Merry Ramadan!

You would think that after 3 years, I would be able to wish someone a happy Holy Month of Ramadan using the correct verbiage...but translating "mübarek" into English is hard.

Anyway,for those of you following that lunar calendar, you know it's Ramadan...for those of you who don't know - it's Ramadan.

Yup, it has started (on August 1st actually). Now, for those of you who are still a little vague on Ramadan, check out the tag Islam Ed [link] over there on the right hand side. Last year, I went all out and tried to fast for the entire month - what a wild, crazy, informative ride that was. This year, I decided not to fas and instead created my own activity to reflect and center myself. I cannot say that it is working as well as the fasting, but in this 90 degree August weather, I just did not have the will power to forgo water all day.

So, that is that. Bone up on your knowledge of Islam, as it is considered to be one of the fastest growing religions in the world [link]. Of course, a lot of false and misinterpreted information exists, so I encourage you to try for a variety of sources when it comes to educating yourself. Or - you can always comment me!

Qurban Bayramı or Eid al-Adha

I just decided I am going to start a new label entitled, Islam Ed. This is the old "Ramazan 2010" label and now, like any good resolution, will focus on us continuing our journey of Islam education.

This week, we be talking about Qurban Bayramı.

In Arabic, Qurban Bayramı is called Eid al-Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice. It signifies when God commanded Abraham (İbrahim) to sacrifice his son Ishmael (İsmail) and at the last moment, when Abraham proved he really was gonna do it, God gave a ram to be sacrificed instead.

Yeah, it's a pretty intense holiday. Two days ago, I saw a Lada [link] filled to the brim with sheep skins. That set me back a step.

Anyway, like last year, I again visited my friends in the village and enjoyed a delicious meal, wonderful conversation, and went home arms full of bounty. Personally, Qurban Bayramı is one of my favorite holidays in Az, but then again, I am partial to sheep meat :).

*For more information, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_al-Adha

Come On Peoples (Congrats to Tracy!)

This is more of a celebratory post for Tracy, and a small chastising one to you all (um, my faithful readers). Tracy J. won the Ramadan 2010 Löki's Effort to Increase Friends' and Familys' Knowledge of Islam (and Ramadan) [link] Contest!

Of course, she was the only one who submitted contest questionnaire answers (and she got every answer correct).

Seriously, folks. A beautiful, Azeri handmade silk scarf was not enough incentive?

Anyway, here are her answers. Congratulations Tracy (who also happens to be a PC Nominee [link]!) Your scarf is on its way, today.

1. The holy book of Islam is called the Qur'an.

2. The Five Pillars of Islam are the five obligations every Muslim must do in order to live a good and faithful life.

3. These obligations are (1) sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith (Shahadah); (2) performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times each day (Salat); (3) paying an alms tax to benefit the poor and the needy (Zakat); (4) fasting during the month of Ramadan (Sawm); and (5) taking a pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).

4. The 9th month of the Islamic calendar is called Ramadan.

5. During this month, Muslims fast, offer up more prayers and focus more on worship and contemplation.

6. Breaking one's fast at the end of the day during the holy month is called Iftar.

7. The greater Jihad is the believer's struggle to live life centered around Islam. I think it's the greater Jihad (struggle) because it seems fairly easy to build your community according to your shared faith and to defend your faith against all others. However, given human nature, it is most difficult to live your life according to all of the "requirements" set forth by any particular faith. The world pulls us in many different directions which may not be in line with what our faith calls for/requires. Therefore, the greatest struggle (Jihad) of all is the personal struggle to live, proverbially, by the book.

8. One of the main differences between Sunni and Shi'a is the determination of who was the successor of the Prophet Mohammad [peace be upon him]. Sunnis believe it was Abu Bakr. Shi'as believe it was Mohammad's cousin Ali.

