I felt ashamed to ask questions but it led me to Islam

 Διαβαστε στα Ελληνικά

By Iman Sotiria Kouvalis

I remember seeing Muslim women at my university and feeling sorry for them.  I didn’t know them but when we crossed paths at the cafeteria, I smiled at them because I thought they were oppressed.  I never talked with them but I just assumed that they were forced to wear the veil.

It’s funny that I thought this way because I knew nothing about Islam.  I mean nothing.  I actually thought that everyone in the world were Christians!  Remember, this was about 10 years ago (before 9/11).

But, my interaction with many Muslims made me reflect on my own disconnect with God and the Church.  Although I was raised in a typical Greek Orthodox family and attended church every Sunday for most of my life, as I grew older, church no longer had meaning in my life and there were a lot of questions that couldn’t be answered by the Church.

As I grew older, a dichotomy started to appear where life and religion were drifting to opposite sides.  I couldn’t see how I can make religion relevant to my daily life.  On the one hand, we were raised to think that in order to be successful, we have to go to school, get a good job and buy a nice house and car and on the other hand, we were taught all we had to do is believe that Jesus died for our sins and we would be saved to be successful. On this side, we were taught to always think critically, to question why, to negotiate and on the other side, we were taught to just believe and never question or it would be like blasphemy.  On this side, never do anything unless you know why and on the other side, perform all the rituals and never ask why. 

And that’s how I started to drift away from the Church.  It had no meaning anymore.  I always believed in God and I desperately wanted Him to be part of my life but I had questions.  And I was made to feel ashamed that I had questions. As if I was being a disobedient person.

So my only solution was to be away from the Church because I didn’t want to be seen as disobedient and at the end of they day, I was going to heaven anyway according to Christianity as long as I believed that Jesus died for my sins, it didn’t matter anyway.  I could do anything and get away with it.

But my interactions with Muslims in university years later and seeing how spiritual they were reignited my passion to become close to God again.  I guess you could say deep down I was a little jealous.  How were they so devoted and at peace and I wasn’t even though I was going to heaven and they were not?

I started getting into religious debates with them.  I was determined to convince them that they need to accept Jesus in order to be saved.  But to my surprise, they already believed in Jesus!  I started figuring out that they know a great deal about Islam and Christianity where I know next to nothing about Islam and even Christianity even though I attended Sunday school all my life.

Secretly, when no one was looking, I went to the library to read about Islam in order to convince them that they were wrong.  I only found some really weird and old books.  Remember, this was pre-Google days so there wasn’t that much on the internet either.  One day, I was walking down one of the university halls when I saw some pocket pamphlets on the wall about Islam.  I guess the Muslim Student Association put them there so after I made sure that the hall was empty, I quickly slipped a few of them in my bag.  When I got home, I started reading and was amazed.  One pamphlet even talked about Muhammad in the Bible.  The Bible?  I thought this must be a lie!  But I checked the verse in my Bible, and I didn’t know if it was true or not because I was just reading a translation in English.

I made a sincere prayer to God to show me which religion is the truth.  I wanted to know!  I surprised myself though that I did that because I kept saying, of course, Christianity!  I started attending church every week again, and then twice a week.  This was very strange because I was practically the only young person there.  I started reading the Bible again but this time in order to find answers to my questions.

After months of this, I couldn’t take it anymore and I decided to go to my priest.  Now, anyone who is Greek can understand what a big event this is.  I’m going to my priest to admit that I have questions in my faith and also to ask about the worst enemy of the Greeks: Islam.  My questions were three: 

1. If Jesus died for our sins and we only have to believe this to be saved and go to heaven, then how does that make sense?  That means I can commit any sin and be saved?
2. How can God be 3 in 1?
3. What do you think about Islam?

For the first two questions, he tried his best to explain but it was clear to me that there was a lot of ambiguity in his answers.  When we got to the third question, his eyes bulged out and his skin turned a little red and he told me to just stay away from those people!

I left the meeting disappointed. For the first time, it caused a definite crack in my faith.  I needed to find answers!  But now I was on my own to find them.  And I did.

After more months of intense reading, critical study of both religions and a persistent nagging of my soul to keep searching for God, the truth started coming to me, but I kept fighting it.  I kept telling it to go away.  I am Greek.  I am Orthodox.  I love my lifestyle.  I don’t want to give up everything I was raised upon.  But, in the end, it won.  I submitted to my conscience.  I submitted to the truth and declared that there is no object worthy of worship except God.  Because that’s literally what the word “Islam” means.

Later, I started to realize that I don’t have to give up myself, my family or my culture.  I realized that I can be Muslim and also be Greek, just like so many others around the world who are Muslim but also Pakistani, Arab, Somalian, Bosnian, Chinese or many other cultures.  And in the Quran, I read:

“They are not [all] the same; among the People of the Scripture [i.e. Jews and Christians] is a community standing [in obedience], reciting the verses of Allah during periods of the night and prostrating [in prayer]. They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and hasten to good deeds. And those are among the righteous. And whatever good they do – never will it be removed from them. And Allah is Knowing of the righteous.”  (Quran 3:113-115)

I understood that as Muslims we are to respect people of other faiths for some of them are really sincere and they live God-conscious lives.  In the end, it’s not me who will judge people, only God can do that.

I came to Islam through books.  Through a critical and intense study just like so many other converts to Islam and just like so many other Greek converts to Islam.  And I noticed that my story is not unique.  So many other Greeks that I know today have similar questions as me and the same dichotomy in their lives.  If you are in this situation, you owe it to yourself to find the answers now because we don’t know when we will die.  And to know that God gave us a mind to think critically.  It’s ok to ask questions and it’s ok to find answers.

That is why I started a website called Greeks Rethink.  It’s a website where you can ask questions and find answers about life and God.  You can go to www.greeksrethink.com and read about our stories and our lives or go onto the forums directly and interact with other rethinkers around the world.

Η ντροπή μου να μιλήσω για τα ερωτήματά μου με οδήγησε στο Ισλάμ

Read in English

Ιμάν Σωτηρία Κούβαλη

 

Θυμάμαι ότι όταν έβλεπα Μουσουλμάνες στο Πανεπιστήμιο τις λυπόμουνα. Δεν γνωριζόμασταν, αλλά τις έβλεπα στην καφετέρια. Τους  χαμογελούσα γιατί πίστευα ότι ήταν καταπιεσμένες. Αν και δεν τους είχα μιλήσει ποτέ, υπέθετα ότι ήταν αναγκασμένες να φορούν τη μαντίλα.

