Ball State Muslim Students, Community Reflect on Faith, Controversy

Tara Jones Ball State University

“Ball State Muslim students, community reflect on faith, controversy”

This week's Sept. 11 memorials will take place during one of the holiest days for Muslims, Eid al-Fitr. A coincidence of the calendar that could provoke problems elsewhere but is leaving Muncie mostly unaffected. "We are really safe in Muncie," said Ahmad Qutub, Ball State senior and imam at the Islamic Center of Muncie. "Nobody has been trying to attack us." Despite the increase of Muslim students from abroad attending Ball State, Hadiyah Abdurrasheed-Wagner said she has not heard of many cases of discrimination in Muncie or at Ball State's campus. "It is a little strange sometimes when you're in class and the teacher starts talking about terrorists," said Abdurrasheed-Wagner, who wears a hijab, or scarf-like covering over her head. "The professor's voice gets weary and the room gets tense. We definitely get weird looks sometimes. ... But there are so many [Muslim] people that can be seen walking along McKinley that I think people are getting used to it." It has been a different story for Abdurrasheed-Wagner, however. Whether at a gas station or walking down McKinley Avenue, she has heard people shout at her from their cars. The worst experience occurred while she was shopping with her husband at the Muncie Mall. A group of young people behind them shouted, "Don't blow up the mall!" before running away in the opposite direction. "Most people don't say anything to my face. It's usually while they are on the go and driving," she said. "But that was the closest it has come to someone saying it to my face." There are at least 100 Muslims in the Muslim Student Association, and more than 200 Muslim students on campus, Abdurrasheed-Wagner, a senior psychology major and Muslim Student Association vice president, said. An increased number of Muslim students visiting the Islamic Center have dwindled space available for prayer compared to last year. "There are two large rooms for prayer, one for men and one for women at the center," she said. "There are so many people, now we have people sitting in the basement." The Islamic Center itself looks like an ordinary brown building northwest of McGalliard Road. Slightly hidden from view, the mosque looks like an ordinary building if it weren't for the plain Islamic Center signs. The building is perfectly visible from the front of Muncie resident Phil Bridgman's house, though. Living next to a mosque doesn't bother him, but he definitely has an opinion on the proposed "mosque" in New York City. "I don't think it should be built by ground zero," he said quickly, then pointing his finger at the Muncie mosque. "I don't care about that." The controversial mosque is actually the Cordoba House, a community center two blocks from ground zero housing a swimming pool, classrooms, play spaces for children and a memorial honoring the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks, according to an editorial by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf wrote in The New York Times. When told that the Cordoba House is actually built for multiple faiths, not just Muslims, Bridgman said that he didn't know the specifics of the building, but he still didn't like the location. "I still don't like it. ... Why do they even want to build it there?" he said. The controversy of the Cordoba House can be felt all over the country, and it is something MSA adviser Muhammad Maqbool cannot understand. Maqbool said that since the United States is one of the most educated countries, it should also have the most open-minded and accepting people. "People are thinking more emotionally than broadmindedly," Maqbool said. "More educated people should think more broadmindedly and use their wisdom to find common ground and come together." Some Americans have taken to extreme measures to protest against Islam. Pastor Terry Jones, of Gainesville, Fla., is proceeding with a Quran burning Saturday as an anti- Islamic protest. Muslims from all over the world have condemned Jones and his church, the Dove World Outreach Center, according to a New York Times article. Abdurrasheed-Wagner said Jones has every right to go ahead with the event, citing the church's First Amendment rights. "I don't agree with it, but I understand and respect that it's their right to [burn the Qurans]," she said. "It's extremely dangerous and disrespectful, but if you're going to be for burning the Qurans, then you must support building the mosque [in New York City]. You can't be for just one or the other." Maqbool said people should try to educate themselves about other religions in order to live peacefully. The annual student iftar dinner held Friday between the Muslim and Christian students at Ball State is an example of what needs to happen on a larger scale, he said. "Whatever we do locally, the same thing we should do on a national level," Maqbool said. "We need to come together to reduce hate and misunderstandings." He said that students shouldn't rely on only what they see in the media. If they have questions about Islam, they should read translations of the Quran or talk to a Muslim scholar. "The [U.S.] should play a mature role and differentiate between al-Qaida and a Muslim," Maqbool said. "They should not treat an educated Muslim like an uneducated terrorist. ... If we keep hurting each other, there will be no peace forever."