9. Sufism is not a sect of Islam. It is an aspect (Islamic mysticism).

10. Hijab is a barrier/cover.

Bonus: (1) Indonesia; (2) Pakistan; (3) Bangladesh; (4) Nigeria; (5) Egypt; (6) Turkey; (7) Iran; (8) Sudan; (9) Algeria; (10) Afghanistan

Just as a sidenote: I LOVE your blog!! I am a Peace Corps nominee and I look forward to becoming a volunteer! I wish you all the best along your journey to self-discovery! :)

Tracy

CONTEST

Hey! Remember that contest [link]? Well, here are the questions! Please email me your answers, along with your address and get ready to win! <lokitobin@gmail.com>

1. The holy book of Islam is called:
2. The [blank] of Islam are the five obligations every Muslim must do in order to live a good and faithful life.
3. These obligations are (paraphrasing is okay):
4. The 9th month of the Islamic calendar is called:
5. What does a Muslim do during this month?
6. Breaking one’s fast at the end of the day during the holy month is called:
7. What is greater Jihad and why do you think it is called the greater Jihad?
8. What is one of the main differences between Sunni and Shi’a?
9. Is Sufism a sect of Islam?
10. What is hijab?

BONUS: Name 10 countries with majority Muslim populations.

Eid ul-Fitr

Pictures from our Eid ul-Fitr (the celebration at the end of Ramadan). Getting to the house was a bit of an...obstacle course (several over and unders of fences, walking through nut tree groves, and hoping over creeks).

And now, the rest of the story...

This is a hard blog post to write. A month ago, I thought it would be easy to write a witty and insightful post about Islam, especially after spending 29 days fasting. Yet, here I am struggling to put a couple sentences together.

Honestly, I am afraid I am going to lose some readers. I am afraid I am going to offend someone close to me. With the situation in the US, I feel like there isn’t a whole lot I can say without making someone upset.

So, what do I do? Do I say what I think? Do I forgo the entire post and just let the subject die? Do I pretend like I dislike Islam or make non-committal statements?

I’m really scared to say what I think or what happened to me or how much I feel like I have grown in the last month.

I did this fast to learn about myself and to learn about something I knew I held very little knowledge of.

What I found was something very beautiful. Something that helped me put many of my religious feelings into words and that helped me develop a stronger relationship with God.

Any faith that can help a person grow like that cannot be evil.

Now, I don’t agree with every Islamic tenant. To be honest, I don’t agree 100% with any faith. There are parts of Islam that I disagree with and even dislike, but I think that is normal. I don’t need to think Islam is the bees’ knees to know that it seeks to truly inspire good and beauty in the world.

Anything that has that goal is worth following to me.

I am not on a path of conversion, nor do I advocate we all go out an hug a Muslim. What I do think is that we can all practice a little more tolerance and focus on learning the true tenants of Islam before we make any judgement. Better yet, we can remember there are planks in our own eyes and leave the judging to someone else.

The End is Near

The end of Ramadan is quickly approaching and I realize there is so much I haven’t been able to tell you. I want to write all the things I have learned, but I feel like I may lose some of your interest if I drone on and on about Islam. I know I have lost some Volunteers interest with my constant, “Hey! Guess what I learned today?!” comments.

So, here are the cliff notes, but I whole heartedly recommend you go out and learn more about Islam.

Mohammad (peace be upon him) is considered the final prophet of Islam. In 610, while mediating, Jibreel (Gabriel) visited him and told him to begin to recite. This is when Muhammad began to recite the Qur'an and knew they were the words of Allah.

The Qur’an is the holy book of Islam and was given to Mohammad during the holy month of Ramadan. It outlines Allah’s word to his people and was first only verbally transmitted to Arabic people. Later, it was written (first without and then with short vowels) for non-Arabic speaking people to understand how the words should be pronounced.

Sunni vs. Shi’a: The fundamentals of their faith are mostly the same with most major differences stemming from the question: who was the successor of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). Sunnis believe Abu Bakr was initially chosen while Shi’as believe it was Mohammad’s cousin Ali. Eventually, Ali pledged his allegiance to Abu Bakr.