Είναι περίεργο που σκεφτόμουν έτσι αλλά δεν γνώριζα τίποτα για το Ισλάμ. Στην πραγματικότητα πίστευα ότι όλοι οι άνθρωποι είναι Χριστιανοί! Βέβαια, αυτό ήταν πριν από δέκα χρόνια.

Όμως, η επαφή μου με αρκετούς Μουσουλμάνους με έκανε να αναλογιστώ τη διακοπή της σχέσης μου με το Θεό και την Εκκλησία. Παρόλο που προέρχομαι από μία τυπική Ελληνική Ορθόδοξη οικογένεια και όλη τη ζωή μου πήγαινα κάθε Κυριακή πρωί στην εκκλησία, καθώς μεγάλωνα η Εκκλησία δεν έδινε πια νόημα στη ζωή μου, ούτε απάντηση στα ερωτήματά μου.

Καθώς μεγάλωνα, μια διχοτόμηση έγινε στη ζωή μου, γιατί ζωή και θρησκεία έπαιρναν διαφορετικούς δρόμους. Δεν μπορούσα να συσχετίσω την καθημερινή ζωή μου με την θρησκεία. Από τη μια μας μάθαιναν να πιστεύουμε ότι για να πετύχουμε στη ζωή πρέπει να πάμε στο σχολείο, να βρούμε μια καλή δουλειά και να αγοράσουμε ένα ωραίο σπίτι και αυτοκίνητο, και από την άλλη μαθαίναμε ότι έπρεπε απλώς να πιστεύουμε ότι ο Ιησούς πέθανε για τις δικές μας αμαρτίες και ότι αυτό από μόνο του αρκεί για να πετύχουμε στη ζωή. Από τη μια, μαθαίναμε να έχουμε κριτική σκέψη, να αναρωτιόμαστε γιατί, να διαπραγματευόμαστε , και από την άλλη μαθαίναμε απλώς να πιστεύουμε και να μη ρωτάμε ποτέ γιατί αυτό ήταν βλασφημία. Από τη μια, να μην κάνουμε ποτέ κάτι χωρίς να ξέρουμε το γιατί, και από την άλλη να συμμετέχουμε σε όλες τις τελετές και να μη ρωτάμε ποτέ γιατί.

Έτσι, άρχισα να απομακρύνομαι από την Εκκλησία. Δεν είχε πια νόημα . Πάντοτε πίστευα στο Θεό και ήθελα με όλη μου την καρδιά να είναι μέρος της ζωής μου αλλά είχα ερωτήματα, για τα οποία οι άλλοι με έκαναν να νιώθω ντροπή, λες και ήμουν άτομο που αμφισβητεί το Θεό.

Έτσι, η μόνη λύση που είχα ήταν να απομακρυνθώ από την Εκκλησία  γιατί δεν ήθελα να θεωρούμαι αμφισβητίας και γιατί τελικά θα πήγαινα στον Παράδεισο έτσι κι αλλιώς, αφού σύμφωνα με το Χριστιανισμό, το μόνο πράγμα που είχε σημασία ήταν να πιστεύω ότι ο Ιησούς πέθανε για τις αμαρτίες μας. Μπορούσα να κάνω ο,τιδήποτε και να γλυτώσω.

Αλλά όταν, μερικά χρόνια αργότερα, ήρθα σε επαφή με Μουσουλμάνους στο Πανεπιστήμιο και είδα πόσο θρησκευόμενοι ήταν, το πάθος μου να είμαι πάλι κοντά στο Θεό αναζωπυρώθηκε. Θα έλεγε κανείς ότι κατά βάθος ζήλευα λίγο. Πώς μπορούσαν εκείνοι να είναι τόσο αφιερωμένοι στο Θεό και ψυχικά ήρεμοι, ενώ εγώ δεν ήμουν, παρόλο που εγώ τελικά θα πήγαινα στον Παράδεισο ενώ εκείνοι όχι;

Άρχισα να κάνω συζητήσεις μαζί τους για θρησκευτικά θέματα. Ήμουν αποφασισμένη να τους πείσω ότι έπρεπε να πιστέψουν στον Ιησού για να σωθούν, αλλά για μεγάλη μου έκπληξη πίστευαν ήδη στον Ιησού! Ανακάλυψα ότι ήδη γνώριζαν πολλά για τον Ιησού και το Χριστιανισμό ενώ εγώ δεν ήξερα τίποτα για το Ισλάμ αλλά ούτε και για το Χριστιανισμό, αν και πήγαινα στο Κατηχητικό όλη μου τη ζωή.

Πήγα στη Βιβλιοθήκη κρυφά όταν δεν ήταν εκεί κανείς να διαβάσω για το Ισλάμ, προκειμένου να τους πείσω ότι είχαν άδικο. Βρήκα μόνο κάτι παλιά και παράξενα βιβλία. Ήταν εποχές πριν Google και δεν υπήρχαν πολλές πληροφορίες στο διαδίκτυο. Μια μέρα περνούσα από μια αίθουσα όταν είδα κάτι φυλλάδια για το Ισλάμ. Φαντάστηκα ότι τα έβαλε εκεί η Ένωση Μουσουλμάνων Φοιτητών, και αφού βεβαιώθηκα ότι η αίθουσα ήταν άδεια, έβαλα βιαστικά μερικά στην τσάντα μου. Όταν γύρισα σπίτι άρχισα να διαβάζω και έμεινα κατάπληκτη. Ένα φυλλάδιο έλεγε για το Muhammad (Μωάμεθ) και τη Βίβλο. Τη Βίβλο; Πίστεψα ότι αυτό πρέπει να ήταν ψέμα αλλά είδα το στίχο στη Βίβλο μου και δεν ήξερα αν είναι αλήθεια ή όχι γιατί διάβαζα μία μετάφραση στα Αγγλικά.

