By Guest Blogger: JASMINE RAFATI – Iran
I am a Persian Muslim leaving in the United States. I love my religion, which is one of peace, forgiveness, and love; but what I know as Islam hugely differs from the Islam that has been introduced by the fanatics and by the government of my country, Iran.
The government and the fanatics use the words of Islam to their benefit and to promote war, hatred and killing.
Although I have not had many bad experiences as a Muslim in America, I did encounter some not so pleasant situations after 9/11.
September 11, 2001 was a sad day for America and for the world and after this emotional, horrid incident, people were upset and angry and were looking to empty out their anger on someone or something.
One night I was out with a friend and a guy was talking to me. He told me that I had an accent and he asked me where I was from. When I told him that I was from Iran, He told me that he couldn’t talk to me anymore. “You might have a bomb in your purse,” he said. I was so hurt to say the least.
My other experience was in a coffee shop. I was reading a book when a guy in the next table started talking to me. He said he had read the book and asked me what I thought about it so far. When he found out about my place of birth and my religion, he just turned around to his friends at their table and stopped talking to me all of the sudden.
A couple of my girlfriends stopped telling people they were Muslims from Iran after this sad occurrence.
I also want to tell you about my family’s ordeal while traveling. Before I became an American citizen, I would get randomly searched three to four times during my trip to Europe. I remember one time when I was traveling to Dubai through Switzerland; I asked an airport person how was it possible that I was searched so many times randomly in one day. She right away crossed my name of the list they used to make at that time. She said she was sorry I was searched that many times but everything was random. I tell the story to my friends now and we laugh about it. However, at a time it happened it was frustrating and scary. I want to fly safely but the searches at the airports are so biased it is very nerve racking to me.
My father travels a lot and he isn’t a citizen yet. For the last flights he has been held at the airport for hours when he arrives in the United Stated. He is businessman who has traveled the world for business for many years. He doesn’t understand why he gets treated this way. Besides these incidents, most people ask me questions regarding the religion and are genuinely curious about Islam and the differences between Sunnis and Shiites.
Islam was introduced to people through Prophet Mohammad. He brought the words of God to us. These words were revealed to him by the Angel Gabriel. These words are gathered in the book of Quran, the verbal book of divine guidance.
There are two different sects in the religion of Islam, Shiite division and Sunni branch. These two divisions were born after the death of Prophet Mohammad in Medina in 632 (AD). The differences are in their beliefs regarding the legitimacy of the successors of Mohammad, time of Mehdi’s appearance, and the way they prepare for prayers.
Shiites believe that only the fourth Caliph, Ali, is the legitimate successor of Mohammad, the last prophet. Caliph is the name of a successor of Mohammad. Shiites call Ali and the people who followed him, Imams. There were 11 more Imams after Ali. The last Imam is called Mehdi.
Sunnis on the other hand believe that all the four Caliphs who succeeded Mohammad were rightful leaders and all their heirs are accepted as religious leaders. The successors of these Caliphs ruled the Arab world until the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1922. The Ottoman Empire known also as the Turkish Empire was an Islamic Empire that ruled from 1299 to November of 1922.
The next difference between these two divisions is regarding Mehdi. Mehdi was the 12th and last Imam. According to Shiites, Mehdi was amongst the Muslims once. He disappeared and he will reappear to bring a global Caliphate to the world. Sunnis however, believe that Mehdi has never been here and will emerge to the world at the end of times to bring us together.
The final difference between these two divisions is regarding the preparation for prayer.
Muslims have to pray five times per day. A mosque or a Masjid (Arabic) is a special place where Muslims pray. It represents what church does to Catholics.
Muslims are required to pray in a clean area. Many Muslims use a “Prayer rug” to ensure that the area for prayer is clean. The prayer rug is one meter long to allow the person to comfortably kneel and be prostrate on it. Many mosques are covered with rugs and you are not allowed to step in with shoes on.
To prepare for prayers Muslims also have to clean themselves by doing what we call Wud’u. The steps and the order by which they do Wud’u are different in Shiite and Sunnite branches. During wud’u, Muslims wash their hands, face, and feet. The way Sunnis wash their hands is different from the way Shiites wash their hands. While they are doing the Wudu, the Muslims make the intention to cleanse themselves and pray to Allah by repeating the following words: “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem” (In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful).
The most beautiful sound in the world to me is the invitation to prayer.
