An American Muslim Journal

Look in on your children tonight and thank God, and then...

We came home from taraweeh prayers at the mosque this evening and put our children to bed.  It's a weekend and that means they're all camped out in our bedroom.  Even with perfectly comfy beds in their own rooms (full of toys and books and clothes), they still like to camp out in their sleeping bags all around our bed on the weekends.  Honestly, I don't mind it one bit.  It's comforting to lay down and look around just before closing my eyes and seeing my children peacefully sleeping.

All is well.  We are so blessed.  Alhamdulillah (Thank you God).

After everyone was tucked in I came down to update my FirstGiving.com site's "Ramadan Running 4 Relief" campaign.  While looking for news about orphans in India on Google (I'm trying to learn more about their plight each day) I ran across some images.  Here is one of them:

And then I came across this one:

I had to walk back up stairs.  I stood in the doorway of my bedroom and looked in on my family.  I stood there for a minute just looking at my children and my wife and I felt the need to bow my head and thank God and to pray for the millions of children in India (and throughout the world) who are suffering from homelessness, hunger and disease.  And that's exactly what I did, because in that moment there was nothing else I could do.

This is not to say that the condition of these children is hopeless, nor does it mean that I feel absolved of my responsibility to these children with one small prayer.  I've seen the suffering and now I have a responsibility to act.

I found a wonderful blog that chronicles a fellow American's ten day trip to India to visit orphanages run by The Miracle Foundation. His name is Kevin Brelsford and his blog - Making a Difference with the Miracle Foundation - has many photos of orphans in India living much healthier, safer and decent lives with the help of The Miracle Foundation (based in Austin, TX).  This group is doing good work for a small number of very needy and vulnerable children, so I'm doing my part to help them with their work (that's what this year's "Ramadan Running 4 Relief" campaign is about).

Helping The Miracle Foundation to help some of the 25 to 30 million orphans in India is meaningful because each and every human life they save is invaluable.  As wonderful as their work's results are, however, the reality is that The Miracle Foundation is merely - barely - scratching the surface.  

On the other hand, India has the capacity - if it wanted to make it a priority - to save all of its orphaned children. Similarly, the world's leaders have the resources - if they could muster the will to work for a common goal - to eradicate world hunger and to safeguard all children.  

Obviously those with the power to solve these problems are not motivated or enlighted to make the changes needed on their own.  Left alone, they lack the will put an end to the suffering.  People - you and I - have a responsibility to push them to make the right policy decisions and to support them when they make good choices.

In Ramadan I do handful charity work, and I believe the things I do make a difference.  Feeding a hungry person, even if it is just one meal, has made that hungry person's life a little better.  Lest I get too self-absorbed with my Ramadan good deeds though, I try to stay grounded by asking myself: "Did I just do that for me or for the hungry person?" When I'm honest with myself, often the answer is that I did it to feel good.

If I really wanted to do something to address problems like hunger and homeslessness, then I would commit to bringing about change on a broader scale.  Perhaps I need to do more than just help a handful of folks.  But how?

Feeding a hungry person is relatively easy because the benefits - to the person giving the charity and to the person receiving it - are almost instantaneous.  Trying to develop better policies and to then implement those policies in order to bring about system-wide changes is a slow process.  It's hard to see results in the short (or even in the intermediate term).

I think this is why it's easier to convince most folks to give money to feed hungry children than it is to get them involved in an advocacy campaign aimed at policy changes that address the core problems underlying child hunger (and granted, it's also hard to come to an agreement on what are those core problems).

But hard as it is to get motivated to work for sustainable, long-term solutions to these heart-wrenching problems (like orphans in India), it is a Muslim's duty to do so.  If all we do is feed and shelter orphans without, at the same time, working to reduce the number of children who become orphans, then we've lost faith in God.  

I believe God can do anything, that God intends to challenge us in this world and in the end, with God anything is possible.  If I were to put my faith and my beliefs into action, I would be able to work for a change that I may not see with my own eyes but pursue it passionately nonetheless knowing that relief for those in need is going to happen.  That, to me, is part of having faith in the Unseen.

