Do You Celebrate the Halloween Night? A Muslim Canadian Mother’s Experience

By Abrar Hamed

Inside one of the shopping stores, I was looking here and there for the commodities I needed when I suddenly stumbled on a body or a person that appeared as if it had just risen out of a coffin! I was chilling! The body was wrapped in white bandage from head to heel. It was taller than me; and it extended a hand towards me while green light emanated from its eyes. The perpetrator had provided it with electrical power so that it could produce whispers and horrendous sounds!

By God’s mercy, the body was not close when I gasped. At that time, I felt as if my heart was falling down into an abyss. I moved away from that horrible place and went to the cashier’s; while I was deeply thinking about this "Halloween Feast" and about what I saw around me.

If this severe fear and horror had filled my heart just by this body or whatever in spite of my being a grown up adult, will it not it be more terrifying to children? What may the educational value acquired through intimidating and terrifying the children be? Is the strengthening of their hearts or the invigorating of souls achieved via frightening them? Is this applicable to all humans, young and old?

"Trick orTreat"

As the Halloween approaches, I often wonder whether I should send my children to school on that day or not. The children usually hear their friends talking about getting this day’s costumes. They also talk with their teachers about passing by houses to get sweets and reiterate the usual phrase while knocking on the doors: "Trick or Treat"...

My daughter Maria asked me whether she would go to school that day. When she saw the deep thinking sign on my face, she said: "Mom, I know Halloween is not for us. I have told my friends at school that I don’t celebrate it; neither will two or three of my colleagues do. Our school won’t give a big party. We would only get some sweets at the end of the day, that is all, and I don’t like to miss the sweets."

After negotiating with my husband, I allowed my children to go to school, particularly as their class teacher had called off the Halloween celebration that day. On seeing them off in the morning, I told them that nations’ customs and cultures which we see about us are differences that occur between humans. Some are good and others are not. We follow some and renounce others according to the rules we have learned from our religion. I directed my kids that It is their duty when come home to tell me what they liked and what you did not in the Halloween day.

The Halloween Night was to me, as a mother, the most challenging event; after I had learned the educational lesson in our first year in Canada when we experienced the Halloween celebration. I remember that my children, on that evening, resisted sleep. They insisted on seeing what was going on out of the window panes. As a matter of fact, the outside hubbub, the lights, the sweets, the yelling and laughing had made sleeping impossible.

Then, I told my neighboring and dear friends that we had to meet and unite that night to make our children happy and to keep them busy doing something least they should fell ostracized or disadvantaged.

That year, on the Halloween night, I had a meeting with an excellent task team: Manal (Egypt), Nezmen (Bangladesh), Amira and Suad (Saudi Arabia), in addition to about 20 children.

Learning Through Dialogue

Our night was the most influential and intimate owing to the discussion session we ran with the lovely children after Maghreb Prayer. We sat with them on the floor. Nezmen started to run the discussion by asking every child to identify themselves. Then she asked: "Do you know why we are here?"

Mohammed (Grade 3) said, "Because we do not celebrate Halloween." Nezmen repeated her question and said: "Why don’t we celebrate Halloween?" Why don’t we get the pleasure the others try to have in the Halloween?"

Yara (Grade 1) said: "Because it is a non-Muslim feast."

Anfal (Grade 6) hurriedly said: "Prophet Muhammad had not done that and we love our Prophet and love to follow his course of action"

Mustafa (Grade 1) said in sweet voice: "Oh No! Halloween! I feel scary of the costumes…Is it the feast of devils!"

The children chuckled but Nezmen started to relate the story of the Halloween to the children. She told them that some people believe that the evil spirits would come back on that night and that those who do not give the children chocolate or sweets would bring the evil spirits’ wrath on themselves.

Nezmen continued to talk about the conflict between the alleged deities which had direct bearing on the Halloween story. Her daughter Meriha (Grade 7) helped her with recalling some details.

Mriam (Grade 7) attracted our attention to a good point when she said: "Most of my schoolmates do not know such information. When I asked them about the details of the Halloween, they answered that they knew nothing about the origin of this idea and that they celebrated the day only for fun. However, I have on my mind a lot of information and details which I could use to answer questions about our religious occasions such as Ramadan and `Eid in which I have firm belief."

