Where Culture Overshadows “Deen,” the Unfortunate Suffer

Last updated on: August 1, 2013 at 8:00 am by Guest Contributor

Where Culture Overshadows “Deen,” the Unfortunate Suffer 2013-07-30T21:34:58-04:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ayah* is an Egyptian-American disabled woman and single mother of two children who lives in a populous borough of New York City, home to between 600,000 and one million Muslims (reports vary on the exact number) and an estimated 175 masajid. Behind on her rent and unable to fully provide for her children, Ayah went to a large masjid in her borough to apply for zakat. At the masjid, one frequented predominantly by Muslims of East African descent, she was told that the zakat was already reserved for members of the masjid’s own community—a confusing revelation for Ayah who was a regular at the masjid. She went to another local masjid, one frequented predominantly by Muslims of Bangladeshi descent where she was told the zakat there was also reserved for the masjid’s own patrons in hardship. However, at this masjid it was suggested she seek help from “an Arab masjid” in a neighboring borough.

Ayah told me about her hardship less than two weeks after a verdict was reached in the George Zimmerman trial. I bring up the trial for a reason—after the not-guilty verdict I couldn’t help but notice the large presence of Muslim solidarity with the Trayvon Martins of America. Many Muslims have experienced and can attest to the prejudices that exist in America and the feeling of solidarity with other often-marginalized groups is only natural.

But how many of the Muslims who complained about the verdict or have complained about religious intolerance have themselves engaged in actions not far from discrimination against members of their own Ummah under pretenses of culture? The sheer number of masajid in America is a joy to behold—mashaAllah—but the segregation that continues to divide masajid by the cultures of their majority members is undeniably un-Islamic and misrepresentative of a growing Muslim population that doesn’t fit within those majority cultures.

It doesn’t take long to venture outside of a masjid either to find cases where members of the Muslim community have been rejected by their brothers and sisters due to their race or ethnicity. Many of us know of at least one person whose parents refused to let him/her marry someone of a different race or ethnicity: “My parents prefer a [insert your race or ethnicity here] girl/boy” is not an uncommon utterance. And how many second generation Muslim-American mothers find themselves—such as their mothers used to—fretting over their children’s growing darkness of skin while playing out in the sun? Such cases are often dismissed as cultural nuisances and none of us is perfect save Allah (swt). But why should a zakat-seeker, a new convert, a traveler or any other new visitor to a masjid feel further marginalized for being of a different ethnicity or race than the masjid’s majority members?

We quote a line from Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) final sermon—that a white has no superiority over a black nor a black any superiority over a white except by piety and good deeds—time and again in pointing out that Islam is a religion without racism or prejudice. And that is true—Islam is perfect. We are not. But we cannot feign ignorance and live under the shadow of His (pbuh) words believing they succeed without our own efforts. If Ayah’s story is a true reflection of the nature of segregation that exists among Muslims in America, we have a very long way to go to reach a better state of unity. As we point fingers at the prejudice of Americans toward one another or toward us, we should also spend time and effort in ensuring we peel away our own injustices and refrain from discriminating against our own brothers and sisters. And this is a reminder to myself first.

*Ayah’s true identity was concealed for her privacy.

This piece is part of our ongoing series on Ramadan, featuring reflections, stories, and articles from Muslims and non-Muslims on their Ramadan experiences. Keep checking Altmuslim for new pieces throughout Ramadan.

Previous Post

July 30, 2013

Racism: Alive and Well in America

Next Post

August 7, 2013 Islam’s Golden Age, A Reflection for Muslims Observing Ramadan

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 2012 Elections 30 Dayd 30 Writers (2017) 30 Days 30 Writers 30 Days 30 Writers (2015) 30 Days 30 Writers (2016) 30 Days 30 Writers (2018) 30 Days 30 Writers 2017 Ali Asadullah Ali Eteraz Alper Bilgili Arthur Richards Asides Asma Uddin Black History Month Briefings Charles Turner Commentary Cyrus McGoldrick Eman H Aly Fatimah Popal Hajj Hajj and Dhul Hijjah Hesham Hassaballa Hisham Hellyer Ibrahim Abusharif Inas Younis Irfan Yusuf Jalal Baig Junaid Afeef Laila Alawa Laila Alwala Mas'ood Cajee Muqtedar Khan Nakia Jackson Newsmakers Parvez Ahmed Podcasts Rabia Chaudry Rafia Zakaria Ramadan Reviews Safiyyah Ally Saud Inam Shahed Amanullah Svend White The Opinionated Oncologist Visions Wajahat Ali Zahed Amanullah Zahir Janmohamed Zainab Khan

Select a Month November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many total plagues did God send on Egypt?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Seven Five Ten Twelve