If you are as moved by the images of children eating garbage off the ground and sleeping on filthy streets as I am, then be thankful that you have compassion in your heart.  You are lucky.  Many people are very hard-hearted about the poor.  Be grateful that your heart is shielded by compassion. Compassion is a shield that protects our hearts from becoming hard and cold from fear and from desperation.  

However, genuine and heartfelt though our tears may be, when we see a child living alone on the streets, our feelings of compassion alone will not ease that child's suffering.  Our compassion has to lead us to action. That action has to help address the immediate problem of sheltering and feeding the children, but it also has to include the much harder and far less (immediately) gratifying task of trying to bring about long term changes as well.

So, tonight, please look at these pictures of real children living in utter desperation.  Next, look at your own children sleeping in relative comfort, and then commit yourself to making a real difference in the short term and in the long term.

Hoffman Estates man’s fast, running aiding orphans - DailyHerald.com

Afeef has teamed up with The Miracle Foundation, a secular charity working to build group homes for orphans in remote Indian villages. The group’s mission is to help children of all faiths.

“They don’t proselytize,” Afeef said. “My personal belief is children deserve to be helped regardless of what religion they happen to be born into, and they deserve to be helped without pushing them to accept a religious tradition that’s not of their parents’ heritage.”

via www.dailyherald.com

I am so grateful to Daily Herald reporter Madhu Krishnamurthy for writing this story about The Miracle Foundation and the need to raise money for the orphans in India***.

Thank you Madhu. And thank you Daily Herald for running this story. The plight of the poor in India is often overshadowed by the economic developments in India. Yes, the 300 million middle class is pretty amazing.

What else is amazing is that another 600 million or so live in varying degrees of poverty. This includes the 25 million orphans. That's a staggering number - 25 million!

I hope this small effort brings some relief and a lot of attention and concern to the orphans.  To live the way so many of them do is heart-wrenching!

Please consider donating to The Miracle Foundation through my Ramadan Running for Relief campaign! Thank you and God Bless!

 

___________________________

***This story has a lot (too much) about me but I know that the important part of the story is the plight of the children and the opportunity to help through The Miracle Foundation.

 

 

Chrislam: The case against religious harmony | buddhism, islam, taught - MARY READY - TheDestinLog.com

I have just read what I think to be the most insidious document ever written. It’s called the Common Word Between Us and You. This 2007 “open letter” to Christendom was composed by a consortium of Muslim clerics and scholars. Endorsed by religious academics at the Yale Center for Faith and Culture as well as over 300 Christian theologians and evangelicals, its contrived premise is reminiscent of rainbows, a cure for cancer, an end to world hunger, and tranquility across the planet.

There’s an ancient Greek word for the mind-set reflected in the Muslim document. It can be spelled “bologna” or “boloney.”

via www.thedestinlog.com

I understand where Mary Ready is coming from and I think she is quite right that some/certain Christians and some/certain Muslims take exception to the "Common Word" document. These people have an absolutist, black and white vision of religion truth is a zero sum game.

Thank God (yes - the one God who created us all) we have people willing to work together to develop a basis for peaceful coexistence. They are the folks Ms. Ready seems to think are the bad guys in all of this "Common Word" business.

The day after tomorrow - 8/16 - I will attend the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) annual Ramadan Interfaith Iftar. It's a great event and it gives my spirit a real lift to see people of different faiths coming together.

I've been to enough of these events and have spoken to enough people at these interfaith dinners to know that none of the folks I've encountered were looking to create a "Chrislam" of which Ms. Ready speaks.

Somalia Starves while Ramadan Surplus food is Wasted | Al Bawaba

How much does the Middle East region get through in fasts broken on generous servings and abundent choices and feasts, even before the official 'Eid' Feast to celebrate the end of the fasting month?  And how much food is really wasted at this time of theoretical returning to basics or religious aesceticism and less, not more;  all the while the Somalis are forsaken and denied the opportunity to break a relentless fast that they did not opt to keep this Ramadan.

via www.albawaba.com

It never ceases to amaze me that even in Ramadan I and many other Muslims over-eat. It's appalling.

