Sudut Mari Bercerita

Assalamualaykum,

Today was the first day of school. I still remember, in those years before I used to be thrilled when new semester had begun. Amazingly, after a long holiday I wanted to go back to school, for then, I would meet my friends again, meet my beloved teachers who see the students as their own children, enjoyed the whole class playing around with our stupid jokes which would be laughed about no matter it was funny or not, cause we don't care. We lived in our own environment, our own comfort zone.

But things are different here in the US. Yeah of course we live leisurely with a bunch of money given by our sponsor, but yet, we sense some unease feelings. There will be eyes who will follow you when you're wearing hijjab. There will be a new perspective when a Muslim is giving a presentation in front of the whole class. There will be people looking at you when you are praying in the middle of the parking lot when you're when traveling, coz there is no other place to pray. Because we aren't majority, we are perceived differently. Spending almost three years here at IU, I’ve already had 2 'incredible' harassment incidents, which I'll talk about later insyaAllah if I have the time ;p.

Well, enough with pouring out my heart...let's dive into more important stuff, shall we?

How are going to become a good Muslim in the USA?

[ Speech by Sheikh Zubair, Muktamar 2004 ]

1) First, we have to know our surrounding, access our environment, with whom we’re living with.

Interesting facts:
*6 to 7 millions of the US population are Muslims
*6 millions -->Jews
*3 to 2 millions --> Buddhists
*1 million --> Hindus
*11 millions --> Christians
*More Irish-American --> Protestants
*66% of Asian-Americans --> Christians
*Most Arab-American --> Christians
*Majority of Muslims --> African-Americans and South Asians
*More Hispanics --> Catolics
*The largest Muslim community --> Houston
*First Masjid built in the USA was in Highland Park, Michigan (1933)
*We have around 2000 masjids all over the US, but we have less IMAM

2) Second, we have to keep learnig our Deen. Never stop hunting for Islamic knowledge.
Try to read Islamic books that will fill-up our heart with ilm and hidayah.

3) Third, try our best to follow every rules that Islam has guided us since thousands years ago. Follow His Sunnah well and we'll find serene and peace searching a place in our hearts, insyaAllah.




posted by Hana' at 1/10/2005 05:45:00 AM |