Προσευχήθηκα βαθειά στο Θεό για να μου δείξει ποια θρησκεία είναι η αληθινή. Ήθελα να ξέρω! Μου φάνηκε όμως παράξενο που το έκανα αυτό, γιατί έλεγα συνεχώς ότι είναι ο Χριστιανισμός! Άρχισα να πηγαίνω στην εκκλησία στην αρχή μια φορά την εβδομάδα και μετά δύο φορές την εβδομάδα. Αυτό ήταν παράξενο, γιατί ήμουν η πιο νέα μέσα στην εκκλησία. Ξανάρχισα να διαβάζω τη Βίβλο αλλά αυτή τη φορά προσπαθώντας να βρω απαντήσεις στα ερωτήματά μου.

Μετά από πολλούς μήνες, μη μπορώντας να αντέξω άλλο, αποφάσισα να πάω στον πνευματικό μου. Όποιος είναι Έλληνας, μπορεί να καταλάβει πόσο σημαντικό γεγονός είναι αυτό. Πηγαίνω στον πνευματικό μου να του πω ότι έχω ερωτήματα για την πίστη μου και για να τον ρωτήσω για το μεγαλύτερο εχθρό της Ελλάδας: το Ισλάμ. Είχα τρεις ερωτήσεις:

1.  Αν πιστεύουμε ότι ο Ιησούς πέθανε για τις αμαρτίες μας και αυτό από μόνο του αρκεί για να πάμε στον Παράδεισο, ποιο είναι το νόημα; Σημαίνει ότι μπορούμε να κάνουμε οποιαδήποτε αμαρτία και να σωθούμε;
2. Πώς μπορεί ο Θεός να είναι 3 σε 1;
3. Τι πιστεύετε για το Ισλάμ;

Έκανε ό,τι μπορούσε για να μου εξηγήσει τις τρεις πρώτες ερωτήσεις, αλλά καταλάβαινα ότι οι απαντήσεις του ήταν αμφιλεγόμενες. Όταν φτάσαμε στην τελευταία ερώτηση, γούρλωσε τα μάτια του, κοκκίνισε και μου είπε να μείνω μακριά απ’αυτούς τους ανθρώπους!

Έφυγα από τη συνάντηση απογοητευμένη. Για πρώτη φορά, ένιωθα ότι η πίστη μου κλονιζόταν. Έπρεπε να βρω απαντήσεις. Τώρα όμως έπρεπε να τις βρω μόνη μου. Και τις βρήκα.

Μετά από πολλούς μήνες εντατικής ανάγνωσης, κριτικής μελέτης και των δύο θρησκειών και αδημονία της ψυχής μου να συνεχίσει να αναζητεί το Θεό, η αλήθεια άρχισε να εμφανίζεται αλλά την έδιωχνα. Της έλεγα συνεχώς να φύγει. Είμαι Ελληνίδα. Είμαι Ορθόδοξη. Μού αρέσει ο τρόπος ζωής μου. Δε θέλω να εγκαταλείψω όλα αυτά με τα οποία με ανέθρεψαν. Αλλά στο τέλος η αλήθεια νίκησε και υποτάχτηκα στη συνείδησή μου. Υποτάχτηκα στην αλήθεια και αποφάσισα ότι, πέρα από το Θεό, δεν υπάρχει άλλο αντικείμενο άξιο λατρείας. Γιατί αυτό σημαίνει στην κυριολεξία η λέξη «Ισλάμ».

Αργότερα, κατάλαβα ότι δεν χρειαζόταν να εγκαταλείψω τον εαυτό μου, την οικογένειά μου ή την κουλτούρα μου. Κατάλαβα ότι μπορώ να είμαι Μουσουλμάνα και Ελληνίδα ταυτόχρονα, όπως τόσοι άλλοι άνθρωποι στον κόσμο που είναι Μουσουλμάνοι αλλά και Πακιστανοί, Άραβες, Σομαλοί, Βόσνιοι, ή Κινέζοι. Στο Κοράνι διάβασα:

Κατάλαβα ότι, ως Μουσουλμάνοι, πρέπει να σεβόμαστε αυτούς που έχουν διαφορετική θρησκεία, γιατί πολλοί απ’αυτούς είναι πραγματικά ειλικρινείς, και ζουν με θρησκευτική συνείδηση. Άλλωστε, δε θα κρίνω εγώ τους άλλους, αυτό θα το κάνει ο Θεός.

Ήρθα κοντά στο Ισλάμ μέσα από βιβλία. Όπως και άλλοι άνθρωποι, όπως και άλλοι Έλληνες, έτσι και εγώ ασπάστηκα το Ισλάμ μέσα από κριτική και εντατική μελέτη. Και παρατήρησα ότι η ιστορία μου δεν ήταν μοναδική. Πολλοί Έλληνες που γνωρίζω σήμερα έχουν παρόμοια ερωτήματα με τα δικά μου, και συνέβη και στη δική τους ζωή αυτή η διχοτόμηση. Αν είστε στην ίδια θέση, οφείλετε στον εαυτό σας να βρείτε τις απαντήσεις τώρα γιατί δεν ξέρουμε πότε θα πεθάνουμε. Και να γνωρίζετε ότι ο Θεός μας έδωσε μυαλό για να σκεφτόμαστε με κριτικό τρόπο. Είναι σωστό να κάνουμε ερωτήσεις και σωστό να βρίσκουμε απαντήσεις.  

Γι αυτό έφτιαξα μια ιστοσελίδα που λέγεται Greeks Rethink. Εδώ μπορείτε να κάνετε ερωτήσεις και να βρείτε απαντήσεις για τη ζωή και το Θεό. Μπορείτε να πάτε στο www.greeksrethink.com και να διαβάσετε τις ιστορίες για τη ζωή μας ή να πάτε απευθείας στο forum και να συζητήσετε με μέλη που προέρχονται από όλο τον κόσμο.

Shocking stories told by Greek activists who returned back to Athens

Source:  Enet.gr

© Translation Muslim Association of Greece

The first six Greek activists condemned the illegal detention of the Greeks at Ashdod port in Israel and the violence they faced after their arrival at the airport Eleftherios Venizelos this morning. They characterized Israel’s action as “piracy” and they stressed that the ships carried only humanitarian aid and were thoroughly checked before departing from their ports.

As Aristidis Papadokostopoulos stated, on the Greek ship was humanitarian aid, wheelchairs, prefabricated homes and medical supplies.

According to the activist when the ship was raided by the Israelis, the Free Mediterranean was 70 miles away from the waters of Gaza.