I wish I had taken this advice a long time ago:

"No human ever filled a container more evil than his belly. The few morsels needed to support his being shall suffice the son of Adam. But if there is no recourse then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath."

That's a hadith of Prophet Muhammad (saw).

Even now, with the famine in Somalia in the news and on our minds I see the gluttony continuing.

When will we ever learn?

"The Right Scoop" Blog Banned Me! They like their echo chamber...

I ran across a blog yesterday.  It is called "The Right Scoop".  They posted something about President Obama's Iftar dinner at the White House earlier this week.  The writer - Dan Cleary - claimed that President Obama got it wrong when he said Islam has been a part of America for a very long time.  The writer also claimed that President Obama was blurring the lines between Christianity and other, non-Christian, religions.

I went further down to look at the discussion.  Lo and Behold!  There were some Islamophobic rants brewing.  Like what, you ask?  Here are some examples:

Here is another:

 

And another:

Not exactly the most thoughtful comments, right?

I decided that I would add to the discussion.  Here's what I wrote in the comments section:

Was that such a bad comment?  That last line was a bit of shot - a variation of love it or leave it - but hardly as offensive as the other stuff.

I got a bunch of responses (to which I replied).  And then I was banned.  Doh!

Here are a few of the exchanges:

I should have recognized that I was dialoguing with religious extremists.  Afterall, the author of the post felt compelled to distinguish between Christianity and all other faiths even as to the most basic, broad principles.

Here is part of another exchange:

It was okay for the "regulars" to be as negative as they pleased, but they didn't take too kindly to turn-about:

My comment about "can't export me" was a response to another comment suggesting that America "export" Muslims out of America.

The editor/owner didn't like what I was saying and banned me:

Okay then!  Carry on with your diatribes.  No need to engage in thoughtful discussion...

Given the crap that's allowed on that blog I think a name change is in order.  How about this:

With all the s#!t those folks drone on about, this seems quite appropriate. 

First 10 Days of Ramadan: Running Hard, Fasting, Praying & Charity Work

The first ten days of Ramadan 2011 are over.  For me this first phase was very productive.

I ran 29 miles for my charity project (Ramadan Running for Relief) in the first ten days of Ramadan, and a handful of very generous people contributed a little over $700 for my charity of choice (The Miracle Foundation).

In keeping with my vision of Ramadan, I scaled back my food consumption and avoided the gluttony that often comes during the pre-fasting (Suhoor) and post-fasting (Iftar) meals, and what I did eat was pretty healthy.

I've been praying more too.  I'm doing more of my obligatory prayers, of course, but in addition to that, my prayers are heavily infused with supplications (du'as).  To bow down and ask God for help in everything is an act of faith for me; it's a recognition that plan and strive as I do, I need help to take care of my family.

None of this should lead a person to think I'm very pious.  I am far from being a good role model for piety. I have a closet full of  faults and shortcomings hamstringing my spirituality.  This has been, despite my overflowing closet, one of the most reflective and spiritual Ramadans in over a decade.

Looking at these first ten days I find that the biggest challenge was not hunger, thirst or exhaustion. During these first ten days I constantly checked myself for being judgmental.

"Look at that guy's plate" or "She went to a concert in Ramadan?" or "Why isn't he fasting?" are just a few of the self-righteous thoughts I entertained.  If there is a positive takeaway, it is that I realize I'm doing something wrong.  It doesn't stop me from feeling disdain for the people I silently judge, but at least it knocks me down a few pegs on the moral superiority continuum as well.

 

 

Resisting the urge to judge others in Ramadan

One of the bigger challenges for me during this Ramadan is fending off the urge to judge other Muslims. I've caught myself doing it a few times.

The other day I was at the gym running on the treadmill.  It was about 6pm and I was fasting.  I saw a another gym member also working out nearby.  He looked like he was in the midst of a pretty strenuous workout and in between sets I saw him chugging some water from a sports bottle.  

He and I chatted the Saturday before Ramadan started and we talked about working out in Ramadan. He told me he was going to fast, but he also said couldn't work out while fasting.  He went to the trouble of explaining that he strictly modified and scaled back his diet during Ramadan to avoid gaining weight during the month-long fast.  But here he was, in the first few days of Ramadan, hoisting some very heavy weights but not fasting.