Ammar (Grade 5) made us all laugh when he said: "People around us disguise in different and weird costumes, yet they get free candy which they don’t usually give each other all the year long; only on that day. They had better save the money they spend on candy to buy clothes."

Manal Said: "Similarly, if the cost of the pumpkins stacked at the doors of houses and stores and which are wasted by the end of the Halloween day were saved for the benefit of the needy, it would be much better."

Salma (Grade 3) said, "I really love celebrating `Eid with my parents and Malak."
Manal Said, "Nothing is wrong with celebrating the national holidays for Muslims and non- Muslims as they do not clash with our faith."

Suad said, "The positive aspect about the “Halloween” night is that it is a social phenomenon as the neighbors enquire after one another, and houses are decorated. I wish we decorated our homes in our countries with lights, and beautiful balloons like what most people do here."

Abdel Rahim (Grade 3) said, "They frighten the children rather than make them happy."
Basma said to them, "Those who love children, love to gladden, teach, and help them; not to terrify them."

What a Talk!

As a matter of fact, we had never expected all that from the children. They were talking simply and without pretentious or insincere enthusiasm. I wished their mothers’ eyes and fathers’ ears had been there to grasp what their children were saying.

I realized the value of being together in our weddings and meetings. I saw the importance of making our `Eids, fasting and Hajj remarkable occasions for us and for our children by whom we get our identity and build our image of dignity.

At the end of the meeting, and after playing and eating, I said to my friends: "After this remarkable day and constructive dialogue, I could almost assert that the attention of all these children would not be attracted by a smiling or frowning pumpkin, nor by a dangling skeleton, or by a persuasive friend, or a narrating teacher. But by God's guarding over them, by His help to us, we managed today to nurture their immunity.

Dear wonderful friends, are you with me? We’ve succeeded."

| Home | Daily News | We Are On... |

In the Ghetto - Youth Gang Culture and American Muslims

By Jamshed Bokhari - Journalist - U.S.

You are walking down a crowded sidewalk in urban America. As you go about your daily activities; shopping, working or just getting your coffee, you see a group of young people walking towards you.

At first, nothing seems unusual about them, but as they come closer, you see what becomes obvious: shaved haircuts, goatees, ski hoods, and baggy pants as they bump, hug and occasionally spurt out "That‘s phat."

You think to yourself "Another bunch of criminals. What a disgrace. Look at those clowns. If they have not done anything yet, they will soon” as you clutch your jewelry, purse, wallet or briefcase as they approach. However they just walk by and nothing happens.

Yet as they pass, something does not look quite right about these "American" kids. Surely, they all may have one skin colour; white, black, brown, yellow, or a mixture of any or all of them, however that is not it. Maybe it was that one or two of them reminded you of someone you might know, maybe it is someone you actually do know, however that is not it; or maybe they just look exactly like you did when you were younger, yet that is not it. Or maybe it’s the Ayat Al-Kursi chain dangling from their necks. That is it!

For some American Muslims, this scene is no longer rare or shocking. Sadly, however it has become a common one. Yes, Muslims in the US who have not experienced this phenomenon may not be aware that some American Muslim young adults participate in such activities; however this lack of awareness is shrinking.

The critical question here becomes, "How could a young person raised as a Muslim behave in such a manner?"

Yes, it may seem a naïve question, for we cannot deny that there are criminals amongst us who call themselves Muslims, but one must start somewhere. From here we can try to briefly initiate some sort of analysis of what might actually be occurring and why.

Why Is This Happening?

An answer to this question could be; that we have a choice of two main possibilities that may be acting exclusively alone or in conjunction with one another. I think that they can act in conjunction. One possibility is the classic pattern of an ethnic/religious group development within new surrounding districts which has occurred with nearly every group that has migrated as a minority to America. The other possible reason is plainly following fashion, or what I consider "wannabe’s", who just want to be a gangster or a rapper etc.

