« Tongue of the Power/US Hispanics Embracing Islam

By Azadeh Ghahghaei
US Congress in 1968 for the first time designated the week of September 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Week. But in 1988 that was amended to make it a whole month, thus at the moment Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 through October 15. Having such a month seems necessary for a country like United States having a great number of Hispanics spreading over the states. President Bush’s insistence to fence the US- Mexico border in order to prevent illegal immigration of Hispanics from Mexico to US during this period signifies the importance Hispanics and generally immigration has to US government. The total cost of this 700 mile fence is estimated from $2 billion to $9 billion. However, US government is disregarding Mexican officials’ grievances of this issue. The Mexican government expresses its strong rejection of the construction of the wall … This decision damages the entire bilateral relationship, is contrary to the spirit of cooperation that must prevail to guarantee the security of the frontier,” Mexican presidential spokesman Ruben Aguilar. The news raised lots of controversies inside and outside US; border communities, religious groups, advocates and lawmakers were among serious opponents inside the country. “Critics have also argued that it would make the border more violent; would force illegal immigrants to take more dangerous routes through the desert; would harm trade and relations with Mexico; and still wouldn’t solve the problem of illegal immigration.” Simultaneous to this news, another issue came up regarding Hispanics in US which I was always concerning about. The news was published in New Mexican website on October 6, claiming that the number of Hispanics leaning to Islam is increasing. It explains the life of a Muslim Hispanic who was born in Colombia and is now living in US. The population of Hispanic Muslims has increased 30 percent to some 200,000- although it is still very few in comparison to the number of Christians in US- since 1999, estimates Ali Khan, national director of the American Muslim Council in Chicago. This growing trend to Islam by Hispanics may be assumed as a consequence of 9/11 terrorist attacks and also the collision between two burgeoning minority groups, means Muslims and Hispanics. It is important to notice that there are several similarities in faith between Hispanics and Muslims such as family- orientation, being religious, poverty, health care and issues regarding immigration. The previous ruling of Muslims in Spain can not be ignored as a crucial reason for this tendency of Hispanics to Islam. Ihsan Bagby, professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at the University of Kentucky indicates: Many Hispanics who are becoming Muslim, would say they are embracing their heritage, a heritage that was denied to them in a sense.” Another point to be mentioned is that the number of Hispanic Muslim growing is very high in New York, Florida, California and Texas, where Hispanic communities are largest. The number of Hispanics attending mosques is ascending gradually, the need for Spanish books especially Koran is a reasonable proof for this claim. Hispanics as a very significant and influential minority in United States bear a very important role in coming US elections, both Congress election in 2006 and 2008 presidential elections. Among the total registered people of voting, more than 2.7 million voters have Hispanic surnames, an increase of about 560,000 since 2002. Of the 85,000 additional voters this year, about 77,800 were people with Hispanic surnames, Williams’ office reported. It is interesting to know that for example there are about 8 million Hispanics in Texas, and of those 3.4 million are eligible to vote, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. To conclude the discussion of Hispanics, their intention for Islam and Hispanics’ role in political decisions by voting, I would like to conclude that a country like Iran which is facing severe conflicts with US should be clever enough to make use of these conditions; current dissatisfaction of Hispanics of US government, Hispanics’ inclination to Islam and their role in US elections. Iran is said to be a driving force in preaching Islam, thus it should equip itself with qualifications that grant it opportunities to be able to contact Hispanics in States and direct them more to Islam. In this way, Muslims and Hispanics can unitedly protest for unjust rules treated to them since earlier this year, Muslims joined Hispanics in marches nationwide protesting immigration-reform proposals they felt were unfair. Islamic Republic of Iran can build a constructive relation with the Latino American Dawah Organization, established in 1997 by converts in New York City and increase its policy supporters inside the land of US. One of the ways by which Iran can improve its relation with this center is to hold joint conferences and research projects. References:
- www.bbc.com
- http://magic-city-news.com
- www.star-telegram.com
- www.newmexican.com Currently, MA Student in American Studies, university of Tehran. I did my BA in English Language and Literature at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, university of Tehran. I am mostly interested in American history, foreign policy and Hollywood. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Azadeh_Ghahghaei http://EzineArticles.com/?US-Hispanics-Embracing-Islam&id=443987 buy fioricet rx
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US Hispanics Embracing Islam