Sunni Muslims is the larger Islamic sect.

Jihad describes 3 types of struggle within Islam:

1. A believer’s inner struggle to live a life centered around Islam;
2. The struggle to build a good Muslim community; and, 
3. The struggle to defend Islam.

Most scholars agree that the first definition is the main meaning of Jihad and is often called the greater Jihad.

Sufism is Islamic mysticism (like Kabbalah to Judaism). It is not a sect, but an aspect of Islam.

Abraham or Ibrahim is considered the father of Muslims as well as Jewish people. He had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael (or Ismille).

Sharia Law - Part 2

A part of me feels weird writing about Islam in light of what is happening in the US, but (and from my perspective) more [accurate] information is needed, so here I go.

Qur'an, 5:48

For Muslims, life did not begin at birth, but a long time before that. Before even the creation of the first man. It began when God created the souls of everyone who would ever exist and asked them, "Am I not your Lord?" They all replied, "Yea."

God decreed for each soul a time on earth so that He might try them. Then, after the completion of their appointed terms, He would judge them and send them to their eternal destinations: either one of endless bliss, or one of everlasting grief.

This life, then, is a journey that presents to its wayfarers many paths. Only one of these paths is clear and straight. This path is the Sharia.*

When I read this quote, something inside of me says, “Yes.” Now, I am not saying I’m on a path to conversion, but I am beginning to see what millions of Muslims see - the tranquility of knowing exactly what God wants.

When I was fasting, it was really simple. I woke up. I ate. I drank water. I observed my own religious rituals. I read about Islam. I went back to sleep. I woke up again, washed my hands and went to work.

When I returned home, my actions were similar. It was all so easy. Everything was laid out in front of me.

I think that’s what Sharia is: if you want to be in the presence of Allah, follow the carefully laid path. Don’t steal or cheat or lie or treat others poorly. Invite your neighbors to your house. Pray with your children. If you deviate from the path, you know exactly what to expect because it’s all stated in Sharia. There are no surprises.

Of course, in the west, we aren’t all about our religious lives intermingling with our secular. I’m not entirely sure why that is, I just know it is. Maybe that’s why when we hear the word, “Sharia,” we all freak out. It’s inconceivable to us.

I am not sure if this is one of those cultural relativistic moments, but something inside of me says, “olsun.” (lit. let it be). So maybe it is.

*BBC - Religions: Islam [link]

What is Sharia Law?

Ooo...this is going to be a difficult blog post to write. There is just so much information and I’m against super long rambling blog posts, so...here it goes:

Sharia Law comes from the Qur’an (Muslim’s holy book), Hadith (sayings from the prophet Mohammad - peace be upon him), and fatwas (rulings by Islamic scholars).

Sharia Law governs all aspects of Muslim’s life. The Qur’an says there is only one path and that path is Sharia.

Explanation done! Well that was easy...

Actually, not quite so. Speaking for myself, I gave Sharia Law a pretty bad rap. My only real exposure to Sharia was hearing about stonings and amputations. I really had no idea what Sharia meant other than it seemed pretty darn harsh.

Of course, as with most things I have heard about Islam, that ain’t true. Sharia can be (and is) a beautiful thing. Similar to the 10 Commandments, Sharia provides the blueprint to how a Muslim should live their life. Unlike the 10 Commandments, Sharia also includes what could possibly happen to you if you stray from the path.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not all about stoning people who commit adultery, but Sharia does not exactly say “start throwing the rocks” at first accusation. It provides a detailed account of how to prove someone has done something wrong, has built in leniency, and strives to be just in punishment.

And, with all things, it’s not just the West that has the wrong idea of Sharia. Similar to how US Senators (and a former US Governor) tout the US was built on Judea-Christian principles (an eye for an eye anyone?), it’s all open to interpretation and enactment.