He described the Israeli actions as “clearly piratical” and underlined that “we can not allow Israel to play the role of the policeman.”

On his part, activist D. Gelalis from Larissa said that “around four o’clock in the morning we saw inflatable boats everywhere approaching us and within seconds fully armed commandos boarded the vessel.”

Activists also tell of beatings and use of electric shock and said, “We didn’t even have the right to get up of the chair. We had to raise our hands to use the toilet.”

The rest of the Greeks which are illegally detained will be brought against Israeli justice as Thanos Petrogiannis, an engineer from the Greek university, stressed.

“We went to offer help. According to the Israelis 80 miles away from the land is considered Israeli international waters and that we had entered their country illegally,” he said.

He continued by saying, “The ones who are still detained refused to sign any papers given to them by the Israelis. They will be taken to court in about 10-15 days.”

He added, “That the humanitarian aid carried by the ships bound for the Gaza strip has been seized.”

The use of violence from the Israeli commandos was condemned by the activist Michalis Grigoropoulos.

“We were in international waters. The Israelis hijacked our ship. They took us hostage as they kept aiming guns at our heads,” he said. He continued by saying that, “I was the steersman of the boat. They descended from the helicopters dropping and threw tear gas. We didn’t resist, we couldn’t do anything against the commandos.“

He also witnessed the use of electroshock to whoever tried to create a human shield in front of the bridge. Concerning the conditions of the detainment he said, “They wouldn’t even let us use the toilet, eat or drink water as they also made videos of us.

As far as the confiscation of the humanitarian aid and other personal belongings is concerned Michalis Grigoropoulos stated, “They confiscated everything. They left nothing but my papers. They took mobiles, laptops, cameras and personal belongings.”

He also said that he refused to sign papers submitted to him by the Israelis and he was removed against his will.

 ”They did not let me contact my lawyer or even the Greek embassy,” he said. He continued by accusing the Greek government by saying that, “Taken to trial will be the ones who refused to sign Israeli documents. The Greek government has done nothing to safeguard the Greek ships. They did not do anything to prevent them from jumping on our ships.”

Israeli claims

On the other side, the spokesman of the defence ministry in Israel, Sady Muoni, speaking on NET, said that the passengers of the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara aimed at provoking us.

He insisted that the occupants of the ship tried to lynch the Israeli soldiers while he claimed that an activist fired first.

Following that, Muoni added that the soldiers had to use violence.

Greek protest             

The ambassador of Greece in Israel responded to the illegal detainment of Greek activists by Israel with a protest, calling for their immediate release.

He states that the arrest of the activists took place in international waters and that Israel could not ask from the detainees to sign documents for attempting to enter the country illegally.

According to the latest reports, 610 people have been transferred to Dire Sheva prison and held as prisoners until their cases are heard by the Israeli court.

Amongst the 610 prisoners are 31 Greeks, in which the Greek ambassador of Tel Aviv is going to visit.

From their part, Israeli authorities note that they are not held as prisoners but detained in a specially designed place in prisons.

 Even though the custody of the Greek activists remains unclear, in Jerusalem and in parts of Northern Israel, Israeli Arabs are protesting against the bloody attack against the Freedom Flotilla.

Translated by Julie Jalloul

Finally, the mosque! (memoir of a Greek Muslim)

Source:  Protagon.gr

© Translation: Muslim Association of Greece

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά

by Gerasimos Loukatos

As a Greek, I learned to be proud for the country I was born and raised in, the cradle of democracy and of a great civilization that our ancestors established. As a Muslim, I met another great civilization whose achievements benefit humanity but are known only by a few.

When joining the team of the Muslim Association of Greece, on the road to our meetings with officials of the Ministry of Education, I had doubts about the outcome. The mosque should have stood upright since 2004 so what could change after six years?

To my great surprise, I met people there that showed a sincere interest for the thousands of Muslims that have no official place to pray and they feel isolated. For all those who do not find the guidance of an acknowledged imam when they need it, and for those who cannot be buried to the country that they were born in, raised or spent most of their lives in.

With great joy, I read about the announcement of the Minister of Education for the immediate construction of the Islamic mosque, not only because there will be an official place for me to pray but for the guidance I need as a new Muslim. I am also happy because this is an action in the right direction that is in harmony with the ideals of democracy. An action that I do not read in a history book but in articles that talk about tomorrow!

I am as much Greek as a Muslim and those who know Islam in depth know that this is the middle way. It is no more than the famous saying ‘Metron Ariston’ [free translation all in good measure], applied in every aspect of Muslim’s life.

In the middle of this crisis, maybe the necessary changes shall succeed that will lead to a harmonious coexistence and equal rights and obligations, no matter what religion, beliefs or other factors. The only negative point is the inadequate capacity that comes from the statements of the officials for the mosque and the future problems they might occur.

The steps to the right direction could be more correct if the ‘future’ factor was considered into the equation.

*Gerasimos Loukatos is member of the Muslim Association of Greece

Translated by Anna Stamou

Επιτέλους, τέμενος

 Πηγή:  Protagon.gr

Read in English

του Γεράσιμου Λουκάτου

Ως Έλληνας, έμαθα να είμαι υπερήφανος για την χώρα στην οποία γεννήθηκα και μεγάλωσα, την γενέτειρα της δημοκρατίας και ενός μεγάλου πολιτισμού που δημιούργησαν οι πρόγονοι μας. Ως Μουσουλμάνος, ήρθα σε επαφή με έναν άλλο μεγάλο πολιτισμό, του οποίου τα επιτεύγματα προς όφελος της ανθρωπότητας, μόνο λίγοι είναι αυτοί που τα γνωρίζουν.

Συμμετέχοντας σε κλιμάκιο της Μουσουλμανικής Ένωσης Ελλάδος, στον δρόμο προς την συνάντησή μας με στελέχη του υπουργείου παιδείας, είχα αμφιβολίες για το αποτέλεσμα. Το τέμενος θα έπρεπε να στέκεται όρθιο από το 2004, τι θα μπορούσε να αλλάξει μετά από έξι χρόνια;

Προς μεγάλη μου έκπληξη όμως, συνάντησα εκεί ανθρώπους που έδειξαν ειλικρινές ενδιαφέρον για τους χιλιάδες μουσουλμάνους που δεν έχουν έναν επίσημο χώρο προσευχής και αισθάνονται περιθωριοποιημένοι. Για όλους εκείνους που δεν βρίσκουν την καθοδήγηση ενός αναγνωρισμένου ιμάμη όταν την χρειάζονται και για αυτούς που δεν μπορούν να ταφούν στην χώρα που γεννήθηκαν, μεγάλωσαν ή πέρασαν εκεί το μεγαλύτερο μέρος της ζωής τους.