September 21st, 2007 by graciagawargy
By Azadeh Ghahghaei US Congress in 1968 for the first time designated the week of September 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Week. But in 1988 that was amended to make it a whole month, thus at the moment Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 through October 15. Having such a month seems necessary for a country like United States having a great number of Hispanics spreading over the states. President Bush’s insistence to fence the US- Mexico border in order to prevent illegal immigration of Hispanics from Mexico to US during this period signifies the importance Hispanics and generally immigration has to US government. The total cost of this 700 mile fence is estimated from $2 billion to $9 billion. However, US government is disregarding Mexican officials’ grievances of this issue. The Mexican government expresses its strong rejection of the construction of the wall … This decision damages the entire bilateral relationship, is contrary to the spirit of cooperation that must prevail to guarantee the security of the frontier,” Mexican presidential spokesman Ruben Aguilar. The news raised lots of controversies inside and outside US; border communities, religious groups, advocates and lawmakers were among serious opponents inside the country. “Critics have also argued that it would make the border more violent; would force illegal immigrants to take more dangerous routes through the desert; would harm trade and relations with Mexico; and still wouldn’t solve the problem of illegal immigration.” Simultaneous to this news, another issue came up regarding Hispanics in US which I was always concerning about. The news was published in New Mexican website on October 6, claiming that the number of Hispanics leaning to Islam is increasing. It explains the life of a Muslim Hispanic who was born in Colombia and is now living in US. The population of Hispanic Muslims has increased 30 percent to some 200,000- although it is still very few in comparison to the number of Christians in US- since 1999, estimates Ali Khan, national director of the American Muslim Council in Chicago. This growing trend to Islam by Hispanics may be assumed as a consequence of 9/11 terrorist attacks and also the collision between two burgeoning minority groups, means Muslims and Hispanics. It is important to notice that there are several similarities in faith between Hispanics and Muslims such as family- orientation, being religious, poverty, health care and issues regarding immigration. The previous ruling of Muslims in Spain can not be ignored as a crucial reason for this tendency of Hispanics to Islam. Ihsan Bagby, professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at the University of Kentucky indicates: Many Hispanics who are becoming Muslim, would say they are embracing their heritage, a heritage that was denied to them in a sense.” Another point to be mentioned is that the number of Hispanic Muslim growing is very high in New York, Florida, California and Texas, where Hispanic communities are largest. The number of Hispanics attending mosques is ascending gradually, the need for Spanish books especially Koran is a reasonable proof for this claim. Hispanics as a very significant and influential minority in United States bear a very important role in coming US elections, both Congress election in 2006 and 2008 presidential elections. Among the total registered people of voting, more than 2.7 million voters have Hispanic surnames, an increase of about 560,000 since 2002. Of the 85,000 additional voters this year, about 77,800 were people with Hispanic surnames, Williams’ office reported. It is interesting to know that for example there are about 8 million Hispanics in Texas, and of those 3.4 million are eligible to vote, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. To conclude the discussion of Hispanics, their intention for Islam and Hispanics’ role in political decisions by voting, I would like to conclude that a country like Iran which is facing severe conflicts with US should be clever enough to make use of these conditions; current dissatisfaction of Hispanics of US government, Hispanics’ inclination to Islam and their role in US elections. Iran is said to be a driving force in preaching Islam, thus it should equip itself with qualifications that grant it opportunities to be able to contact Hispanics in States and direct them more to Islam. In this way, Muslims and Hispanics can unitedly protest for unjust rules treated to them since earlier this year, Muslims joined Hispanics in marches nationwide protesting immigration-reform proposals they felt were unfair. Islamic Republic of Iran can build a constructive relation with the Latino American Dawah Organization, established in 1997 by converts in New York City and increase its policy supporters inside the land of US. One of the ways by which Iran can improve its relation with this center is to hold joint conferences and research projects. References:
- www.bbc.com
- http://magic-city-news.com
- www.star-telegram.com
- www.newmexican.com Currently, MA Student in American Studies, university of Tehran. I did my BA in English Language and Literature at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, university of Tehran. I am mostly interested in American history, foreign policy and Hollywood. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Azadeh_Ghahghaei http://EzineArticles.com/?US-Hispanics-Embracing-Islam&id=443987