Anyway, this blog post is going to be a two parter because, well, there is just more to say.

(I wrote this while under siege from a very large green bug that I thought I had sent to the next life).

Along with my previous sited resources, check out ICNYU's Khutbah Podcast [link]

I'm Lame

It's not everyday you will hear me say those words, but it is true. I am lame.

Two days ago, I stopped fasting.

I know, I know. I made this bright-eyed and bushy-tailed plan to fast for the full 29 days of Ramadan and now I am a quitter, but let me explain why:

Fasting is freaking hard.

I thought it would get easier after the first couple days, but in fact, it got harder. Your mind slows down, your body gets tired more quickly, and your energy reserves fall to all time lows. For me, an already thin person, I was starting to drop weight like Sarah Palin "drops" endorsements (as in, she is endorsing a lot of people).

Plus, it's hard fasting by yourself. Of course, locals were impressed and interested in my fast, but none of them opted to do it with me. Take that and the fact that I wasn't sleeping well, the weather was unbearably hot, and my normal work day went from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday, this fast just was not in the cards.

Of course, this morning I was listening to Inside Islam [link] and found out that many people in Muslim countries augment their daily schedules during Ramadan to make fasting more manageable. After Iftar, they often eat two more small meals at 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. and then wake up around 1 p.m. to start the process all over again. Unfortunately, I couldn't do that.

So, my fast is broken. I am so lame.

What's Up With the Head Scarf?

So, I’ve just spent the last two days reading about hijab.

And I am confused.

I mean, it probably would have been a better idea to start with a history lesson of Mohammad (peace be upon him) because much of the commentary surrounding hijab is from Mohammad’s (peace be upon him) youngest wife Aisha.

Anyway, what I gathered, thus far, is this:

Hijab doesn’t mean head covering (or burqa or Persian veil or the no shorts “rule”). It is the modesty in clothing and behavior expressed by Muslims.

That surprised me.

In Arabic, hijab means barrier or cover and in the Qur’an, well, to be honest, there is a lot of discussion about what is hijab and how should it be portrayed. According to Wikipedia, exactly what hijab requires is open to interpretation. In most Islamic areas, it is believed that hijab requires women to cover everything but their hands and face and for men to show nada from their naval to their knees.

It is important to note that some countries require women to fully veil themselves in public (e.g. Iran and Saudi Arabia) and in other countries, veiling oneself in schools is banned (e.g. Frances and Turkey).

Personally, I find hijab especially interesting as societies continue their struggle with the meaning of religious freedom. I get that in some areas, the idea that everyone is equal and there should be no outward display that allows another person to discriminate; however, I am not a big fan of conformist societies. Not to mention, we aren’t all the same, so why should we try to pretend we are?

Okay, enough soap boxing here. Moving on...

Oh! Before I forget, the head scarf is called the khimaar.

(an additional reference - please see previous posts for other information sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijab)

Note: Pictures is from my first Iftar.

Count 'Em! 1 2 3 4 5

So, do you know the Five Pillars of Islam? Have any idea what they are? I mean, they ain’t the support of some sort of religions building.

Nope. “The Five Pillars of Islam are the five obligations that every Muslim must satisfy in order to live a good and responsible life according to Islam...Carrying out the Five Pillars demonstrates that the Muslim is putting their faith first, and not just trying to fit it inaround their secular lives.”*

They are (and I quote because I do not know Arabic):

1. Shahadah or the act of “sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith;”*
2. Salat or “performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times each day;”*
3. Zakat or “paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy;”*
4. Sawm or “fasting during the month of Ramadan;”* 
5. and, Hajj or a “pilgrimage to Mecca.”*

So, now you know - the Five Pillars of Islam.

*BBC - Religion:Islam [link]
*The Religion of Islam (MSNU) [link]

Week One: A Few Mistakes

All right guys. Week 1 of Ramazan 2010: The Epic Experimentation of Löki's Self Control is D O N E.