Με μεγάλη χαρά διάβασα σχετικά με την ανακοίνωση της υπουργού Παιδείας για την άμεση ανέγερση του Ισλαμικού τεμένους, όχι μόνο γιατί θα υπάρχει επίσημος χώρος για να προσεύχομαι και η καθοδήγηση του ιμάμη που χρειάζομαι ως νέος Μουσουλμάνος. Χαίρομαι επίσης, γιατί αυτή είναι μια ενέργεια προς την σωστή κατεύθυνση και σε αρμονία με τα ιδανικά της δημοκρατίας. Μια ενέργεια που δεν την διαβάζω σε βιβλίο ιστορίας αλλά σε άρθρα που μιλάνε για το αύριο!

Είμαι τόσο ¨Έλληνας όσο και Μουσουλμάνος και για όσους γνωρίζουν το Ισλάμ σε βάθος, γνωρίζουν ότι είναι ο μέσος δρόμος. Δεν είναι τίποτε άλλο από το γνωστό ρητό ”πάν μέτρον άριστον” , εφαρμοζόμενο σε κάθε πτυχή της ζωής ενός Μουσουλμάνου.

Εν μέσω κρίσης, ίσως να επιτευχθούν οι απαραίτητες αλλαγές που θα οδηγήσουν σε αρμονική συνύπαρξη και ίσα δικαιώματα και υποχρεώσεις, ανεξαρτήτως θρησκείας, πεποιθήσεων ή άλλων παραγόντων. Το μόνο μελανό σημείο είναι η ανεπάρκεια χώρου που προκύπτει από τις δηλώσεις των αρμόδιων για το τέμενος και τα πιθανά μελλοντικά προβλήματα που μπορεί να δημιουργηθούν.

Τα βήματα προς την σωστή κατεύθυνση θα ήταν ακόμη σωστότερα, αν στην εξίσωση είχε ληφθεί υπόψη και ο παράγοντας ”μέλλον”.

*Ο Γεράσιμος Λουκάτος είναι μέλος της Μουσουλμανικής Ένωσης Ελλάδος

My fashion and my hijab: Greek Muslimahs interviewed

Source:  Veto newspaper

© Translation Muslim Association of Greece

Διαβάστε στα Eλληνικά

It is not only one piece of cloth. The veil that envelopes the faces and the bodies of Muslims, is a symbol of Islam, so charged as the military conflicts that have broken out in the name of the hijab in many European countries. Lately, especially after the ban on headscarves in public places in France, there are more women who started wearing it. The global game industry is aware of this and few months ago, Barbie wore a scarf as well. Religious, political, revolutionary, feminist symbol? Muslim women living in Athens reveal what lies behind their hijab, as they call it.

 

Rabab

The hand of the photographer is on top of the table, with the coffees, tightened by Nashua hand, “I’m wearing gloves. It’s the only way I can touch another man.” Her daughter Rabab is smiling, holding her cup of coffee, smiling and with apologetic. “Sorry I’m not allowed,” as she declines the handshake. On her right shoulder is her baby sleeping. On her left shoulder her hijab falls until her waist. In fact they are to scarves, one pink and one black, both, elaborately braided together-the result is reminiscent braided hair. She was born in Greece, lives in Keratsini and every day, she wears her hijab in different style- which she has copied from a satellite hair channel. She has visited her home country, Egypt, only few times. She has heard though that there are many ‘hijab hair salons.’

Rabab has been wearing the hijab for the past 10 years. She wanted to take it off on her wedding day but her husband didn’t agree. Despite the meaning of her name ‘white cloud’, in her life there are many black clouds. At the age of 26, she must choose between her hijab or her career. “I was working in a telecommunications company. One day, my manager called me into his office and offered me the supervisor’s position. Under one condition: to take off my hijab. I couldn’t take the job wearing hijab. ‘At least wear a wig,’ he told me. So I had to resign.”

In her workplace today – she is an immigration consultant for Athens council- she wears her hijab without having any problems. “I can feel people’s eyes on me when I go to places or use public transportation. Most of them are staring. A few days ago, I was getting off the bus, when an elderly man hit me with his walking stick, so I would hurry.  With his walking stick! Is that possible? I was born here. And I am not taking my hijab off. It is a respect to me and my religion.”

 

Nashua 

Nashua never put pressure on her daughter to wear hijab. “She did it on her own, when she became a little lady.” It came to my mind the little girls with hijabs who were playing under their brothers’ eye, just outside the Libyan school on Kifisias boulevard.

“They are ignorant of Islam when they wear hijabs to kids in primary school,” Says Mrs. Anna Stamou, Marketing and Public Relations of the Muslim community. “A Muslim woman is wearing the hijab so she doesn’t attract attention, the paradox here is that this way she does. If we go out with a mini skirt nobody would look at us. Nakedness doesn’t evoke.” says her mother Nasoua, she has been living in Greece for the past 35 years. She assures me that under her impressive red hijab, which is fastened with a golden broch, has her hair groomed.

As she continues, “I go very often to the hairdresser. At home we don’t wear hijab. You never give up on yourself. I put facial creams and dye my hair, so my husband likes me, but above all so I please myself.”

 

Habiba

Habiba means ‘loved one.’ Habiba was the favourite student of her teachers in Paris. She arrived there from Morocco, to study fashion design. “Paris then was more hijab friendly,” she says, analyses the family tree of Sarkozi, concluding that he has roots in Marolo Jews from his grandparents. Because of her profession- she is a fashion designer in Athens and Paris-“I do not see any particular problem. I have contact with people who have an open mind and get on easily with scarf. Sometimes women say to me, ‘Come now, you are so progressive, you have to be free.’ But I am free. The scarf is my choice. It was never imposed on me. Not even from my husband.” And there is no doubt about that. Anas Habibas husband completes ”I have overcome some crashes. He grew up in Greece, he is from Argentina, but adopted by Greek parents before becoming a Muslim on his own initiative, he was baptised Christian and was called Anastasis. ”When I was little, I was the alter [boy] in church,” he says, laughing.

