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United We Stand…
The issue of unity is a daily struggle for Muslims throughout the world. Each region in the world has its own unique situation that poses a challenge for believers to stay committed to being a part of one community. In America, Muslim communities present a culturally and ideologically diverse situation. This is especially evident in the major cities of America. However, sometimes the limited understanding and closed-mindedness that stems from certain aspects of cultural bigotry and ideology creep into the fabric of our communities here in America and begin to separate the hearts of the believers to some extent. There are clear examples of this phenomenon. For example, too often we find Muslims who have migrated from the various Muslim countries all over the world relying on the judgments and rulings coming from their respective countries to determine the way they will live in America. Rulings that have been established in countries overseas are implemented here without regard to the culture that we live in. Ideologically, this becomes a problem when two people who are from different ideologies disagree about a ruling that each of their scholars have made. This can sometimes lead to Muslims not being able to agree to disagree, thus separating the hearts. Culturally speaking, many people tend to be inclined towards their respective culture, which is a natural reaction. However, this can become problematic when a person is more nationalistic than devoted to the principles of Islam. This type of mentality extends into the daily lives of Muslims around the world, but is only magnified in some American communities because the cultural diversity is so broad. In these communities, you find that people are together, but still somewhat separate. For example, when you attend a Jum'ah prayer, you will find faces covering every shade of the rainbow and tongues that speak a variety of different languages. You will even see people donning a variety of different outfits resembling what they feel is the best clothing that they can wear for the prayer. All of this diversity is beautiful and shows how Islam is strong in all corners of the earth. However, it should not keep us from unifying and coming closer to one another. Just because one is an Arabic-speaking Muslim, or another is an Urdu-speaking Muslim, or another is an English-speaking Muslim does not mean the brotherhood is diminished. Languages and heritage should not keep me from wanting to love for my brothers and sisters what I love for myself. It should not keep me from wanting to get to know others that don't belong to the regional culture that I identify with. Allah has said in the Qur'an, "O Humanity! We have created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may come to know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is the one who has God-Consciousness. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware" (Qur'an 49:13). Even though many of us know this verse, we act ignorantly towards each other. We only give the greetings of peace to those whom we know, whether consciously or sub-consciously. We organize and set up mosques that become known as the "Saudi Mosque," the "Pakistani Mosque," the "West African Mosque" or the "Turkish Mosque." All of this may be fine if we live in a society or community where any of these cultures is dominant. However, it becomes a problem when you live in a very diverse community, like the ones here in America. You can't have these various cultures fighting for rule of the mosque when there are so many other cultures present who want to participate. It will only turn people away. The issue of ending Ramadan is a perfect example. Every year, there is a group of people who refuse to rely on the scholars of this society to guide us to that which is pleasing to Allah (SWT). These people always call "back home" (ie, overseas) to find out when the moon was sighted to begin and end fasting. They rely on the scholars of their homeland to explain how to practice Islam here in the States. There is nothing wrong with honoring the culture that one comes from. I wish that some Americans were more tapped into their culture than they are because I feel that it adds flavor to the society. Living in a land where everybody talks the same and thinks the same leads to closed-mindedness and can even be boring. But we must rise above the diversity and identify with each other in the society in which we live. If I travel overseas and live somewhere in Africa or Asia, it would be ludicrous for me to reject the first day of Ramadan announced by the local religious leaders, and instead wait for Muslim Americans to begin their fasting. It makes more sense for me to follow the people of that land. The problems begin when we allow our respective cultures to interfere with unity. If a group of reliable brothers or sisters living in America sight the new moon to either begin or end Ramadan, then we should follow that. Who cares about when it is sighted in a different country? If countries abroad sight it on a different day, then all Praise to Allah. If they sight it on the same day, all Praise to Allah. It should not take away from the unity of the community of Muslims here in America as well as abroad. As long as our community is unified, that is what counts. Then I would no longer feel bad if I go to the mosque and wish a brother Eid Mubarak, only to have him tell me that he is still fasting because the Muslims in X country are still fasting and will not celebrate 'Eid until tomorrow.
As someone who accepted Islam, this dilemma is very clear. Yes, there are many ways that we can understand Islam. Yes, there are various forms of Fiqh that have been established and accepted for centuries. I am not trying to devalue these wonderful and extremely important facets of our beautiful religion. What I am saying is that we have to stop living in America with our hearts still back home. I am not saying that we shouldn't care about the Muslims around the world. What I am saying is that we need to start establishing ourselves as a unified front. If we functioned as one heart, do you think that the world would continue to be so corrupt? We need to put our petty differences behind us and begin acting as our predecessors did. It is time for our unity to be more than just a few slogans and inspirational speeches
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