Different Kinds of Iftar at Different Masjids

Sunday, October 23, 2005

I have made iftar at many different Masjids over the years in many different cities. The crowds that you see at the various Masjids differs depending on what kind of a Masjid you are at.

For sake of simplicity I will divide the Masjids that I have made iftar at over the years into these categories; the African-American Sunni Masjid, the WD Masjid, the bourgeois immigrant Masjid and the ghetto immigrant Masjid. Each Masjid has its own unique method, flavor and cuisine but some things are usually in common. For example; most will have a large number of single brothers who cant cook and don’t have anyone to cook for them, poor Muslims who cant have a good meal at home and those Muslims who will at a big meal at the Masjid and then go home and throw down at the dinner table. Of course at some Masjids you always have the homeless brothers who come in and are like “Assalamu alaikum akhee where is the food.”

The African-American Sunni Masjid can be anything from a hardcore Salafi Masjid like in East Orange, NJ or Germantown Philly to a Jamil al-Amin joint to a place like Masjid at-Taqwa in Brooklyn where Siraj Wahaj is imam. At these Masjids stuff is usually more regimented and you better not go for seconds before your turn or the brothers from security will be ready to put in work. You can find a lot of fried fish and chicken usually with some form of bread and some spaghetti. Some Masjids have more than others; one poor Masjid I was at brothers only had cinnamon rolls and Ramen noodles (what they call Crackhead Soup in prison). One other Masjid only had chicken McNuggets and Snapple. The brothers and sisters will be completely separate here.

WD Masjids (those that follow the leadership of Imam WD Mohammed) tend to have the same kind of cuisines just with more greens. You always have some old pioneer sisters cooking in the back and you listen to the brothers coming in and swapping stories about Saviors Day in 1972. But when it comes time to pass the drinks these brothers always have the all-natural fruit drinks on hand like Omar on the Nile and that ilk. Whereas in the black Sunni Masjid you will sit on the floor at the WD joint you will sit at a table and there is a good chance you will have to pay for the plate and that the proceeds will go to the building fund. There will be free mixing of brothers and sisters and you may even get a sister run up to you and give you a hug or slide you the digits on the low.

If you go to the bourgeois immigrant Masjid you will find that iftar is given out in a very organized fashion ( unless you are at Dar al Hijrah in VA where there is a buffalo stampede after the Maghrib Tasleem), but the South Asian Masjids tend to be the most organized. You got your iftar samossa, dates and whatever else they will give you in a nice little box with a plastic spoon or fork and some bottled water. It feels more like Starbucks than a Masjid. You pray Maghrib at this Masjid and the imam usually recites two of the last ten surahs (the shortest) and then it is time to grub. You get a nice plate of food, that will include some salad, and it will be quite tasty; the only thing on the cheap is the ghetto soda they get which depending where you live could say Vess, C-Town, Tropical Fantasy or Bubbas on the side. You will notice that most of the Masjid leaders, or wealthy Muslims who sit on the shura and probably run it is a social club, are nowhere to be found as they are retreating to their McMansions for a big meal. You can expect meat and rice every night and if it is a South Asian place expect food that could heat up Alaska. The sisters are normally close to the brothers and if you are here, like I have been in the past, you may have some single brother sitting next to you and tapping your shoulder every three minute and asking you to check out the sister walking by. “Is she married brother?” Hijabs will vary at these places but you will see a lot of the Benazir Bhutto convertible hijab. Now of this is an Arab run Masjid then there will probably be a greater separation of the sexes.