Before starting however, I would like it to be recognized that although I am talking about "ethnic" development patterns, it should be noted that the term "Muslim" cannot be placed into an ethnic group categorization; for Muslims are not ethnic groups. They are believers in Islam, a religion.

However, Muslims comprise a minority, a categorization signifying distinction from the Judeo-Christian culture: in a sense, that they lack numbers, and are underrepresented in American society.

Therefore, in this case, we may put "ethnic" side by side with "minority".

First Possibility, the Classic Pattern Development

Let us first look at patterns of ethnic population development in the United States. Let us begin with the major mass immigration of people from Ireland in the mid-1850s, and continuing with the Italians, Hispanics, and Jews (another religious minority treated as an ethnic minority). These immigrants suffered from a combination of poverty, over-population in urban ghettoes, and a scarcity of job opportunities for the unskilled immigrants in the United States. This has contributed to the continual phenomenon of youth gang activity.

Theses youth gangs have at times developed into organized criminal syndicates. However, this development is neither automatic nor inevitable. Youth gangs are abundant within all ethnic or religious groups, however not all go on to get involved in criminal activity. Within all minority groups, the scarcity of skilled labour, lack of education, and limited occupational opportunities lead to sizeable portions of dissatisfied members of a community who opt to resort to other means in order to survive.

Whether this exact pattern explains what is occurring within the American Muslim community remains to be seen. I do not believe that this adequately explains the emergence of the youth gang phenomenon.
Within the American Muslim community, poverty does exist, but not to the extent as a classical pattern per se. In the past, Irish, Jewish, Italian, Hispanic and African immigrants suffered much harsher economic living conditions than American Muslims today. Most American Muslims do not live in rat-infested and disease ridden ghettos without even basic essentials like running water
To a certain extent, The Muslim group possesses greater occupational skills, personal contacts, and higher education than those of previous groups. The question remains about employment opportunities though.

Those people without the benefits of a quality education or specialized craft or industrial skills have shown an entrepreneurial streak, and have started small businesses catering not only to the Muslim community, but to the larger society as well. Then there are those that find work at the blue-collar level, including transport services etc. Briefly, the economic conditions of American Muslims are not bleak enough to fit perfectly into the classic pattern of gang activity within ethnic groups in America.

"Wannabe-itis", the Other Explanation

Within the urban communities where many American Muslims reside, many live in close proximity, and attend schools with ethnic groups. In order to survive and be accepted within that particular peer group, they sometimes act in the manner of one's peers in order to coexist harmoniously. It must be noted that at present, these other groups (African American and Hispanic) did not initiate the youth gang phenomenon, but merely followed a pattern established by those they themselves had lived in close proximity with (Irish, Italians, Jews).

The fact that modern American Muslim youth gang members follow the mannerisms of African American or Hispanic gangs doesn’t mean to say that they inherit the exact same attitudes.

Muslim American youth might, at that time, wore fedoras, spoke like typical 1930s gangsters, and carried Tommy-guns. But they do not live in that period. Muslim American youth today live in an urban world of baggy pants, crew cuts and Wu-Tang Clan.

However, before one judges a young ‘gangster' Muslim by their appearance, I appeal for us to first look, and evaluate the true nature of these "gangs" within the American Muslim community.

If one wants to place a technical term on this trend, then let us call it the pseudo-gang mentality. The term becomes suitable because it implies that although individuals may play the part of a ‘gangster', in reality, they are not.

Organized racketeering and/or extortion of community business activity are activities that these pseudo-gangsters do not involve themselves in.

Another interesting side to this phenomenon is the fact that it is seemingly a more widespread trend amongst Muslims from the South Asian regions. An explanation may be that South Asian, Muslims and non-Muslims, share a common culture and language.

Within this extremely brief overview; one can get a general feel for what may be occurring between some of the Muslim youth. To summarize, it seems as if the current youth gang phenomenon is a mixture of both classical immigrant/minority development, and one of fashion. There is as a result extreme deprivation, and poverty to the point of desperation, and this in turn leads to desperate criminal activity.