How did I fair?

Well, Days One through Four were the hardest. Now, I compare every day to Day 2 and usually end up repeating to myself, "This ain't half as bad as Day 2."

And, unfortunately, on Day 5, I just couldn't do it anymore. I spent the day sipping water and holding my tummy.

For all intent and purposes, Day 6 and Day 7 went okay. I have been entertaining house guests all week and fasting while making breakfast and preparing for group dinners was definitely a trial of my self control. It's weird not being able to test seasonings and make sure things are turning out okay.

Anyway, this is not an easy thing, but, I guess that is the point, right? If it was easy, it would not be a testament of faith. If it was easy, the saying would not go, "May God Accept Your Sacrifice."

Ramazan is a struggle. It is also beautiful. I have never felt more...in tune before. I feel like I can really focus. I feel pretty at peace.

I also feel like I am learning two years' worth of information about Islam. Along with the two Islamic-focused podcasts I have been listening to, I also have been gobbling up "All Things Muslim" off the internets. I am flabbergasted at some of the things I thought I "knew" about Islam and how wrong I was. Geez. I consider myself pretty darn knowledgeable and progressive, but I was edging scary line of misinformation there.

I do have a lot to learn and hopefully, I can spend Ramazan doing just that.

Pictures are from the Oguz Summer Camp where I lead a dance workshop - hardest thing I have had to do yet while fasting.

CONTEST!

Okay kids, we are go for Ramazan! I’ve been wanting to do a contest for awhile (to increase reader comments and make sure everyone is still perusing my blog, Buddy), so...it’s gonna go something like this:

Over the next 4 weeks, new blog posts about Islam (and my Ramazan fast) will pop up on this here blog. On week 5 (around September 15), a fun and insightful Islam-themed test will offer you the opportunity to win a locally made silk scarf (straight from Sheki, Azerbaijan). All questions will come directly from my blog posts, so don’t be afraid to comment me when you have a question.

All 92% correct quizzes will then join the pool and a winner will be selected at random! After an undetermined (undetermined because who knows when my post office actually sends my America packages to America) amount of time, you will receive a locally-made silk scarf (Azerbaijan was on silk road after all).

Good luck and may the Force be with you.

Note: This contest is in no way sponsored by Peace Corps. All blog posts and test questions are written by Löki Gale Tobin and any mistakes made are hers alone.

What is Ramazan?

Yup. That is right. Azerbaijanis call it Ramazan and not Ramadan. Why exactly, I am not sure.

Anyway, Ramazan is the ninth month of the Islam calendar which the Qur'an was claimed to have been revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. It is also the time when the gates of Heaven are open and the gates of hell are closed. During this month, the Prophet fasted and told his followers to do the same. Each day he broke his fast with a date. I recently was told I can replace the date with clean water as dates are expensive in Az.

Okay, back to the point. During the fasting period (sunrise to sunset), observers do not drink, eat, smoke, or engage in sexual relations. You are also not supposed to swear, lie, or treat others unkindly. It is believed that it is easier to resist temptations during Ramadan because the devils are chained in hell. I am not sure about this, but so far, I have found myself a lot less negative while fasting.

There is also the viewpoint that fasting is an opportunity to practice patience, modest, and spirituality. Many believe this is a time to offer more prayers to God and focus on worship and contemplation.

The exact days of Ramazan vary from place to place as it depends on when the new moon is seen. The month then continues for the following 29 to 30 days. Observers are allowed to eat and drink when the sun is not in the sky, with the first meal of the day beginning with a prayer. After this, the fast is broken at sunset with a feast called the Iftar, which usually involves hosting family and friends.

The fasting requirement does make exceptions for young children, the sick, pregnant or traveling; however, it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and observed as such.

For more info, check out the link below.

Resources: Peace Corps Az August Staff Stuff & BBC Religions - Islam: Ramandan [link]