On his hand is tattooed an alfa capital. “Yes I am an anarchist,” he answers just when he realized that I was looking at it, he listens to rock music, smokes and is a big fan of Jimi Hendrix. ”Jimbo, come here,” he shouts from the living room in the middle of the house and to our surprise, emerging as a tornado, holding a large cat, is his three-year old daughter, wearing a black ribbon on her hair. ”Look my little Rocker,” boasts Anas. “Last year she asked to wear the hijab on her own. She sees her mother and she wanted too,” he says and tells us the story of young Holy, which was adopted from Morocco. Holy, grows up in a home with strong Arab elements, bright colours and smells of Moroccan tea and has her little prayer rug in the mosque built by her dad, in the basement of their house. Answering a question on when their daughter will wear hijab, they started laughing. ”She is such a character that she might never put it on!” says Habiba. ”Everybody does what they like. Many try to hide behind a scarf, to show that they are good people. Like Christians who go to church and start prostrating, looking around to see who is watching them. “I don’t blame hijab. It is just a fabric,” Habiba continues,”a fabric that frightens and unfortunately has baptized terrorism and Al Qaeda. We are Hijab Frappe. It means that the scarf goes everywhere.”

Habiba doesn’t drink frappe, “because it bothers me but I go to the movies, theatre, and I enjoy art as a hobby. I like little taverns.” She is also an amateur actress. After Easter, she will star for a second year on the show “Hijab Frappe”, based on true stories of women. She opens the script book and starts reading: “The hijab is a symbol, no it’s not a symbol, it is responsibility. It is my faith, what I am, what I am not. It is mandatory, it’s optional, it is the law but not here. I wear the hijab for me, for God, for my husband. It is freedom, protection, mystery.”

 

Marina 

Her parents reaction when they heard she will become Muslim “brought trouble at first, but [they] realized that the path was purely my choice and was not influenced and accustomed. What they cannot get used to is the hijab. They are all hesitant with the scarf. The fundamentals of Islam lie beneath. There are Muslim women who do not wear hijab. The substance is not the picture,” says Marina, a Greek who embraced Islam three years ago. Her husband, who she met later, is Palestinian and they have a little boy. ”I became a Muslim from pure curiosity. Reading, I began to realize that Islam covered gaps that could not be covered by my previous religion. Half a year later, I wore the scarf, as required by the Quran. Nobody pushed me; nobody forced me,” says 26 year old girl who studied economics in Aristotle University. ”Since I wore the scarf my friends remain the same because they know me. On the street, they think I am a foreigner. Nobody imagines that I am Greek and only if they hear my accent they suspect it and start asking questions.”

 

Despina Papadopoulou, Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Policy Panteion University

“The headscarf issue is complicated and complex, so we must be careful. As the government attempts to limit religious freedom, the more resistance will be present. If we can express an opinion towards the prohibition of the headscarf or not, a safe criterion is the separation of public and private life. It must not affect the public order of society. And the state should not interfere with private life. Any form of religion must exist, in case of course, it doesn’t affected the person. On the other hand there is a military conflict: Who governs the existence of the hijab? The State or the family? This conflict leads nowhere. Especially if the government draws its legitimacy from religion. If actions are taken for the ban of the headscarf, it will hardly be implemented. The restriction is a simple solution to an issue as so critical.”
The trend is derived from feminist movements, in which any symbol of discrimination and equality in society is racist in nature. In Europe and America, it appears as Islamophobia.

 

—

Translated by Elena Nikolova-Pouliasi

Οι Μιναρέδες και ένας Ελβετός πολιτικός που ασπάστηκε το Ισλάμ

Διαχωρίζοντας το μύθο από την πραγματικότητα

Source:  Tikkun Daily

© Translation Muslim Association of Greece

Read in English

[Το άρθρο αναδημοσιεύεται στο Αμερικανικό Μουσουλμανικό Ειδησεογραφικό ισότοπο Illume Magazine]

 

Το πρόσφατο ζήτημα της απαγόρευσης της ανέγερσης μιναρέδων στην Ελβετία περιέχει μία πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα παράπλευρη πτυχή. Ένα μέλος του πολιτικού κόμματος που πίεζε για την απαγόρευση των μιναρέδων ανακοίνωσε ότι ασπάστηκε το Ισλάμ. Έξω από την Ελβετία τα κυρίαρχα ΜΜΕ το αγνόησαν.

Οι Μουσουλμάνοι σε όλο τον κόσμο ωστόσο άρπαξαν την είδηση, την κυκλοφόρησαν σε μπλόγκς και στο Facebook. Κατά τη διάρκεια όμως η είδηση διαστρεβλώθηκε με περίεργο τρόπο και έτσι προκάλεσε σύγχυση. Στο μεταξύ τουλάχιστο ένα Αντι-Μουσουλμανικό ιστολόγιο ανέβασε την είδηση. Κοιτώντας τα σχόλια φαίνεται ότι κάποιοι ενάντιοι της Μουσουλμανικής μετανάστευσης θέλουν να αντικρούσουν το γεγονός της αλλαγής θρησκεύματος του. Παρόλα αυτά είναι εξακριβωμένο γεγονός ότι ένας Ελβετός βουλευτής του Ελβετικού Λαϊκού κόμματος- του βασικού υποστηρικτή της απαγόρευσης των μιναρέδων – ασπάστηκε το Ισλάμ

Ο Daniel Streich, Ο οποίος κατέχει εκλεγμένη επίσημη θέση ήταν για πολλά χρόνια μέλος του Ελβετικού Λαϊκού Κόμματος, ανακοίνωσε την παραίτηση του από το κόμμα. Υπήρξε αφοσιωμένος θρησκευόμενος Χριστιανός. Ωστόσο εδώ και δύο χρόνια ασπάστηκε το Ισλάμ. Κράτησε την αλλαγή του μυστική. Η πρόσφατη καμπάνια του Ελβετικού Λαϊκού κόμματος ενάντια στους μιναρέδες όμως ήταν πέρα από τις δυνάμεις του Streich. Δημοσιοποίησε το θρήσκευμά του και αποκήρυξε την καμπάνια αποκαλώντας την «κυνήγι μαγισσών».