The ghetto immigrant Masjid has a lot of variance. One Masjid that is attended by refugees primarily used to have dates and crackers for iftar. BTW, I’m not talking about gourmet crackers from some yuppie store; I’m talking about those big boxes of crackers you can get for 50 cents. Some of these Masjids are the recipients of a lot of saddaqa during Ramadan so you always have a lot of meat as wealthy doctors drop off half a farm worth of meat as a Ramadan ritual. Here it is hardcore and you may not be able to find any eating utensils as brothers go straight Sunnah and eat with their hands. I have also noticed that there is a shortage of beverages at these places and that most of the brothers don’t drink anything with their food so I usually bring some soda or juice for everyone to drink. At these Masjids food will be good like twice a week, when the rice and vegetables are fresh, but then you will get like two or three days in a row of stale rice.


Posted by Umar Lee at 5:30 AM

Labels: Ramadan

El Mes Sagrado de Ramadan 2007

PRESS RELEASE..
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:36:14 -0400


Lanzamiento de prensa para anunciar Ramadán por Imam Ali Siddiqui, 7153 Twinspur Court; Corona Valley, CA 92880, Phone: 951-734-4599.

1.9 billones de musulmanes en el mundo celebrarán este mes, que es el más sagrado; llamado “Ramadán”. Empezando el 13 de septiembre de 2007. Durante este mes, los Musulmanes adultos y sanos observarán el ayuno durante el día. El ayuno de los Musulmanes es una abstinencia total de comer, beber y tener relaciones sexuales a partir del amanecer hasta la puesta del sol por 29 o 30 días del mes de Ramadán. Además, evitando el comportamiento inmoral, ira y enseñando compassion es una parte de los requisitos del ayuno. El propósito
del ayuno es múltiple. Allah (El Dios todopoderoso) lo mencionó, en el Libro Sagrado de los musulmanes, “El Corán” que dice: “Que el ayuno está prescrito para los creyentes como estuvo prescrito para la gente antes de ellos, para que adquieran autocontrol y conciencia del Dios” (Corán 2:183). Por lo tanto, el propósito del ayuno es para desarollar autocontrol, la conciencia de Dios, la mejora de salud para reducir o eliminar las impurezas del cuerpo, para llegar a ser consciente de la situación dificil de los pobres, los hambrientos, los enfermos, encarcelados Etc. Ramadán es un mes de conciencia espiritual y un sentido alto de responsibilidad social. El cumplimiento de sus obligaciones durante este mes está guarantizado y recompensado 70 veces.

El Ayuno es uno de los 5 pilares del Islam incluye:
El testimonio de Fe
Salaat (rezando 5 veces al día)
Zakaat (el derecho de los pobres sobre la gente que tiene solvencia económica)
El ayuno durante el mes de Ramadan
El Hajj (una vez en la vida se hace una peregrinación a la Kaba)
Es una obligación sobre cada adulto musulmán en buen estado de salud ayunar
en el mes de Ramadán. El mes de Ramadán es tambien el mes en que el Corán Sagrado
descendió desde el nivel séptimo del paraiso hasta el primer nivel desde donde fue revelado al Profeta Muhummad (la paz y benediciones sea con él) en partes, durante un periódo de 23 años en vida del Profeta. Es una ocasión muy feliz para los Musulmanes del mundo. Ellos Ayunan durante el día, rezan y leen el Coran durante una parte de la noche. Hay una noche especial se llama “La Noche de Poder” que está mencionado en el Corán (el capitúlo 97) como una noche de misericordia y luz. Adorando durante esta noche es mejor que adorar el trazo de 1,000 meses. Durante esta noche, Muhammad fue elegido por Allah como “el Mensenjero y ultimo de los profetas de Allah” y el Corán descendió al primer nivel del paraiso.
Durante esta noche Allah (el Dios todopoderoso) manda un ejercito de
angeles especiales bajo la dirección del Arcangel Gabriel que vayan a
todas partes del mundo para rezar para la misericordia de Allah ( el Dios
todopoderoso) y la salvación de los creyentes.

