USA: Efforts have increased transparency about Muslims

Eight million Muslim-Americans and 200 years later, one would think Islamic practices would be common knowledge. However, most people's knowledge of Islam is largely based on misconceptions and fear. These misconceptions spread to new heights after the horrific attacks on 9/11.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Letters
Source/Credit: Lancaster Eagle Gazette
By Usama Awan | August 23, 2011

To the Editor:

It is Ramadan, and Muslims all over the world are well into their routines for the month.

Readers might be asking, "What is Ramadan?"

In short, this is the month where Muslims are prescribed to abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Muslims wake in the middle of the night to offer optional prayers and eat their meal for the day before the sun rises.


Surprising to some, Ramadan's observance in America is almost as old as its founding. Consider that the White House has been hosting 'iftaris' (dinners following opening of the fast) as early as 1805, during President Thomas Jefferson's administration.

Eight million Muslim-Americans and 200 years later, one would think Islamic practices would be common knowledge. However, most people's knowledge of Islam is largely based on misconceptions and fear. These misconceptions spread to new heights after the horrific attacks on 9/11.

Removing misconceptions takes action. Take, for example, the efforts of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. We have launched a nationwide "Muslims for Life" campaign, to honor those who died in the tragic events 10 years ago. In the month of September, we will hold blood drives in our mosques and also in conjunction with various community centers to raise 10,000 bags of blood and demonstrate that Islam advocates for the sanctity of life. Instead of taking lives like misguided terrorists, we will save them. Help us in our cause, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, and join our efforts at: www.muslimsforlife.org. A collective effort is needed in bridging the perceived gap people have between Muslims and Americans. What better way in coming together as a country than saving lives?

Let the month of Ramadan and various efforts, such as the Muslims for Life initiative, increase the much-needed transparency between Muslim-Americans and Americans. Even though we may differ on some issues, we can still sit down and break bread amongst ourselves and even try a new dish -- after all, no one can disagree on good-tasting food.

Usama Awan
Pickerington


Read original post here: Efforts have increased transparency about Muslims