Yesterday I was looking at Facebook and saw that another Muslim friend I know posted a picture of a 24 oz porterhouse and said he just ate the whole thing.  He captioned the photo with "Life is good."

In both instances I judged them.  In the first example I belittled the guy for being a wimp and a hypocrite. Here I was running a hard 5 miles and I was fasting, and this guy couldn't hack doing a work out and fasting at the same time so he decided to ditch his religious duty.

In the second example I questioned the person's tact and called him out on his crass post.  With so many news stories and posts about the famines in Africa right now, and while we're in the midst of a month of temperance and moderation, this guy is flaunting his excesses.

No, I didn't actually call either guy out.  These are the thoughts that ran through my mind in each case.  In fact, I may be watering down the sense of indignation I felt in each moment.

Even though I didn't actually saying anything to either of them, I now feel guilty for having such judgmental reactions.  I know I'm far from perfect myself, but that didn't stop me from looking down on others.  Shame on me.

This is going to be a struggle for me this Ramadan.  I need to figure out how to rid myself of this hypocrite's mentality.  

I've been on the receiving end of such judgments so I know it hurts.  And despite having "been on the other side" I'm still struggling to suppress my own self-righteous judgments.

Maybe what this experience suggests is that I'm still too concerned about what others think instead of focusing more on my own spiritual connection with God.  If I'm fasting, if I'm eating less at sahoor and at iftar times, and if I'm keeping up my workouts even as I fast, then I should be content that God sees it, knows my intent and will bless me for my actions.  That should make me happy.

It goes to show that a person can have many trappings of being a faithful person and yet have huge failings in the heart and in the mind.  I'm going to need to work on this, because it's in the heart and in the mind where one truly experiences God-consciousness.

Happy Ramadan: It's time to buckle down & get spiritual!

Happy Ramadan, Ramadan Kareem and Ramadan Mubarak!

Ramadan begins tonight.  Tomorrow Muslims in the United States will begin fasting.  I will be one of those who partake of this religious obligation.

It will be hard.  Growing up I was told not to say negative things about fasting and saying "it will be hard" would have been met with a frown.  I understand what my parents meant to teach me - that hard as Ramadan may be it is something to be embraced - and saying it will be hard is my way of embracing it.

I hope this year will be the most intense spiritual experience of my life.  I intend to bring it about by fasting and praying and focusing on some very particular acts of faith (reading the Quran, reading the Seerah of Prophet Muhammad and trying foster an atmosphere of spirituality in our home) and by doing a few new things.

First, I'm going to try avoiding all the culinary excesses that come with Ramadan.  Yes, even as we talk about Ramadan being a time to tighten our belts so as to experience the thirst and hunger of those who are less fortunate then us, we often stuff ourselves on lavish feasts for 30 nights.  That isn't going to happen this year.

Second, I'm going to keep working and working out like the rest of the year.  There will be no "taking it easy" during Ramadan.  

I ran into a neighbor at the gym the other day.  He happened to be a Muslim as well. We got to talking about our workout schedule in Ramadan, and he said he was going to take a break in Ramadan.  He said it was too tough to workout in Ramadan.

He's right about it being tough, but I disagree with his decision.  Perhaps Ramadan can only be truly appreciated if we actually carry on with work (and work outs) during Ramadan like every other month.

Day laborers and farmers and others who work in far more challenging work or have far less in the way of comforts fast without making excuses.  How pathetically weak am I if I can't keep working 40 hours a week in a cushy job and running and training like normal?

My intention is to keep up the intensity of my workouts throughout Ramadan even as I fast each day.  I'm bracing myself for a very physically challenging month.

This isn't about ego.  It's about trying to find a truly spiritual connection this month.  Fasting Ramadan is about the mind, body and spirit so why not really challenge the body and mind in order to get the most spiritual benefit possibly - this is my thinking.

If I come out of this month of fasting a bit physically worn out but I fulfill all of my goals for Ramadan, then it will be a success!