“Sun up to sun down” BSU students, Muncie community come together to celebrate Ramadan

It was about 8:15 p.m. and the sun was slowly setting outside the Islamic Center of Muncie. It was quiet outside, but inside there was a flurry of activity and noise. Children raced through the hallways, food was being prepared in the kitchen and people began to sit at the long dining tables that were covered with trays of food. Women and children began to pile dates, fruit and other foods on their plates, some making additional trips for more. "This isn't even the meal," Cecilia Williams, Ball State University graduate student, said. "This is just the iftar, which means 'to break the fast.' Then more food is brought out and the real meal begins." Williams described one of the traditional steps of the celebration called Ramadan, in which all healthy Muslims must fast or abstain from eating, drinking and participating in sexual relations during the day. Before dawn and after the sun sets, Muslims are able to eat and drink again. "Actually, we eat more food after fasting than we would if we were eating all day," Williams said. This year, September marks the month of Ramadan, which starts on the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This time is sacred because the Quran, the holy book for Muslims, was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during this time. Also called the 'month of the Quran,' Muslims try to recite as much of it as possible during Ramadan, according to the BBC Religion and Ethics article. Not only does the month of Ramadan affect Muslims physically, but spiritually and mentally as well. "They should be nicer, kinder and stay away from negative thoughts and be more giving to others," Khalid Sajjad, graduate student at Ball State and former President of the Muslim Student Association, said. "[Fasting] is also a humbling experience. Even the rich could feel the suffering of the poor, yet even poor people still fast," Sajjad said. Children are exempt from fasting; however, they often like to practice with family, Williams said. "Fasting is a requirement at puberty," Williams said. "But children do it for fun before; they might fast for only certain parts of the day by not snacking between meals or they have a date and water with their family." Prayer Praying is also optional for children, but teenagers and adults must pray five times every day. The mandatory prayers, called salah, are considered to be a link between the person and God, according to the MSA Web site. During Ramadan, Muslims wake up before sunrise and eat a small meal (or sahur) and pray. Prayers are also done in the afternoon (2 p.m.), in the evening (6 p.m.), when the sun sets and right before bed, Sajjid said. It is preferable to pray with a group of people in a mosque; however, Muslims can pray almost anywhere. "During certain times, I go to classes and afterwards reserve a room in the library and pray, then continue with my classes" Sajjid said. The recommended 'taraweh' prayers are introduced during Ramadan. These prayers are done at night and usually last about one-and-a-half to two hours in which one stands, bows and sits, Sajjid said. Large sections of the Quran are read every night, so at the end of the month, it is usually finished. Ahmad Qutub, a sophomore at Ball State, leads the prayers at the Islamic Center. He is one of the few people in Muncie who have memorized all 144 chapters of the Quran, which took him three years to complete. Leading five prayers at the mosque sometimes conflicts with his classes, but Qutub said he has good time management. He said classes are canceled during Ramadan in Saudi Arabia, and because of this, leading the prayers there is much easier than in the United States. "But when I go to pray and do what I have to do, I feel so happy because I am fulfilling one of my worships," Qutub said. Fast asleep Two other effects of fasting include the lack of energy and exercise. "Usually I am able to eat snacks between classes, but when I fast, I can't. Sometimes you fall asleep in classes because your glucose is so low," Sajjid said. "I also exercise a lot less because I cannot drink anything and it messes up my entire day. If I do [exercise], I do it right before I break my fast." To avoid distractions, men and women pray and eat in separate rooms in the mosque, Williams said. "It helps you focus on your prayers, not the cute guy in the corner," she said. A speaker system allows the women to hear the prayers, and a two way mirror allows the women to see into the men's massjid, or prayer room, and see the speaker, but the men cannot see the women in their prayer room. "Sometimes you catch the guys checking themselves out [in the mirror]; it can be pretty funny," Williams said. Break fast While breaking the fast, men and women also eat separately at the Islamic Center, but the children's play areas are considered a "neutral zone." Sometimes the children act as messengers, relaying information between parents. At one point during the iftar, the men did not think they had enough food for everyone on their side. One man attempted to come to the women's side to relay the message, but was met with resistance. Once his presence was known, the woman closest to him quickly fixed the burqa on her head to cover her hair and then shut the door after him. The Muncie Muslim community is diverse, and every culture influences the Islamic Center in some way. When preparing food for the iftar, each family brings something from their cultural heritage. "Usually, the Afghani women bring rice and the women from Saudi Arabia bring dessert," Sajjid said. "We have families from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Yemen," Sajjid said. "They are each known for bringing something different." Williams is well-known for her contributions to meals. I know I'm already in charge of the spring rolls," she said. "I'm told to bring them every year." Muslim Student Association The Muslim Student Association is comprised of Ball State students who are either Muslim or are interested in Islam and other cultures. Erica Hurley became interested in Islam from a different source. "I was doing laundry and I found a magazine article about a high school Muslim girl who gave half of her allowance to charity. I was really impressed by it," Hurley said. She said she then attended an International Conversation hour at Lucina Hall, which led her to attend a MSA meeting. "Islam is a major world religion ... it is a very vibrant community. There is no reason not to know why something is so important to others," Hurley said. The mission of MSA is to educate Ball State students and the Muncie community about Islam and its principles through social activities and community services. It also serves as a panel for discussion to dismiss any misunderstandings about Islam. Nazim Ahmed, Ball State professor and MSA adviser (on and off) for 30 years, said overall the organization has had positive experiences in Muncie. "We host Islamic Awareness Week once a year, which includes speakers and panel discussions about topics such as 'women in Islam,'" Ahmed said. MSA has also held its own iftar for students on Ball State's campus this year. After the conclusion of Ramadan on Sept. 20, there is a celebration called Eid ul-Fitr where the community gathers to eat and the children receive presents and money. This celebration could last up to three to four days in the Middle East, Sajjid said.