A diferencia del calendario comun que es Solar, el calendario Islamico es Lunar;
No es decir que los Musulmanes adoran la Luna sino es otra manera de contar los días del mes y del año. Como todos de los meses Islamicos, Ramadán, es el mes Lunar noveno, empieza tras ver el halo de la Luna pero no la Luna nueva.
La probabilidad para ver el halo de la Luna por Ramadán es el 12 de Septiembre de 2007 justo tras la puesta del sol sobre el horizonte al Oeste.

La población de los musulmanes en E.E.U.U. está calculado a 7 milliones, de lo que alrededor de 1 millon vive en California del Sur. Todos los adultos musulmanes sanos incluso las amas de casa, los niños en colegio alrededor de la edad de 13 años, los obreros, los ejecutivos, y los demás como ellos ayunarán. Tus vecinos musulmanes se levantarán muy temprano para tomar su sahoor, una comida antes del amanecer y de empezar sus ayunos. Asi que no se preocupe si usted oye mucho ruido al lado.

El personal de educacion tiene que mostrar entendimiento y consideración hacia
los estudiantes musulmanes que estan ayunando durante el mes de Ramadán a
partir del 13 de septiembre de 2007 hasta el 11 de octubre de 2007. Ellos deben de tener actividades alternativas asignadas en lugar de los ejercicios enérgicos de gymnasio. Los medicos tambien tienen que entender que sus pacientes pueden estar ayunando. Ellos deben de prescribir la medicina de manera que pueden tomarla con sus comidas antes del amanecer o después de la puesta del sol. Además, si la vida del paciente puede correr riesgo, los médicos lo explican a los pacientes o buscan ayuda de un capellán musulmán
en un hospital, (por ejemplo Imam Ali Siddiqui, 951-734-4599, Siddiqui@aol.com, un capellán de hospital en California del Sur) o un director o Imam de un centro islamico local o una mezquita local. Según a los médicos musulmanes, hay algunos beneficios fisiologicos del ayuno musulmán (la abstención total de la comida y los líquidos) incluso
descendiendo los niveles de insulina, Colesterol, y tensión arterial Sistológica.

Al final del mes de ayuno, los musulmanes de todas partes del mundo celebran
su fiesta del Eid al-Fitr. Es la fiesta la más grande que hay. Es un momento
de agradecimiento verdadero para un creyente musulman para tener la
oportunidad para obedecer Allah (el Dios todopoderoso) por haber observado
el ayuno. Sigue la celebracion el primer día del mes lunar décimo primero,
Shaw´wal. Este año, será el 12 de octubre de 2007. En esta fiesta los musulmanes se visten preferible con ropas nuevas y van a las congregaciones de fieles de Eid. Las congregaciones de fieles de Eid son reuniones muy grande de hombres, mujeres y niños musulmanes a través el pais. Usted puede
presenciar estas reuniones a los centros de asamblea locales, los parques
atracciones, y los parques en la comunidad. Después, la gente se saluda con
abrazos y apretones de manos. Los niños reciben regalos de dinero y jugetes.
Tras las congregaciones de fieles, los musulmanes se visitan en sus casas y
tienen almuerzos o cenas con sus familias y amigos. No se sorprenda, si
su vecino o amigo musulmán le invita a su casa para tomar una cena o para participar en una celebración de Eid. Por favor, acepte una invitación tan amable. La hospitalidad, simpatía, y variedad de la cocina internacional Musulmana le sorprenderá agradablemente.¡ Saludos de Ramadán, Ramadán Kareem!

