslim for over twenty-five years. And I can honestly say that racism does not exist in Islam.
That is not to say that racism does not exist among Muslims. Arabs discriminate against non-Arabs. Saudis think themselves better than Palestinians. A light-skinned South Asian may be more respected than a dark-skinned South Asian. Among those who don't know better.
But Islam does not recognize race. And I've been fortunate to meet a large number of Muslims who actively practice equality. Saying the prayers. Making the hajj. Shoulder to shoulder, with no distinction.
When racism does exist, in the U.S. or anywhere else in the world, it often has an economic base. The white man trying to hold on to his piece of the pie. Why do you think racism started in the first place? The white slave owner had to convince himself that he was doing God's work. The white soldier had to convince himself that God had given America the land from which he was evicting the Natives. And racism was a very convenient way for the rich white man to make sure the poor white man didn't turn on him. Imagine how different the history of this country would have been if the poor white man had allied himself with his darker brothers and sisters. The rich white man knew that.
I'm going to take a stab at religious "racism" too. The old Sunni v. Shiite, Protestant v. Catholic. These, too, are based in economics and politics. Religion is simply an excuse.
In my twenty-five years as a Muslim, I've never taken the time to categorize myself. I suppose I am a Sunni. As to further divisions, I don't even bother. It doesn't matter. As with all other divisions, the Sunni-Shiite thing is just one more distraction invented to take our minds away from what really matters.
For me, the worship of the one God, who created us all, is what matters.
What about you?
I recognize that the comment was too broad. Now I would like to explain.
I know that prejudice of one type or another exists in nearly every society. My husband's aunt taught me that. "Tay" was a very special woman. Very sweet and gentle. She had no formal education, and she spent her life working to help the family and bring in the rice harvest in rural Thailand.
On the day I met "Tay", she took my hand and said, "Khow, khow." White. She had the naturally-brown skin of a Malay, and the naturally-formed rough brown skin of a farm laborer. She was impressed by my hands because they were the hands of the middle-class. White is good. White is rich enough not to have to work in the fields.
There are many examples of ethnic strife throughout the world. Most are politically- or economically-based. As in the case of my husband's aunt. White skin is better off. White skin doesn't perform manual labor.
But I have been a Muslim for over twenty-five years. And I can honestly say that racism does not exist in Islam.
That is not to say that racism does not exist among Muslims. Arabs discriminate against non-Arabs. Saudis think themselves better than Palestinians. A light-skinned South Asian may be more respected than a dark-skinned South Asian. Among those who don't know better.
But Islam does not recognize race. And I've been fortunate to meet a large number of Muslims who actively practice equality. Saying the prayers. Making the hajj. Shoulder to shoulder, with no distinction.
When racism does exist, in the U.S. or anywhere else in the world, it often has an economic base. The white man trying to hold on to his piece of the pie. Why do you think racism started in the first place? The white slave owner had to convince himself that he was doing God's work. The white soldier had to convince himself that God had given America the land from which he was evicting the Natives. And racism was a very convenient way for the rich white man to make sure the poor white man didn't turn on him. Imagine how different the history of this country would have been if the poor white man had allied himself with his darker brothers and sisters. The rich white man knew that.
I'm going to take a stab at religious "racism" too. The old Sunni v. Shiite, Protestant v. Catholic. These, too, are based in economics and politics. Religion is simply an excuse.
In my twenty-five years as a Muslim, I've never taken the time to categorize myself. I suppose I am a Sunni. As to further divisions, I don't even bother. It doesn't matter. As with all other divisions, the Sunni-Shiite thing is just one more distraction invented to take our minds away from what really matters.
For me, the worship of the one God, who created us all, is what matters.
What about you?
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