MAG at Athens observatory to sight new moon

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The evening of Tuesday August 10, 2010 representatives of all Muslim communities responded to the call of the Muslim Association of Greece and met at Pendeli Observatory for the third year in order to sight the new moon for themselves that will start the beginning of the Ramadan month.

With great pleasure, the Athens Observatory (www.noa.gr) responds to our request for sighting the new moon with our the eyes of the reps of Muslims of Attica. Distinguishes scientists explain the phenomenon of new moon and reply to the questions of the participants. Everyone of them have the chance to look at the telescope. This year, like last year, we were hosted by Dr. Anastasios Dapergolas who responded to many questions and explained that new moon is a global phenomenon, not a local one, subsequently the only thing that changes is the local time of each country.

People from all lengths of the Muslim world were present. From Morocco to Bangladesh, from Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Algeria, Iran, Pakistan, Kurds, and of course Greeks. Among us was the honored guest of MAG, imam of Al Azhar university sheikh Mohammed Abdelsalam. All together we left to inform the prayer places of the common decision, based on the astronomical data of Pendeli Observatory, that the new moon is born and the forst of Ramadan is August 11^th, 2010. So the Taraweeh prayer at the praying places of Attica has started on Tuesday night at 10.

Ramadan Kareem

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New Greek Muslim needs your advice

This came in through our old blog site.  Can you give her some advice?

 

My name is Aisha(19 years old) and I am Greek currently living in Czech Republic for my studies. When I was in Greece i had no idea about Islam, due to the lack of information about it in Greece. I just thought that it is a religion for Arabs… However Allah gave me the opportunity to see this beautiful way of life in Czech Republic.

As most of the Greeks understand being a muslim in Greece is not very common. In about 1 month i will go back to Greece and i will have to face my Christian parents. Although they are not very religious, they don’t go to church except Easter and Christmas and sometimes not even then, the idea of having a different religion from the rest of my family (and the rest of the Greek citizens) and the idea that i will make it so obvious by wearing the hijab will not give a very good reaction according to their behaviour…

I would appreciate it a lot if you could give me some advise on how to talk to them and what to tell them because they don’t know anything for islam except that it is a religion that people from Pakistan that live in the city center,where most of violence occurs in Athens. May Allah help me and make it easy for me.

Moreover, showing off in Greece is something that I use to do but i find it meaningless anymore. Girls nowdays in Greece have lost their mind and walk almost naked in the street,driving the attention of every female person that passes next to them.

However this is something very common, but wearing the hijab isn’t.. I don’t know what my non-muslim friends will be with the idea of going out with a girl that covers her body… Iknow them since i was a little child and they will understand but i will have to explain them in the right way… do you have any suggestions?

Even a very small advice might be very usefull for me so please help a new muslim girl that needs your help.  please take in consideration that i reverted to islam 2 weeks ago

The following text is for muslim women:

In Czech Republic like in Greece there are not a lot of muslims especially girls. Can you please send me a few basic information about basic things concerning the islam?

not for the social life but the every day life and things that muslim gilrs do!

Peace be upon all of you!!

Thanks to all of you spending time even reading about my story.

ALL PRAISES BE TO ALLAH!

Salam!

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

Source:  Protagon.gr

© Translation: Muslim Association of Greece

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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

Muslim Association of Greece – accomplishments and photos for 2009

We put this together to capture all the key steps we took forward in 2009 toward our mission for Muslims in Greek society that might be missed by your eyes otherwise.

The Muslim Association of Greece annual report highlights its accomplishments throughout the year through photos and descriptions. Click on the photo below to download the annual report.

The right to dress – does it suit your eye?

The ban on the niqab violates my human rights.

People talk about rights as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and how important they are for all of us, or at least for some.

So… you can ask me a simple question, fair enough that is right we all have the right to express, dress and behave the way we like or aspire. But where do we get inspired from?

Every year in the UK there is a festival called Infest. Alternative electronic music fans get together once a year for couple of days to celebrate their music choice. The first time I saw them I thought they were freaks, but no they were normal everyday people dressed the way they wanted to express their own choice. In many cases they were executives in major international corporations. I used to have a friend – she was punk.  People were staring at her while she was walking but she couldn’t care less. It was her choice and no one could ever judge her for that. It was her right and nobody banned it.

Society is built on a base of differences, but who defines the differences we have and the acceptance we get from our fellow man?

A few years ago I used to dress with miniskirts and ’sexy’ tops. Sometimes I got looks of admiration, sometimes looks of disgust and many more looks were judgmental. By dressing ’sexy’, and sexy can be defined in many different ways, you are perceived as easy or with low morals.

Now I have chosen to dress modest and to wear a scarf. It is my choice, but yet again I’m perceived to be oppressed.

Why? Simply because of the way I dress. So what defines how I can dress?

Clothes are a way of expressing ourselves, how we feel and what we believe. How we would like people to deal with us. Our clothes are the first impression we give to people and the boundaries we set between us and them.  For me, simply, it’s a right. But why then does society or politicians have to choose for me and forbid me to express myself in the way Ι find most appropriate for me?

Wearing hijab, niqab or abaya (a dress) is a choice of a woman – not oppression. Oppression is when you forbid a woman to wear what she feels like just because it doesn’t suit your eye. So where is my human right…?

 

 
photo credit: Sylvain Labeste

Revealing the real purpose of fasting

I used to find it odd – if not heretic – to starve yourself from sunrise to sunset.  Anything that went against fasting in the Greek Orthodox way was indeed heretic, or so I thought. 