When I was in Turkey, I would hear the invitation to prayer five times a day from different mosques all over town. Nothing in the world suits my heart like that sound.
In my country, Iran, the prayers are done in Arabic even though our language is Farsi. Though I find both languages beautiful, the sound of Quran and the invitation to prayer in Arabic is the most touching.
There are approximately 85% Sunnis and 15% Shiites. Shiites are mostly concentrated in Iran, my country of birth, Azerbaijan, Bahrain and Lebanon. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kuwait are dominated by Sunnis Muslims.
As to my experience, the Sunnis and Shiites have always respected one another and accepted their differences. They see themselves as Muslims first and foremost. Sunnis and Shiites are best friends and there have been mixed marriages amongst them.
I am a Shiite Muslim and one of my very good friends is a Turkish Sunni. I have Arab friends who are Sunnis. I attended mosque with them and we spend a lot of times together. Unfortunately outside my world, it is not always the case, as we have witnessed the situation in Iraq. Sunnis and Shiites are in a struggle to take over the political power and in pursing their goal, they are killing each other.
Even though I was raised Muslim, I attended a Catholic University to obtain my bachelor and now I am attending a Christian one.
I love to drink beautiful red wine with my food and I don’t cover my hair. I pray at a church by my place several times a week. I have prayed in a Jewish temple many times. I have attended the Hindu temple with my Hindu friends. However, in my heart, I am and always be a Muslim. It defines who I am as a person.
My Islam is peaceful; it is loving; It inspires me to be a better person every day; it enthuses me to wish the best for everyone; and it motivates me to learn from my mistakes and not to repeat them. I find the religion of Islam to be complicated but beautiful. It is a symbol of peace, generosity, and love.
Even though there are differences between the two branches of Islam such as our ways of prayers or our beliefs regarding the Caliphs, we all pray to Allah, most gracious, most merciful.
The United States has been very welcoming to my family and me and my friends have been wonderful in accepting me as who I am.
Jasmine, I thought you were an intelligent Muslim at first but obviously I was wrong. Your reply to my comment did not make much sense.
Dear reader,
Well I am sorry that I was completely misunderstood by your comment. Nowhere in your writing I got an impression that you thought of me, “you people and your women” as you called Muslims, as an inteteligent Muslim.
But allow me to correct you one more time. I am an intelligent, beautiful, sensible person. It has absolutely nothing to do with being a Muslim. As to me, you are not an ignorant catholic, or Jewish, or…, but just an ignorant person.
Read one more time what you said and then my answer to your comments. It may sink in the second time.
by the way, Have you every thought that my comments may be above your undrestanding level istead of immediately judging that i was not an inteligent person?
Jamine,
Thanks a lot for your story. It’s beautifully written and explains perfectly and thoroughly the most important aspects of Islam.
The biggest problem with Islam is the exact same problem that most monotheist religions have: intolerance and hatred when the religion turns to fanaticism. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all have beautiful aspects and more than inspiring elements about them. When one uses them for its own morality and compassion, only good can usually come from it.
Islamic Resurgence started approximately in the 1970s, starting with the oil embargo and the Revolution in Iran. Out of it, a minority of less than 10% of Muslims started spitting horrendous messages against all non-believers. It’s such a minority but it can be a loud one and, more than everything, a very Western media friendly one, especially after 9/11….
This is, in my opinion, the saddest thing that has happened to Islam and that has fueled discrimination, out of major ignorance, against Muslims everywhere in the Western world since 9/11. The same thing could be done for every other monotheist religions if the media wished to pay attention to their respective branches of fanaticism. Unfortunately for Islam, it received that kind of negative treatment.
I hopefully believe that time will allow people to understand that, like every other religions, Islam is a high quality religion with some cons, like every other religions again, when it comes to its fanatic attitudes…
Thanks a lot for letting people know about the true image of Islam. We need more public figures like you to help people know about the real face of this religion.
Jasmine, as much as I do not discriminate against anyone I have a problem with your women wearing the burqa in our country. When one visits your country, American or not, before they land in your country they are told to cover their hair and every one complies because thats your custom. BUT when they come to our country they still want to do as they do in their country, use the burqa. It is wrong and disrespectful to us. Your people even go as far as to dictate to our States as to how they want to be photographed with the burqa for their drivers license. I think thats a crock of bull. With the way terrorists target America anyone, man or women, can disguise themselves with a burqa in order to cause destruction and death. You see it in your country almost everyday. I say to you it is hard for all people who are discriminated against and I say to you as a muslim, walk in the shoes of a black person, who by the way you people readily discriminate against in their country, and see if you want to be black or muslim in America.