Η είδηση βασισμένη σε μία αναφορά των Ελβετικών μέσων πρωτοεμφανίστηκε στην Αγγλική γλώσσα στο Tikkun Daily στις 4 Δεκεμβρίου 2009 με άμεση αναμετάδοση στο Op-Ed News. Αφού η ιστορία βγήκε κυκλοφόρησε σε μπλόγκς και ειδησεογραφικές σελίδες. Στις 30 Ιανουαρίου 2010 η Πακιστανική εφημερίδα The Nation τη δημοσίευσε στη σελίδα του διανθισμένο. Απεικόνιζε τον Streich ως πολύ μεγάλο, σπουδαίο Ελβετό πολιτικό που εξειδικευόταν στις εκστρατείες εναντίον των Μουσουλμάνων και των μιναρέδων! Αφού επιδόθηκε σε ακούραστη αντι-ισλαμική προπαγάνδα ξαφνικά ασπάστηκε το Ισλάμ και τώρα αποκηρύσσει τις κακές του πρακτικές.

«Ο διάσημος Ελβετός πολιτικός Daniel Streich, γνωστός για την εκστρατεία του κατά των μιναρέδων στα τζαμιά, ασπάστηκε το Ισλάμ. Μέλος του Ελβετικού Λαϊκού κόμματος και πασίγνωστος πολιτικός ο Daniel Streich ήταν ο πρώτος άνδρας που ξεκίνησε τη δράση για την απαγόρευση των μιναρέδων των τζαμιών της Ελβετίας. Η αποκάλυψη για το πέρασμα του στο Ισλάμ δημιούργησε θύελλα στην πολιτική ζωή της Ελβετίας επιπλέον προκάλεσε ρίγη σε όσους υποστήριξαν την απαγόρευση ανέγερσης μιναρέδων. Ο Streich προπαγάνδισε την αντι-Ισλαμική του δράση σε όλη τη χώρα σπέρνοντας μίσος και αγανάκτηση για το Ισλάμ στο λαό και άνοιξε δρόμο για δημοψήφισμα ενάντια στους μιναρέδες των τζαμιών. Όμως τώρα ο Streich έγινε στρατιώτης του Ισλάμ. Οι αντι-Ισλαμικές του θέσεις τον έφεραν τελικά τόσο κοντά στη θρησκεία ώστε την ασπάστηκε. Ντρέπεται για τις πράξεις του και επιθυμεί να οικοδομήσει το ωραιότερο τέμενος της Ευρώπης στην Ελβετία. (πλήρες κείμενο στα αγγλικά).»

Αυτό είναι εντελώς ανυπόστατο. Ο Streich τύγχανε νε ανήκει σε ένα πολιτικό κόμμα που είχε ευρεία πολιτική πλατφόρμα, και διαπραγματευόταν πολύ περισσότερα από «τους μιναρέδες των τζαμιών». Ο Streich δεν απέκτησε τη φήμη του βασιζόμενος στην Ισλαμοφοβία. Και δεν υπάρχει απόδειξη ότι σχεδιάζει να κατασκευάσει ένα τζαμί, ωραίο ή άσχημο.

Ξεκαθαρίζοντας τις στρεβλώσεις αυτό που απομένει είναι τρία σημαντικά γεγονότα. Πρώτον, παρόλο που τα αντι-Ισλαμικα αισθήματα είναι ισχυρότερα στη Δεξιά, οι συντηρητικοί μπορεί να γίνουν ενάντιοι της Ισλαμοφοβίας. Δεύτερον, οι Δυτικοί νέοι Μουσουλμάνοι προέρχονται από όλο το πολιτικό φάσμα όχι μόνο την Αριστερά. Τρίτον, ένας πολιτικός είχε την τόλμη να αφήσει το πολιτικό του κόμμα, βάζοντας σε μεγάλο κίνδυνο την πολιτική και κοινωνική του υποστήριξη, χάριν της συνειδήσεώς του.

Η Εντύπωση ότι ένας συντηρητικός Χριστιανός πολιτικός θα μπορούσε να γίνει Μουσουλμάνος και να αποκηρύξει αντι-Ισλαμικές εκστρατείες δημιουργεί ενοχλήσεις στους Ισλαμοφοβικούς. Για παράδειγμα ένα φόρουμ στην αντι-Ισλαμική σελίδα FaithFreedom.com ξεκίνησε να συζητά το ζήτημα. Κάποιοι από τους σχολιαστές το απέρριψαν καθώς η ιδέα ότι ήταν ένας σταυροφόρος κατά των μιναρέδων δεν ευσταθούσε αφού ασπάστηκε το Ισλάμ πριν από δύο χρόνια.

ΑΝ κανείς έχει αμφιβολία μπορεί να ανατρέξει στις πηγές από τα Ελβετικά ΜΜΕ:

http://www.20min.ch/news/schweiz/story/27286120

http://www.blick.ch/news/schweiz/sicherheits-risiko-fuer-unsere-armee-134102

Skit video #2 from the eternal journey

Here’s another skit from the seminar.  Subhan Allah, it’s really moving.  It made me scared and almost sick to my stomach in worry.

Fast this weekend, erase sins for one year

Q. Please do let me know if u find anything about New Year and what is expected to do on that day (what do you wish to one other / presents? / visit family?)

A.  Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar is a great time to get extra rewards.  It’s not similar to the events and celebrations of the New Year of the solar calendar so it is not customary that we give presents or visit family on this specific day (although if you want to give gifts or visit your family as any other normal day of the year, you are welcome to).

Note:  The ninth and tenth of Muharram fall on December 26 and 27 this year so if you want to erase your sins for an entire year, you can fast on these days.

 

Below is a great summary of significance of Muharram taken from Farhat Hashmi’s website.

Masnoon Acts

The Significance of Muharram can be best understood by the saying of Prophet Muhammad saw narrated by Abu Huraira (ra) “The most excellent fast after Ramadan is in Allah’s month; al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night.” [Muslim 6: 2661]

Prophet Muhammad (saw) called Muharram “Allah’s Month” which shows its importance and sanctity and the fasts of the month of Muharram are most reward able ones among the Nafl (voluntary) fasts.