The only other explanation is the ‘pseudo-gangster'. The lifestyle contains no genuine reasons for its existence, only that of fashion or a certain trend. The only relevance classic immigrant/minority interpretation has for the Muslim American youth, is that it gives an explanation by providing some of the other factors involved:

* Living in low income communities in close proximity to other minority groups in which the classic pattern does apply.
* Mass immigration to the United States.
* Perpetuation of competing rivalries carried over from the country of origin.

Frankly, I think it’s "I wannabe…"just for the sake of it.

Jamshed Bokhari is an experienced journalist who graduated from the Univeristy of Oklahoma in Political Science, and got hsi MA from said subject from the University of Maryland College. Currently, he is undertaking an MA in Technology Management form the University of Maryland University College.

| Home | Daily News | We Are On... |

Muslim Tatars Dream of Crimea Mosque

CAIRO — Despite efforts by Muslim Tatars to have a mosque in the Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula, the cherished dream is dying down on the rock of political differences in the eastern European country. “Everyone realizes that their opposition doesn’t make sense, because they had already given us permission,” Muslim leader Refat Chubarov told The New York Times on Friday, October 30.

“Behind the scenes, they are saying: ‘Crimea is Russian Orthodox land. If they want to build a mosque, they should build it where no one can see it.’ "

The government gave permission to Muslim Tatars in 2004 to build the mosque in 22 Yaltinskaya Street in Simferopol, the capital of Crimea.

But the project stalled by the Simferopol local council on claims of opposition from locals.

“The mosque will be built, but only after taking into consideration the views of the public,” said Simferopol’s mayor, Gennady Babenko.

He said that the city council has suggested other sites for building the mosque.

The mosque plans are vehemently opposed by ethnic Russians, who make up the majority of the Simferopol residents.

They fear that the mosque would signal the revival of Muslim Tatars, who were brutally expelled from Crimean by former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.

The Tatars, who have inhabited Crimea for centuries, were deported in May 1944 by Stalin, who accused them of collaborating with the Nazis.

The entire Tatar population, more than 200,000 people, was transported in brutal conditions thousands of miles away to Uzbekistan and other locations. Many died along the way or soon after arriving.

The Soviets confiscated their homes, destroying their mosques and turning them into warehouses. One was converted into a Museum of Atheism.

It was not until perestroika in the late 1980s that most of the Tatars were allowed back, a migration that continued after Ukraine became independent with the Soviet collapse in 1991.

More than 250,000 Tatars now live in Crimea, about 13 percent of its population of 2 million people.

The Tatars’ return has repeatedly touched off legal clashes over restitution of land and property, much of which is now owned by ethnic Russians.

Cherished Dream

Muslim leaders blame political forces for blocking their dream to have a mosque in the peninsula.

“There are many, many political forces that want the strains to remain,” Mustafa Dzhemilyov, chairman of the Tatar legislative council, said.

“I am referring to the Russian-speaking and Russian separatist organizations, which are supported by and fed by the government of Russia.”

Some groups in Crimea are demanding to secede from Ukraine to region Russia.

Crimea was transferred by Nikita S. Khrushchev, then the Soviet leader, to Ukraine in 1954, a move then thought to be a formality, since it remained in the Soviet Union and was populated mostly by ethnic Russians.

Tatars have better ties with the Ukrainian government, and are often seen by ethnic Russian nationalists in Crimea as Kiev’s proxies.

The three sides jockey for power on the peninsula, and the mosque has been one focal point.

Hoping to see their dream fulfilled, every Muslim Tatar in Crimea has brought a piece of brick to build the mosque.

“From each Muslim, one stone,” said Chubarov, the Muslim leader.

As the deadlock still remains, the mosque site has turned into a mountain of limestone pieces, with Muslims still waiting for a way-out.

Source: IslamOnline

| Home | Daily News | We Are On... |

Abdullah Threatens Afghan Runoff Boycott

CAIRO – Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah is threatening to boycott next week’s runoff elections unless incumbent Hamid Karzai bows to a series of demands to prevent poll fraud. “He wants to make a deal as he doesn’t think the second round will be any cleaner than the first,” one source close to Abdullah told The Times Saturday, October 31.