Hi Julie,
I am a muslim Persian too.
Iam just writing to you to let you know that in Iran, we don’t wear Burgha, or whatever you call it.
this is not common in Iran at all, though we have to cover our head.
In my whole life I saw perhaps 10 women with that kind of cover and I think 7-8 of those were in France not Iran!
You could inform yourself before such an incorrect comment!
Dear Julie
I do not understand your comment about not discriminating against anyone. Your writing is full of discrimination against Muslims and blacks. I am from Iran and the last time I was in the country, I visited many cities. I saw one woman wearing a burqa. Burqas are not worn often in my country as I have experienced it. However, if you are talking about Arabic countries, yes they are worn a lot more often. The government in my country demands any woman who enters the country to cover her hair. You have to understand that not all the Muslims agree with such a rule. I find it hard to cover my hair when I am there as well, especially in the summertime. That being said, I would like to respect any country’s traditions when I visit. When I arrived to Dubai, U.A.E, I felt that the country is more accustomed to having visitors from all other parts of the world. I was more comfortable in wearing my summer dresses as usual. However, when I drove couple of hours to Abu Dhabi, I realized that the city is a lot more conservative. I dressed accordingly just to respect the people and the place I was visiting.
Many people have come to United States for the promise of freedom. If you force people to take their burqas off, what is the difference between you and the government in countries who enforces them on others who don’t want it?
By the way, I have been living in the United States for a long time. I am sad to say, that many people have little information about that part of the world and still confuse Iran and Iraq. Yet, they still continue to make uneducated comments. I don’t know what you mean by us being used to terrorists and death in our country. If you mean bombs going off everywhere, you are wrong. You are probably one of those people who confuse countries in the Middle East. In that case, I suggest you to inform yourself a bit more before making a comment. If you are talking about young people giving their lives for having freedom in the country, you must be ashamed of yourself. Just look on you tube and see what the government did to those people. These young people are giving their live to attain the freedom that is so accessible in the United States that sometimes people forget to appreciate it. There are also people such as you who are so ready to take away the freedom from others.
Have you met a black person from Sénégal? This is a country where more than 90 % of the population is Muslim. We have many Muslims who are blacks. If you feel all Muslims discriminate against blacks, you are absolutely wrong. I have never done and will discriminate against the black people not just because some are Muslims, just because I see everyone and every color equally. I do wish to say that they are people all over the world who discriminate against others because of their color, religion, or country. You are a prime example of it and I take it you are not a Muslim. You have discriminated against me just because I am a Muslim and you have placed me in the axes of evil list of yours according to your wrong perceptions.
Have you considered adding video to your blog posts to keep the readers entertained? I just read through the post and it was quite good…thanks for sharing
Dear Boey
thanks for putting the time to read my blog and thanks so much for your comment.
Jasmine – what a beautiful story, you are such a wonderful writer. I am so glad to have heard your perspective and learned your story of your religion. Your spirituality is inspiring and it is wonderful to hear how similar all religions can be when we focus on what unites us as humans and not on the things that divide us. Thank you.
I loved the article. I have had many similar experiences living as a Muslim American in the United States. The war in Iraq brought many ill feelings toward the Middle East but I think at the same time it motivated some to learn more about the Middle East, the culture and the religion of Islam.
It’s unfortunate that throughout history, some extremists used religion to promote their agenda of power.
Dear Weam Namou
Thanks for sharing the lovely story of Mohammad and Khadija with us. My mom is one of the strongest, most open minded, forward looking person I know and she is a Muslim woman from Iran. I would love to read your article but couldn’t find it. Please post the website address here. Thanks for your informative comments.
Although I am a Christian woman who was born in Baghdad, Iraq, I recently wrote an article entitled “Muslim Women Empowered by their Religion.” I couldn’t find a publisher for it, and ended up posting it online – allvoices.com
Here’s the gist of it:
Twelve years ago, I was on a transit at Heathrow Airport when I entered a bookshop and saw a rack of Middle Eastern novels written by Western authors. The covers all portrayed veiled women running away from an abusive husband, father or brother. Women I’d never known personally, not at home in America or in my birth country of Iraq. Although I realize they exist everywhere.
