Aug 11 2008
Change
Eh: so why do you think the Muslim Ummah declined?
Me: many reasons… one of is the Muslim Ummah having this dual identity crisis that persists in the middle east resulting from colonialism. They want to be “Modern” (the western way) but that has some serious growing pains… islamic growing pains–and I feel that inshAllah they might be moved to find a better way to modernize
inshAllah inshAllah
it’s like when I go downtown DC
and I see this concrete jungle, this separation between nature and human
Eh: right, about it?
Me: why can’t these buildings be a part of the nature and their natural surroundings?
why must the roots be buried under something lifeless–trying to separate us from the true reality–Allah?
Sometimes I image the soil underneath it all teeming with life
there has to be a better way
why can’t our masjids be apart of the outside and the gardens like in Andalusia?
Eh: they can be, its still not too late
Me: I believe in that but HOW?
A decline in the Muslim Ummah? Dual Identity Crisis?
These are interesting ideas that I would like to touch on.
I am a Muslimah who was born and raised in the West. My parents are non-Muslims, as are the vast majority of my neighbors and co-workers. My issue has neer been how to live in a “Muslim” society that has been affected by past colonialism. My experience has been how to live in a society that until 9-11 virutally had no idea who we were. Before 9-11, I was that woman in the scarf about whom people speculated if I had hair under my hijab. Now, I am one of “those people”. I am questioned on a nearly weekly basis by at least one person who would like to know, where I come from, or who comments about how good my English is. A little infuriating to say the least.
Then there is this: While at work (I am an oncology nurse), how do I slip away to make salat? (I keep my prayer rug on the shelf in my office and escape to the conference room for five minutes to make salat. I am always on guard because though I lock the door, someone invariable walks by and tries to enter.) How do I look like everyone else while still being modest? (I make my own scrubs) How do I attend the free luncheons offered by my department at least twice weekly? I mean, I usually can’t eat the food as it isn’t halal. So when I don’t show, I fear I give the appearance of being aloof and antisocial.
But it is a struggle. I suppose this is what I am trying to say here. Because, the rebel that I am, will not allow me to complacently accept the dual identity role. I don’t want to live with one foot in and one foot out. I want to live solely as a Muslim, unconfused and unapologetic. But the question is, how can this be done in a society that still views me as the odd one out?