La policía y otros agentes de autoridad deben de tomar más precauciónes
durante este mes alrededor de las Mezquitas, los Centros Islamicos y lugares donde congregaran los fieles en Eid y por la seguridad de los
musulmanes en general. Las comunidades musulmanas a través de la
nación agradecen a la policía y otros agentes de autoridad por
garantizar la seguridad. Las comunidades musulmanas tambien están
agradecidos a todos los voluntarios que con fe han dado su apoyo y
vigilancia ¡Gracias!. Allah, el Creador, nos protege en su tiempo de
necesitad. ¡Amen!


Por último, los musulmanes deben de llamar por teléfono a la Mezquita la más cercana al principio y al final de Ramadán.

Si deseas contactar Imam Ali Siddiqui para más información: Correo electrónico: siddiqui@aol.com

Sobre el autor:

Imam Ali Siddiqui con 34 años de servicio, es Khatib de Jummah, Profesor Islámico, Capellán Musulmán, Consejero de Juvenil, Consejero de Familia, Instructor, Poeta y Autor con una visión de quien ha estado envuelto activamente en la enseñanza del Islam, Historia, Religion Comparativa, temas contemporaneos a los Musulmanes y no Musulmanes: Está envuelto activamente en el Servicio Comunidad incluso en el Desarollo Espiritual Instructivo y el Servicio a los Enfermeros y los Encarcelados. Ha dado conferencias en Bélgica, Canada, Alemania, Inglaterra, Suiza, India, Iran, Pakistán, y a través de E.E.U.U. El presenta a menudo la Perspectiva Islámica, desde el punto de vista Musulman sobre los temas de actualidad a los no Musulmanes y Musulmanes. Ha sido muy activo en organizando seminarios, talleres, conferencias, y enseñanzas para promover la consciencia Islámica y el entendimineto entre los creyentes. Ha recibido premios numerosos por su trabajo, servicio, y erudición. Hoy en día, Imam Ali Siddiqui es vice presidente de “Corona-Norco Interfaith Association” y es miembro de la junta directiva de “Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice”.

Translated by vpiedad99@yahoo.com

Latino Activism in La Gran Manzana Nueva York

Saturday, August 11, 2007
Latino Activism in La Gran Manzana Nueva York

What is going on in the post-9/11, post-Young Lords, post-poverty programs, neoliberal New York? This is also the time that New York' Latino population has move from being a predominentelly Puerto Rican community to a vast and diverse Latino population. Once 116th Street in Manhattan's Spanish Harlem was the heart of the Latino community and now there are many heart's or Latino epicenters. Queen's Roosevelt Avenue is probably one of the biggest Latino neighborhoods. However, many of the struggles of the past still continue. While Latinos have made many strives in many area there has also been waning as well. Many of the important issues were racism, discrimination, drugs, housing, health, Latino Studies college programs, police brutality, education, jobs, and homelessness. These issues still exist and are very relevant. Certainly, we are not living in the 60s or 70s anymore and we cannot address these issues as we did in the past. Undoubtedly, the youth of today are not as concerned as those in the past. There is a great lack of concern for la comunidad. Assimilation is the name if the game. Hiphop is not even an indigenous culture that the youth produce. We were active participants, whereas youth now are passive recipients of the culture via MTV and BET. Alianza Islamica has died and there the Islamic alternative for Latino is not as vibrant (if it at all exists) as it once was. The days of East Harlems many poverty programs (often called povery pimps) are over. Where does on go to find the leaders of the communities? There are very few Latino radio or TV shows that talk about the community concerns. Even the progressive Pacifica station WBAI no longer has Latino Journal. Only a few music show on Sunday are there to "fill the gap." The technical divide between white American and people of color is ever increasing. How many of our youth really are skilled in modern technology, beside being about to go on the 'net to their MySpace account or being able to listen to there iPods?