I came home looking for stories that portrayed the healthier part of the Middle Eastern world. There were hardly any out there. Unfortunately, the situation is the same today – except this time, the authors are of Arab descent. As a result, westerners are left with one general perception of the people of that region. Empowering stories like the one about Prophet Muhammad Prophet Muhammad and his first wife Khadija are rarely told much less learned from.
At the age of 25, Prophet Muhammad became employed by Khadija, who was a wealthy Christian, twice widowed, and a merchant 15 years older than he. He made several successful journeys to Syria which impressed Khadija, and she ended up proposing to him. Rather than focus on Khadija’s age and be intimidated by her confidence and power, Muhammad esteemed her brilliant character, superior business acumen and humanitarian efforts that led her to be hailed as the Princess of Mecca. Thus, he made her his wife. He remained monogamous to her for 15 years (until her death), she was the one person to whom he turned to for advice, and she helped him both financially and intellectually to found Islam.
Given this history of Muhammad, it should not be a surprise that contrary to popular western belief, he cared to elevate women’s status. Over 1400 years ago Islamic Law guaranteed rights to women that women in Europe and America only obtained in the 1900s. According to Islamic Law women have the right to own property, operate a business and receive equal pay for equal work, have total control of their wealth, marry whom they want, keep their own name when married, inherit property and have their marriage dissolved in the case of neglect or mistreatment.
Years ago, I also wrote an article entitled “The Benefits of Islam – from a Christian’s perspective.”
I don’t understand why it’s difficult to love many lands, religions and people.
Thanks, Jasmine, for the informative article, and thanks Sandra for posting it (and all other positive things that you do)!
Thank you, Weam for sharing your article with us. I’m curious – what’s it like being/living in America as a Christian woman who was born in Baghdad, Iraq? Please share any interesting aspects of your story with us. Thanks.
terrorists still want to kill us americans and the scumbag in times square does not help muslim/american relations at all. i’m happy he was caught. i understand why my fellow american buddy would see you as the enemy and ask if you had a bomb in your purse. that hurt I agree, but this is the world we live in right now. one filled with fear and distrust even racism. i am very angry about terrorists and middle easterners coming here and our immigration reform should focus on that instead of the mexican.
Dear Jessop,
It is true that terrorism doesn’t help the American/Muslim relations; however, I would like to point out to you that what some Americans did in Iraq doesn’t help the situation either. Let’s not forget tutoring suspects that were done to protect the country and prevent terrorism; Do you think that was helpful?
I tell you that as a Muslim leaving in the United States, I never allow actions of some cloud my judgment towards everybody else. I have lived in this country for many years and have many dear American friends. This country is my home and I love it dearly. Terrorism threatens me as much as it does you. I go to the same places as you do and fly the same plane as you do.
If you feel that they should stop Middle Eastern from coming to this country to make you feel safe, I feel very bad for you. I wonder what the origin of your family is. Where is your great grandfather from? Let me tell you something, the person who asked about the bomb in my purse was half Mexican, half American, The irony of it all.
It’s all well and good to hear about your personal story, so please don’t take it personally when I say that you cannot honestly disagree that followers of the Muslim faith have been the biggest perpetrators of terrorism, murder and the abuse of women’s rights.
Additionally, how do you address (a) the belief that Prophet Muhammad was a pedophile and (b) the fact that women have virtually no rights under Islam.
You drink wine and enjoy the better things of life only as a Westerner, but not as a Muslim living in Iran, is that not correct?
I have never heard of Prophet Mohammad to be a pedophile. I completely disagree with your comment on that subject and I have no other response to that question. I do however, heard and believe that there have been pedophiles in catholic churches as I am sure you are aware of.
To your second comment dear reader, my parents were never strict Muslims and I have been free to drink in my house when I lived in Iran. It is not our fault that the government prohibits it in our country. I do agree that I am Americanized in many ways. I believe in a fusion of cultures which has made me who I am today. It is not a bad idea to learn more about something with an open mind before making comments.
Jazmine,
Thanks for this great informative writing about Islam!
I read the comments and I’m happy to know that there are at least few poeple that read such writings about islam with open minds, even though they are not many but it warms my heart.
I am an Iranian muslim and I love my country of origine and my religion as well as America.
Jasmine, thank you for sharing your story and giving us another perspective on the Muslim religion and information on the Shiites and Sunnis. I really enjoyed reading this post.