The first time I heard Muslims fast in a different way, my stomach churned and I thought, man you guys are completely off the mark.  You need to be saved!

At that point, I’d never researched the proofs for fasting in the Bible or the Quran, but it was my pride that would never let a thought into my brain that said that they might have proof for what they were saying while I have absolutely none – or at least knew of none. 

And frankly, I didn’t care.  Fasting was one of the zillion rituals of the Greek Orthodox faith that you ‘just believed in’  and didn’t question.

The weirdest thing to me was that Muslims would not only fast from food but actually from ‘bad’ things like drinking, going to bars or dating.  Now, that for me was completely illogical !  What does food have to do with having fun?

It was normal for all of us Greek Orthodox to fast before Easter and go out and have fun at the exact same time – without feeling an inch of guilt.

Once you find out why you are supposed to fast in the first place (which, as a Christian I never really did), then you’ll understand that it’s not about the food.

Muslims believe that God revealed to mankind to fast because through self-restraint, you can become pious.

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).  (Quran 2:183)

You might be asking, What does piety have anything to do with it?  I was confused at the beginning too but when I started fasting – starving myself from dawn to dusk actually – I realized that it was a true sacrifice.  

It’s like having a close friend that you love more than you love yourself.  You give up something that you love the most to make her happy.  It’s not like you are forced to do this.  You choose this because you love her.  That’s when your relationship has gone to a new level – because she’s seen the proof that you put her before yourself. 

That’s in a way, the purpose of fasting.  When you choose to give up something that is permissible, like food, you realize that you want to because you love God more than yourself.  And you want to show Him that love.  That’s the journey of piety.

So, really, for anyone who is fasting, whether Muslim, Christian or other, fasting was prescribed for all of us as the verse says.  Only when you know what the purpose of fasting is can you really taste the journey of love for God.

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  photo credit: opusbloo

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.

The hidden belief that can destroy your success

I noticed a trend amongst converts.  Before converting, many of them are climbing the corporate ladder.  After converting, it’s almost as if they think that if they continue to do that, they are not “as pious”.  In other words, get rid of wordly success so you can get afterlife success.

 

X     Be pious = afterlife success only

 

I don’t blame them.  Much of the reason why they adopt this concept is because many Muslims have this hidden limited belief and it carries over to the converts.

I was conducting a seminar this weekend where (on a side note) we discussed the same thing.  The sheikh in the room described that in Islam, the formula is actually this:

 

√    Be pious = afterlife + wordly success

 

The best believer is the one who is strong in their belief and puts it into action.  The best believer is not the one who sits at home and prays all day (although they would be rewarded for this) but the better one is the one who goes out and benefits society.

And that is what I have done.  Take a look how.

Hag, Haaaj, or Hajj

I laugh every time I hear people say hag.  Of course, usually Egyptians say it this way.  But, you’ll find other variations like haaaaj (with with the softest ’j' sound you’ve ever heard.  I like to use the Quranic way – hajj (you say the ’jj’ sound as if you a truck is stopping abrubtly.)  Some people think I’m mispronouncing it. 

The point is not how you say it but what it means.  It’s the second home for Muslims. Even if you’ve never been there (like me), it’s always in your heart like it’s your connection to God. Most people who go say it’s the best journey they made in their lives. This might be scary but many say it feels like the Day of Judgement.  Two million or more people jammed packed in a small area all walking and driving to another area for days. 

A place and time where you feel that nothing wordly matters – at all.  All you are worrying about is making the most of your time and seeking rewards from Allah.  A place where Prophet Adam (a.s.) built the kaaba and later Prophet Abraham (a.s.) rebuilt it with his son Prophet Ishmael (a.s.).

There are so many aspects that I can revel about but the one that I think about often is how organized Allah made our religion.  I mean, if you left it up to the Muslims, there’s now way in —- that they could organize anything even remotely close to this.  (If you’re Muslim, you know what I”m talking about.)  But Islam has all of these things built into it.

Who else can get over two million people from every country in the world to gather in one place, doing the same rituals and feeling so inspired in a place where not a single iota of violence is tolerated?

Astonishing.

There are a small minority of non-Muslims lurking on the internet, huffing and puffing because Makkah is a private area only for Muslims.  But you know, the funny thing is, I bet those same people wouldn’t step into Saudia Arabia if I paid them.  My answer to these people is that just like I’m not allowed to walk into anyone’s private property, non-authorized people are not allowed to enter this area of Saudia Arabia because it’s private property of the Muslims.  If you really want to go, there always is a way.

 

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photo credit: Al Jazeera English

Amreeka: A feel-good comedy

 

 

I’m looking forward to watching this movie.    Here’s the plot below:

 

A feel-good comedy about a Palestinian mother who moves to rural Illinois with her teenaged son, Amreeka is a kind of stealth political film that confronts issues of ethnic tension and American xenophobia.

First-time filmmaker Cherien Dabis (a writer on the television series The L-Word ) based the story on her own experience, growing up as the child of Jordanian-Palestinian immigrants. In the anti-Arab hysteria of the first Gulf War, her family received daily death threats, and her father’s medical practice went into decline when his patients quit. The script for Amreeka (Arabic for America) has no bitterness and, in fact, portrays the United States as the place where people from many lands become one, and everyone enjoys Disneyland and a good hamburger.

Source:  The Globe and Mail

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