Let me know your thoughts...http://khalilpr.blogspot.com/
Khalil Al-Puerto Rikani
posted by Khalil Al-Puerto Rikani at 3:13 PM

=========================
Khalil Al-Puerto Rikani
Okay, I am 30 years old. Muslim. I try my best to adhere to the teaching of the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah mention him amongst the angels). My name is Khalil. I was born in the Bronx to New York Puerto Rican (Catholic) parents. During my teenage years I starting to learn about my history since of course they don't teach us that in school. By age 16 I was an activist. Being Latino in NY helped because we have a lot of interaction with African-Americans where Islam is well-known. So I took shahadah in my first semester of college. I went to one of the SUNY (State U. of NY, not a shii school) schools where I earned a degree in Arabic and Political Science. My concentration was in the Middle East and North Africa. In 2000, I was offered a scholarship to study at Umm Al-Qura University. I studied there for a number of years and was able to work on my Arabic. May Allah reward King Fahd (rahimahullah) for giving me that scholarship, Ameen. I currently live in Clarksville, Tennessee where I live with my beloved wife and three year old son, Ishaq. I work as a paralegal.

My Hajj experience..

My Hajj Experience

By Yusef Maisonet

I performed Hajj this year. It was the ultimate experience of my life. I am a merchant seaman by trade. I have been to London, Paris, Spain, Amsterdam, Italy, Albania, all of South America, Middle East, Far East, Africa, and all the Caribbean. One of my most memorable experiences was being a witness to the shahadah of an 80-year woman in Barcelona, Spain. I used to go to church but I could not fathom the 3=1 doctrine. I was expose to Islam by a Muslim poet. When he read Sura Ikhlas, I knew that I had found the truth. About two weeks later, I took shahadah at a mosque in Brooklyn.

My family is supportive of my Islam and so are my friends. I am married to a beautiful Muslim sister. We have been married for 23 years. I now live in Mobile, Alabama. Alabama is a beautiful state. I have a daughter who is 20 years old. Although I was born in Spanish Harlem on June 2, 1951, I was raised in Brooklyn and Hastile, Puerto Rico. I had a beautiful childhood. My friends were nice people. We enjoyed going to Coney Island. While living in Puerto Rico, my friends and I enjoyed going to the beach a lot. I also played a lot of basketball. I got my GED in the U.S. Army.

I’m a well travelled man but nothing could equal the joy of Hajj. Hajj is the 5th pillar of Islam. Hajj is required of all Muslims once in a lifetime who are financially and physically able. My first stop was Cairo. We went to a nice hotel in Cairo to have dinner. Dinner was delicious. From Cairo, we went to the airport. At the airport, we got into our Ikrams. Ikram means to be in ritual purity for performing Umrah, Hajj, or both. Ikram is also used to mean the two piece garment that pilgrims wear. One piece covers the upper body, and the other covers the lower body. We also made our intentions, or niya, for Umrah and Hajj. Then, we said a dua, or supplication, called Talbeeyah.

Flight time to Jeddah was two hours. Jeddah Hajj Terminal is an airport built mainly for pilgrims. The airport was packed with people from around the world. I was excited at the idea of performing Hajj with all these different brothers and sisters. Although we spoke different languages, we would soon be celebrating Hajj together. More than 2 million Muslims perform Hajj every year. Going through immigration took us a couple of more hours. But finally, we made it.

From Jeddah, we took a bus to our hotel in Mecca. Our hotel was four blocks from the Kabba. The Kabba is located in Masjid Al-Haraam. The Kabba is a cube-shaped building that Muslims believe was built by the Prophet Ibrihim (pbuh) for worshipping God. After getting our rooms, we went to make our Umrah. Whereas Hajj is required of Muslims, Umrah is not but it is recommended. Unlike Hajj, Muslims can go on Umrah any time of the year except during the days of Hajj. Many Muslims call Umrah the “little pilgrimage.” When we got to the Kabba, I almost fainted because of the beauty of the Kabba and the entire experience of being there. What I’ve been praying toward all of these years was right in front of me.