Fasting on Ashura

The entire month of Muharram is sacred and special and fasting on any day of Muharram has special rewards from Allah, but the 10th of Muharram, called Ashura holds a more significant position than the rest of the days.

We know from a number of authentic traditions that in the beginning, fasting on the day of Ashura was obligatory for the Muslims. It was later when the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory that the fast on the day of Ashura was made optional.

Narrated by Aisha (ra): “The people used to fast on ‘Ashura (the tenth day of the month of Muharram) before the fasting of Ramadan was made obligatory. And on that day the Ka’ba used to be covered with a cover. When Allah made the fasting of the month of Ramadan compulsory, Allah’s Apostle said, “Whoever wishes to fast (on the day of ‘Ashura’) may do so; and whoever wishes to leave it can do so.”[Bukhari Vol 02, Book 026, Hadith Number 662]

However, Rasul Allah saw used to fast on the day of Ashura even after fasting in Ramadan was made obligatory.

Atonement of Sins

Fasting on the day of Ashura expiates the sins of the previous year as told by our Prophet Muhammad saw.

“Abu Qatada al-Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was asked about his fasting… He was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Ashura (10th of Muharram), whereupon be said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year…”[Muslim: Book 06: Hadith 2603]

Historical Perspective

Hazrat Musa (as) and his people the Bani Israel were saved from the Egyptian Pharaoh by the miracle of the parting of the sea on the day of Ashura. It was for this reason that the Jews used to fast on this day. Prophet Muhammad (saw) also then ordered the Muslims to fast on the day of Ashura as well.

Ibn e Abbas ra narrated: “When the Prophet came to Medina, he found (the Jews) fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’ (i.e. 10th of Muharram). They used to say: “This is a great day on which Allah saved Moses and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Moses observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to Allah.” The Prophet said, “I am closer to Moses than they.” So, he observed the fast (on that day) and ordered the Muslims to fast on it. [ Bukhari: Vol 4, Book 055, Hadith Number 609]

Command to distinguish the Muslim fast of Ashura with the fast of the Jews

Ibn ‘Abbas ra reported: ”When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) fasted on the day of ‘Ashura and commanded that it should be observed as a fast, they (his Companions) said to him: Messenger of Allah, it is a day which the Jews and Christians hold in high esteem. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When the next year comes, God willing, we would observe fast on the 9th But the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) died before the advent of the next year.” [ Musim : Book 006, Hadith Number 2528]

Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra) also reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had said: “If I live till the next (year), I would definitely observe fast on the 9th.[ Muslim: Book 006, Hadith Number 2529]

Hence, one should combine another day with the fast of Ashura and fast on either the 9th and 10th of Muharram or the 10th and 11th in order to distinguish the Muslim way of fasting from that of the Jews.

 
photo credit: Kvasov Andrey

Iman Kouvalis on Muslimas Oasis

I was interviewed by Muslimas Oasis so I thought I would share.

 

Source: Muslimas Oasis

I’ve had the privilege of working with Iman for the past couple of years doing web design work for her company Optimize It Designs. Iman is a successful and ambitious sister and an inspiration to many. I am excited to bring you this interview where she talks briefly about the flourishing Global Greek Muslim Community she has developed through Greeks Rethink and what it means to be a Greek Muslim.

Tell us a bit about Greeks Rethink, how it started and the work you do for the Greek Muslim Community.

It all started with a question. Where are all the Greek Muslims? The majority of us are scattered around the world but we have a passion to connect with each other. I started two years ago and now our website is a meeting place for people who want to learn about Greeks who have rethought life.

Do you primarily work with Muslims in Greece or Greek muslims abroad?

Our work is for Greek Muslims globally but we are aligned with the Muslim Association of Greece (www.equalsociety.com) who is the association that takes care of the national Islamic issues in Greece.

You’re a Greek Muslim revert/convert mashaAllah! Tell us a bit about your experience as a Muslim in relation to your Greek culture and heritage?

We are between East and West. If you’ve ever watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding, that’s pretty accurate to who we are. Greece brought a rich civilization to the world as did Islam so I enjoy being part of both.

We see a lot of abuses of Religious Freedom around the world, increasingly in Europe, what is the situation for Greek Muslims in this regard?

Greece is the only EU country without a mosque in its capital city. With 700 000 Muslims in Athens, this is a tragedy. The Muslim Association of Greece is working tirelessly for years to promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in Greece.

What other sorts of issues do Muslims face in Greece?

Apart from the mosque issue, Muslims do not have a cemetery and have to ship their dead to external countries or at least eight hours away. The hard reality is that Greece has many misconceptions towards Islam but the average Muslim neighbor enjoys friendship with the average Greek neighbor.

What sort of feedback have you gotten about your work? From the Greek state? Muslims? Non muslims?

Through the Muslim Association of Greece, we have had positive attention from major media networks globally, global Muslim networks and Greek authorities. Even many non-Greeks have told me that they visit our website regularly.

In your experience how does the Greek culture compliment Islamic culture, what are the similarities?

Our traditional heritage and etiquettes are similar to Islamic etiquettes, not to mention great food and a rich history of thinking, reflecting and civilization.

Islam spread to much of Europe in the past, what part does Islam play in Greek history?

Islam was part of Greece for about 500 years during the Ottoman Empire period. Today, you can still see remnants of Islam in Greece through its museums, foods and words.

What sort of goals do you have for the future of your work?

Our annual goal includes the building of five websites:

• www.greeksrethink.com (Connecting Greek Muslims)
• www.equalsociety.com (Muslim Association of Greece)
• www.ora-islam.gr (About Islam in the Greek language for Non-Muslims)
• www.islamfriends.gr (Islamic culture and civilization in the Greek language)
• Fifth website is still a secret to the public!

How can other organizations like yours that cater to specific ethnic groups of Muslims learn from Greeks Rethink?

If you want to run a project like Greeks Rethink, the best thing to do is to contact someone who has already done something like this and ask them a lot of questions. Before I started, I spent six months with high-powered people just learning from them. But to give you a few hints, try this: think big, plan big, start small, make a team, get some business skills and make lots of dua.

Tell any Greek Muslim readers out there how they can get involved, InshaAllah?

Visit www.greeksrethink.com and introduce yourself at our forum. Greek or not, I’m sure you’ll be intrigued by what you find at our website.

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