“But if Mr Karzai does not agree, then a boycott is quite possible.”

Abdullah, a former foreign minister, demands Karzai to sack the head of the Independent Electoral Commission over the fraudulent August 20 elections.

He also wants the West-backed president to suspend four ministers who campaigned for him during the ballot.

"If by the end of today we do not receive a positive response to our conditions from the government, then Dr. Abdullah himself will announce his reaction to it tomorrow," spokesman Sayed Aqa Fazel Sancharaki told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Another senior campaign aide said if Abdullah's conditions were not met, "we will not participate in an election which is not transparent and fraud-free."

Abdullah is due to make his announcement at an address in Kabul at 9:30 am (0500 GMT) on Sunday, which the media have been invited to attend.

He cancelled a planned visit to India on Saturday, fuelling speculations about his decision to pull out from the race.

"He is staying because of the election," Abdullah's spokesman Ali Farhad Howaida said.

Afghan voters will go to polling stations on November 7, to elect a new president from between Karzai and Abdullah.

The runoff was decided after the first round two months ago was marred by widespread fraud.

Compromise

Abdullah’s withdrawal from the run-off would have a serious impact on the new government’s legitimacy.

"If Abdullah boycotts, voter turnout will be very low and Karzai will be declared winner but with a very low legitimacy," said Haroun Mir, a Kabul-based analyst and director of Afghanistan's Centre for Research and Policy Studies.

Under the Afghan Constitution, the run-off could go ahead with Karzai as the only candidate.

“The stakes are very high, not just for the two candidates but for the international community as well,” said Mir.

“Everyone wants these two men to reach a compromise.”

A source close to Karzai’s camp said that the two rivals held talks to reach a compromise.

"There were talks on the possibility of power-sharing in some form,” said the source.

“There were huge demands from Abdullah's side for several ministries, eight ministerial positions, which were not accepted by Karzai."

The United States, which invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to topple the ruling Taliban, said Abdullah’s boycott of next week’s run-off would not de-legitimize the polls.

"We see that happen in our own country where, for whatever combination of reasons, one of the candidates decides not to go forward,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

“I don't think it has anything to do with the legitimacy of the election."

Source: IslamOnline

| Home | Daily News | We Are On... |

Hajj Brings Peace Hopes to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Charging their batteries for the soul-searching journey, Pakistani pilgrims are heading for the holy lands in Saudi Arabia with hopes that hajj will bring peace to their violence-wracked country. “This year’s Hajj has much more importance for us as compared to any other country as we have been facing a total chaos,” Hashmat Hashmat Khan, 53, told IslamOnline on Saturday, October 31.

“I am hopeful that our journey to the Holy land will bring peace to our beloved country.”

Pakistan's Future (Special Page) Swine Flu: Beware, Be Safe (Folder) Pakistan has been plagued by a deadly cycle of violence since the 2001 US invasion of neighboring Afghanistan.

The country has been rocked by deadly bombings that killed hundreds of civilians over Islamabad’s participation in America’s so-called war on terror.

“I believe that the growing chaos in the country is because of our wrong deeds,” said Hashmat.

“We all must bow to Allah and invoke His blessings. And Hajj will provide us a great opportunity to rejuvenate our spirits and vow to return to the path of Allah.

“Even before Islam, Arab tribes would stop wars at the time of Hajj. I expect the same from the warring sides in Pakistan,” he said.

The father of three is preparing to head with his wife for Saudi Arabia for hajj, to start next month.

“My heart danced with joy when I came to know that my and my wife’s applications (for Hajj journey) have been accepted,” he said.

Nearly 169,000 Pakistani pilgrims will perform hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, this year.

Almost half of the pilgrims are performing the ritual through a government-sponsored scheme.

Under the government scheme, pilgrims pay between RS 160,000 ($2000) to RS 180,000 ($2300) for hajj.

The first batch of Pakistan pilgrims left for Saudi Arabia on October 21.

Every able-bodied adult Muslim -- who can financially afford the trip -- must perform hajj once in their lifetime.

Around three million pilgrims from over 160 countries are expected to perform hajj this year, which is expected to climax on November 26, when the faithful descend the Mount `Arafat.

