Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Muslimah Media Watch

Home
Muslim
Religion News
Ramadan Reflection: On Faith and Trayvon

Ramadan Reflection: On Faith and Trayvon

Last updated on: July 16, 2013 at 5:30 pm by Guest Contributor

Ramadan Reflection: On Faith and Trayvon 2013-07-16T16:20:29-04:00 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.

This post was written by guest contributor Maheen Nusrat.

People often think that faith is for the weak, for those who fail to engage rational thinking. I disagree; faith is also for the strong, for those who strive for justice, for those who trust, for those who strive for betterment and for those who believe.

The day of the Zimmerman Trial verdict this past weekend was a tragic day in the American history – a day of mourning for people of rationality and of faith. It will be known as the day when an innocent child’s life was lost in vain to a failed justice system.

George Zimmerman, a self-appointed neighborhood watch vigilante, had been accused of murdering 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February of last year. Martin was returning after buying a can of iced tea and skittles as he walked through a gated community. Martin, a young black man, was wearing a hoodie at the time. This led Zimmerman to be suspicious of him as a possible vandal. He called 911 and then followed Martin, despite the 911 dispatcher’s warnings not to do so. Zimmerman then confronted Martin, and when Martin reacted to his threat, Zimmerman shot the young man, leading to his death. Zimmerman did this in what he claims to be self-defense; he was not arrested that night and walked home with the weapon.

Since the day the story became public, it has brought to surface the ugly face of racism and racial profiling that exists in American society today. This case has proven to many people that being a young black man in America is still considered a threat enough to arouse suspicion from self-appointed vigilantes with recorded histories of racist and violent behavior. On July 13, the jury reached a verdict that found Zimmerman “not guilty” on all counts, and he walked away a free man. Meanwhile, Trayvon’s parents and many other parents of black children slept without peace and with unease at this despicable show of injustice and an even more alarming message that in post-racial America, it is still okay to shoot a black teenager if you suspect him to be a threat. Many in the media did everything to discredit Trayvon and as a result, it was Trayvon who was on trial in his death for his suspected “thug” life style, instead of Zimmerman – the real killer. Imagine the pangs of hurt his parents must feel.

When I heard that Trayvon Martin’s killer has walked free, everything in my body ached. My eyes wept, my heart ached, my tongue spoke with anger – because my mind couldn’t comprehend how injustice of this magnitude could prevail. Nothing I said, read, wrote, or did make any sense. It was a simple case of injustice – of wrong winning over right, where the colour of your skin still determined whether you lived and/or walked free.

After spending an entire day of crying and being angry, at the end of the day when I broke my fast, the only thing I kept thinking was the pain of the family – and I uttered a prayer for Trayvon and his family. I prayed for his family to find peace, I prayed for justice to prevail and I prayed for every mother out there to have a world where her children can be safe. When my heart couldn’t bear the burden of the injustice at the hands of the worldly authority, it was in that moment that I realized that there was an authority greater than the ones on this earth. I submitted the weight of my heavy heart in Sajdah (prostration) to the Almighty and I prayed. I prayed so mothers everywhere can hope to see their children alive and thrive. I prayed to the Lord in whose hand is my life and to the One who says:

“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that who has At-Taqwa [i.e. God-consciousness, mindfulness and piety]. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (Quran: 49:13)

So, in the state of God-consciousness, mindfulness and empathy for those against whom injustice has prevailed, I surrender myself to the Will of Allah and ask for justice from Him. He, who says: “But how (will they fare) when we gather them together against a day about which there is no doubt, and each soul will be paid out just what it has earned, without (favour or) injustice?” (Quran 3:25).

It is my faith that has carried me through – my faith in knowing that life does not end here, that there is judgment that transcends all judgment. For those who are placed with the trust and responsibility of justice, He commands us: “judge in equity between them; for Allah loves those who judge in equity” (Quran 5:42). It is my faith that tells me to stand firm with my fellow human beings who have been wronged. It is my faith that dictates I stand up against oppression.

“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted.” (Quran 4: 135)

Even though I feel dejected at the decision of Zimmerman’s acquittal, I surrender myself to the will of the Almighty, and stand firm with the Trayvons of the world, to not let oppression take us by silence. I stand for justice. I cannot bring Trayvon Martin back, but I can work hard to fight the racism/sexism/classism that is rampant in our society. I can check my own biases and change the way I think about systemic and systematic biases. I also pray to the Almighty to give me strength to keep on fighting the good fight, to never bow down to oppression, and to never become an oppressor.

During this glorious month of Ramadan, the news of injustice has made me reflect and ponder on my existence. During my study of the Quran, I have been reassured that justice will be served. In this world of hatred, I am reminded of the last sermon of the beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who said:

“O people, Your God is One God and your father is one father, for you are all descendants of Adam, and Adam was created from clay. The most honoured of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you. No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab. Nor does a white man have any superiority over a black man, or the black man any superiority over the white man. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay.”

I am humbled that I am created from clay; I am reminded that I am no better than another human being, that every life is precious and worth fighting for, and justice is something you must stand and fight for. But until justice is established on this earth, I must surrender to the power of prayer. I will continue to fight and pray. I will pray for all the Trayvons of our time to be safe and under His protection, and for a world where you don’t get killed simply because of the colour of your skin.

For more on MMW’s Ramadan series, and to read the rest of this year’s Ramadan posts, click here.

Previous Post

July 16, 2013

My Ramadan Media

Next Post

July 17, 2013 Creating a Childlike Ramadan

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advertisements Art/Theater Books/Magazines Cinema Comics/Cartoons Culture/Society Events Fashion Film Friday Links Merchandise/Commodities MMW Announcements MMW Highlights Music/Radio News Photography Politics Profile Ramadan 2012 Ramadan 2013 Ramadan 2014 Ramadan 2015 Roundtable Satire Social Media Sports Technology/Science Television Uncategorized Video Web

Select a Month November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 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 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

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: The entire city of Nineveh repented after Jonah preached to them.

Select your answer to see how you score.

FALSE TRUE