Your experiences in this country are similar to those faced by minority groups and it is never a good feeling to be discriminated against. [read my post on immigration and the race card, where I have personally experienced discrimination based first on race, then on national origin.)
Many of us have this opinion of Muslims being fanatics. I’ve known you for a few years and do know that you are a sweet, caring person who does not subscribe to, nor endorse acts of, terrorism, BUT, do you think that after 9/11 and all the global acts of terrorism, people are wrong to think of Muslims (generally) in that light?
The guy who turned his back on you when he found out you were Muslim and said you may be carrying a bomb in your purse is just an idiot. Isn’t it great you found out early before investing any more time into this moron? I think this guy did you a favor and you walked out of the club a winner.
The thing that really got me was that your dad has to go through searches and a long waiting period when he comes back home to this country. I see both viewpoints in that people are scared and don’t know who may be a terrorist or not or who is sympathetic to their cause. That’s not written on anyone’s forehead. So, I understand why they may be suspicious of someone who goes to and from Iran often. However, on the other hand, it is never a good feeling to be on the receiving end of being singled out because of a specific stereotype, especially when you KNOW you are innocent.
Like Pilates Lady says, I hope your blog opens the eyes of many.
Thank you Jasmine! This blog is very informative.
It is unfortunate that extremists in any group are sometimes allowed by the public to represent an entire group of people when their actions are clearly not representative. It has happened, I’m sure, as long as their has been life on earth, and it is incredibly unfair.
I remember you telling me about the guy who was talking to you who suggested you might have a bomb in your purse and how incredibly disgusted I was, but sadly I was not shocked.
I remember riding a bus with a Muslim from NYC to Maryland a few months after 9/11 and it being time for him to pray. You could nearly cut the tension on the bus with a knife. It was so sad.
And even today, I have a friend who is half Brazilian and half Iranian. To anyone who doesn’t know she appears to be a black woman. There are no obvious signs of her Persian ancestry. She is married to a black man and has a black child and strangely, there are many pictures of her son with her mother but none with her father. I’ve know her since we were 3 and her father is an amazingly wonderful man who she should be incredibly proud of. Of course anyone who knows her well knows this truth. Unfortunately I assume she is scared to let the world know. I can only imagine feeling that necessary and how awful it must be.
I hope that your blog opens the eyes of many.
Thanks for supporting our blog and Jasmine’s enlightening post.
I am curious about the Muslim on the bus in New York. You said you could “cut the tension on the bus with a knife” when it became time for him to pray. So, what happened? DID he actually pray and if so, HOW did he accomplish that, considering all the conditions/preparations that must be in place for the Muslim to pray.
He did pray and though their were many stares and whipers. I’m happy to say no one bothered him. If I remember correctly he did tell the driver before he began and then he kneeled and prayed. I can’t remember if he kneeled on the ground or on the seat, I do remember he was quiet when he spoke.
Sorry… Whispers
My dear Pilates Lady,
Thanks so much for your comment. It is sad that your friend feels she has to hide the fact that her father is Iranian, but I know that unfortunately this happens with many other people. I do also hope that this article somehow changes the mind of some.
I took my time to read this blog because I have long been interested in the mindset of the Muslim. Thank you for providing background information on the history of the Sunnis and Shiites and your Muslim faith. It was particularly enlightening to read about your personal experiences. It’s hard to imagine what minorities go through, but I hope you know that some of us empathize with you and do not share the exclusionary views of some Americans. Welcome to America and I wish that you continue to have a wonderful life here.
Dear Socialite
Thank you for your wonderful comment. I was truly touched by your kind words.
Well Jasmine, welcome to the world black people live in ALL the time. Welcome to the world of racism, I too used to travel a lot and after many wonderful, great and thrilling trips, coming back home was the worst part of my travels. I was always the one who was stopped, because of the color of my skin. One day I came back from Asia and I was the only black on the plane, there were other non whites too but as soon as we arrived in the good ole USA I was immediately spotted, singled out and the ONLY one sent to check my bags. All the Asians on the flights, most of them visitors (non citizens) were waved on through as I looked at the situation with a knowing smile. I think the USA customs officers are the worst, they hassle non whites, not for security reasons-that I have no problem with-but they do it because they are racists. I know the feeling from experience. But this too shall pass, the world is evolving fast.
Laquisha, your experience is similar to what Jasmine’s father experiences on his return trips to the U.S. Now with the new Arizona immigration bill more people of color will be experiencing this type of “singling out” on every street corner, unfortunately.