First, we walked counterclockwise around the Kabba seven times. Each time around the Kabba is called a tawaf. The first three tawafs are walked very quickly, and the last four are walked at normal walking speed. After the seven tawafs, we made two rakats at the station of Abraham, or “Maqam Ibrihim” which means Ibrahim’s stepping stone. Then, we drank water from the well of Zam Zam. Next, we went to the Mes’aa which is a stretch between the hilltops of As-Safa and Al-Marwa.

At the Mes'aa, we made Sa’yi which means we made seven rounds between As-Safa and Al-Marwa. Going from As-Safa to Al-Marwa is one round and returning is another round. Some parts of Sa’yi are walked, and other parts are run. At the end of each round, we stopped to say a few prayers. The Sa'yi commemorates when Hajar was looking for water for Ishmael. It took us about two hours to complete. Afterwards, we ended Umrah by clipping our hair. We were able to take off our Ikrams and get into some regular clothes. We stayed in Mecca for a week. We prayed every salat at the House of Allah.

We went to Medina next. We stayed at the Dallah Hotel. Our hotel was about four blocks from the Prophet's Mosque. After reaching the Prophet’s Mosque, we prayed two raka there. I almost fainted again at the mosque. We prayed salat there. We visited the Prophet's tomb, Umar's tomb, and Abu Bakr's tomb then we prayed at the Quba Mosque and visited Al-Baqee to visit Uthman’s grave. We also went to Mt. Uhud to visit the graves of martyrs like Hamza. We went on other tours, too. We stayed in Medina for a week. But it was tough because we were not getting any sleep. From here, we went to start our Hajj, which was something else.

We put on our Ikram again. Then, we went to Mt. Arafat where we would spend the day. The day is called the "Day of Arafat." The Prophet (pbuh) said his last sermon on Mt. Arafat. On Mt. Arafat, we prayed Talbeeyah, asked God to forgive our sins, and made other dua. At sunset, we left from Mt. Arafat to go to Muzdalifah to say prayers and to get our stone pebbles for the Jamarah. Before sunrise, we went to Mina to stone a Jamarah. Each of us threw seven stones one right after another at that Jamarah as a symbolic stoning of Satan. I will never forget this because the crowd lifted me up. I didn't have any control until the crowd eased up. After the stoning, pilgrims usually celebrate the beginning of Eid Al-Adha with a sacrifice slaughtered. This is done to remember Ibrihim's intention to sacrifice. Next, we walked to Mecca. Walking to Mecca took us about an hour and a half. Once there, we performed Tawaf and Sa’yi as before. After performing Tawaf and Sa’yi, we got our heads shaved.

We would stay in Mina for two more days. We stoned three Jamarah in the afternoon on those two days. After all this, we returned to the Kabba for the farewell Tawaf. Although that was the end of Hajj, it was not the end of our trip. We stayed in Jeddah for two days. We did a lot of shopping. Alhamdulila, I was able to perform Hajj this year. My goals in Islam are to be a good Muslim, a good father, a good husband, and a loving granddaddy.

Here I am. Can you guess exactly where this picture was taken?

SOY. LATINA e Musulmana

Che amigo, quiero caminar el ancho mundo, y Con los pueblos compartir, Sus lenguas, Sus costumbres, y La razón de su sentir.
De los chinos su pluma y su ciencia, De los negros su tambor; Del aborigen su amor a la tierra, y De los pueblos del desierto, Su contemplación.
Con sus ropas quiero vestirme, Con sus sudores quiero sudar, Que sus sangres corran por mis venas, Pues de ellos me quiero empapar.
Pero si me preguntas hermano, De qué esta hecho mi corazón, He de confesarte que de dos mitades; Dos tiempos tiene mi son.
No busques en mis recuerdos, No pienses que es ilusión, Porque con estas manos voy tocando, Un mundo nuevo de pan y sol.
Son éstas las dos mitades, Las dos patas de mi amor; El Islam de los pueblos árabes, y de Latinoamérica, Su Revolución.