“Day of Atonement” Jewish celebrate holiday with 25-hour fast, synagogue services

Today, the hustle and bustle of traffic, honking horns and police sirens are gone. Every store is closed, every car is still and everything is quiet. People could even take naps in the middle of streets or highways. Corey Gillman, president of the Ball State University Hillel organization, wouldn't recommend that in Muncie. "In Israel, everything shuts down today," he said. "That is nearly impossible to do here." Today is Yom Kippur, or "Day of Atonement," for Jewish people around the world. It is the most sacred and solemn day of the Jewish year, according to a BBC Religions and Ethics article. Everything starts with the Jewish New Year, or Rosh Hashanah, which began on Friday, Sept. 18 at sundown. (Instead of the new year being 2010, it is actually 5770 in the Jewish lunar calendar, according to Gillman). This holiday commemorates the creation of the world, but also serves as a judgment day, in which each person begins to repent for their sins and their communities' sins from the past year. "You want to repent your sins so your name can be inscribed in the Book of Life," Gillman said. "You want good things to happen. If you're forgiven, you're going to be okay for next year." After Rosh Hashanah, there are about 10 days of repentance leading up to Yom Kippur. "[Yom Kippur] is like a confessional, but different. There is no real confession, it's more internal and it publicly takes place once a year," Gillman said. Yom Kippur brings the Days of Repentance to a close, and God makes his final decision for each person and the Book of Life is closed and sealed, according to the BBC. Since Yom Kippur is the final day to repent, Jews are required to fast - not eat or drink - for 25 hours. They cannot drive cars or work, they do not wear perfume or makeup, they abstain from sex and they cannot bathe or wear leather shoes. During the synagogue services, men wear yarmulkes, or skullcaps, and sometimes wear a tallis, or special prayer shawl. It is also customary to wear white as a symbol of purity. Once the sun sets tonight, Jewish people will attend the services provided at the synagogue and then break their fast afterward. However, there are varying degrees as to how closely these rules are followed. According to Gillman, there are three main types of Judaism. Orthodox Jews abide by the Torah, or the first part of the Jewish bible, word for word. This type is practiced mostly in Israel. No one drives, so many people must walk to the closest synagogue for Yom Kippur. The second type is Conservative, where most of the rules are abided by, but they are more flexible than Orthodox. The third type is Reformed, where the rules are the most relaxed. This is the most common type of Judaism in America. People can still follow Yom Kippur guidelines and fast, but they can still drive a car to their synagogue. "It is next to impossible to be Orthodox in America," Gillman said. In Muncie, Temple Beth El is an example of a Reformed Judaism synagogue. Linoy Zarfati, from Moshav Amikam, Israel, said at first she did not think she could change from an Orthodox to a Reformed synagogue. "I didn't think I would have a connection here, but I definitely do," she said. Fasting and Testing "Tapohac, tapohac," two-year-old Lyrie Zarfati said in Hebrew, as she reaches for an apple from her mother. "Children under the age of 12 or 13 are not required to fast," Linoy Zarfati said as she closed the refrigerator in one of the rooms of Temple Beth El. However, fasting for 25 hours can make it hard for older, Jewish students to concentrate during classes, Gillman said. "I'm skipping all my classes today," Gillman said. "I had to talk to all my professors beforehand and rescheduled a math test. I could sit and try to pay attention, but focusing is not going to happen." Hillel Gillman is president of Hillel, Ball State's only Jewish organization. However, you do not have to be Jewish to become involved. Their weekly meetings (which alternate between Tuesdays and Thursdays each week), revolve around learning more about their religion, common Hebrew phrases and discussions on news topics. "It helps provide a community for Jewish students to hang out and get a sense of identity," he said. "But it also helps answer questions that people might have about our religion." According to their Web site, Hillel has hosted past events including a Sit Out for Sukkah, a Hanukkah gift exchange, Shabbat dinners and Jewish Heritage Week during Spring Semesters. However, because of the lack of students participating in the organization, it is hard for them to organize new events for this year, Gillman said. "Sometimes religion is forced upon you when you're young," Gillman said. "Once college starts, students are able to ditch their religion. There is no pressure from parents. Parents might tell their kids to join Hillel, but they don't have to." Co-adviser of Hillel and Assistant Director of Admissions for Publications Gerry Appel said he is optimistic about the students in Hillel this year, but chose to participate in Yom Kippur without them. "My gift to them was to spend Rosh Hashanah with them but not Yom Kippur because I get a little grumpy when I'm hungry," he admitted. "[Yom Kippur] is generally a time to be somber; there is a tone of repentance. It might not be a fun event, but it's necessary. You feel better afterwards."