Undaunted

Pakistani pilgrims are unfazed by the growing concerns over the spread of swine flu virus during the Muslim ritual.

“What the guarantee that I would be alive next year?” asked Hashmat.

“When there is no guarantee then why should I miss the chance?

“I have been by Him (Allah). I will be His guest, and He will take care of everything,” a devout Hashmat said.

“Inshaullah (God willing) nothing will happen.”

Concerns have been growing over the spread of the swine flu (H1N1), a mixture of various swine, bird and human viruses, which first emerged in Mexico in April.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says the virus is moving around the globe at "unprecedented speed."

The virus has so far killed more than 3,917 people in 191 countries.

Pakistani authorities have issued a swine flu warning for the pilgrims.

“We have informed all the Hajjis about the swine flu threat,” Agha Qazalbash, the secretary of Hajj and religious affairs, said.

“We have just asked them to take precautionary measures against this disease. They have been advised to take extra face masks with them from Pakistan.”

Hashmat says he will take all precautionary measures to avoid contracting the virus during the ritual.

“This is the command of noble Prophet Muhammad (be peace upon him) to take precautionary measures first and then let it be on Allah,” he said.

“I will not take it (swine flue threat) easy.”

Rozina Begum, Hashmat’s wife, is also resolved to go on hajj despite calls by relatives to miss the ritual this year over the virus.

“I consider myself so lucky because people apply for years and years and then their turn comes. We applied for the first time, and we got that,” she said.

“Why should we give up if Allah wants to bring us to His house,” a jubilant Rozina said.

“I don’t know that I will be alive next year or not. So I am not at all ready to miss this chance.”

Source: IslamOnline

| Home | Daily News | We Are On... |

Women pants ban irks acehnese

CAIRO — An official decision to ban women from wearing jeans and pants in West Aceh is stirring uproar in the Indonesian province, amid accusations of violating women’s rights.

"The enforcement of the regulation is an accumulation of the negative views against women," Norma Susanti, Head of the woman and children's division at Aceh Human Rights NGO Coalition, told The Jakarta Post Saturday, October 31.

Officials in West Aceh have forbidden women from wearing jeans and tight pants as of January.

Under the decision, Shari`ah police, tasked with enforcing Islamic law, will shred any offensive clothing and ask women to change the outfit into government-issued skirts.

The West Aceh district has already ordered 7,000 skirts of various sizes.

Norma argued that the decision was discriminatory and not in line with Islamic Shari`ah, applied in the autonomous province.

"Islamic Shari`ah is not discriminative against women," she said.

"But it's different when it is used as a political means by men to restrain women's movements."

The activist accused the local administration of enacting controversial laws to distract the people's attention away from their economical and social woes.

"There are many important issues the government should be handling rather than dealing with dress codes or someone's sins," Norma said.

"We are accused of being people who are against God when we criticize such policies. These accusations have made us tired of continuing the struggle."

Aceh enjoys autonomous rule since signing Helsinki Memo of Understanding (MoU) with the Indonesian government in 2005.

The historic agreement brought to an end three decades of bloody conflict between Aceh separatists and Indonesian forces in the region that had seen the death of some 15,000 people.

Muslims make up 98.6 percent of the province's 3.93 million population.

* Violation

Rights activists said that the ban would violate the women’s rights.

"The regulation is against the principles of human rights and the 1945 Constitution," said Taufik Riswan, director of West Aceh Women and Child Protection Research Institute.

Muslim Ibrahim, chairman of Aceh Ulema Assembly (MPU), agrees.

"We should not be arrogant and force others not to wear pants," he said.

Experts argue that the ban has no legal grounds.

"The ordinance is merely a circular which has no legal standing, except for the internal interests of the regency administration," said legal expert Saifudin Bantasyam from Syiah Kuala University.

He said the province has a law regulating the dress code in accordance with the Islamic Shari`ah.

"The ordinance doesn't regulate on the types of clothing women should wear, but only a dress code that is decent and in accordance with Shari`ah, and only that."
Source: IslamOnline

| Home | Daily News | We Are On... |