learnQuranOnline

Monday, April 6, 2020

1. Ask before assuming anything

Most people think that Muslims all come from Saudi Arabia and speak Arabic. However, that is not true. In fact, there are 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide and Muslims in the United States are so diverse and come from so many different countries and backgrounds that others often have a hard time classifying them. There is not a single race or ethnicity that dominates the rest. About 41% of American Muslims consider themselves white, a category that includes those who describe their race as Arab, Middle Eastern, Persian/Iranian or in a variety of other ways. About 30% percent are Asian, including those from South Asia, and about 20% are black. About 8% identify as Hispanic, and the other 3% consider themselves mixed with other races. With so much variety, it is no surprise that Muslim educators also differ widely in their appearance, opinions, and religiosity. When in doubt, simply ask and chat.

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2. Maintain your expectations

While no administrator, supervisor, or teacher, usually goes out of their way to treat staff members differently, the political climate of our country sometimes leads to the censorship of Muslim educators and a difference in how Muslim educators are responded to. Muslim educators are also expected to be experts on global issues and are sometimes held to different standards. The same standards, rules, and expectations should be held of all staff members. Additionally, just as no other staff member is obligated to explain personal choices about how they dress or practice their religion, Muslim educators should also not be subject to personal questions about how they choose to dress or practice theirs.

When administrators

When administrators and teachers think of how Islamophobia shows up in schools, they might think about how Muslim students are bullied by their peers and discriminated against by their teachers. Yet, Islamophobia is the individual and systemic irrational fear and prejudice of Muslims, regardless of their age. What is often missing from this narrative is the experience of Muslim educators in our schools. How do Muslim teachers, guidance counselors, paraprofessionals, etc. feel about their interactions with their colleagues and their administrators? Does the school promote an environment of inclusiveness and cultural competence? Administrators and teachers alike need to be mindful of their interactions with Muslim educators for several reasons. Muslim educators bring a multitude of strengths to the classroom that are essential for learners in our globalized world. They are often understanding of multicultural backgrounds and highly socially conscious. They can provide new perspectives and connect with the Muslim students and students of color in schools.

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Very little formal research has been carried out that tracks the experience of Muslim educators in their schools. To address this lack of research, Reclaiming Muslim Educators (ME), a research collective of seven Muslim educators operating from Montclair State University, is collecting and connecting the experiences of Muslim educators in the United States. Through surveys, focus groups, and interviews Reclaiming ME is exploring the unique experience of being a Muslim educator in a school. The results of this inquiry have revealed some insightful trends amongst Muslim educators. Many educators reported feeling censored, isolated, and misunderstood. But some schools are doing a fantastic job of making Muslim educators feel welcome. The following recommendations stem from the discussions with these Muslim educators on how schools have supported them.

Did you know that most bullying takes place in a school setting?

Approximately 50% of Muslims aged 11-18 reported being called mean names because of their religion.¹ Additionally, in 25% of the cases involving Muslim students, a teacher or administrator at school perpetrated the bullying.² This booklet provides educators with the information and resources that relate to Muslim students. By creating a safe space for students to be different without being marginalized, educators can play an important role in the formation of healthy and diverse school environments.

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This booklet is intended to assist educators to learn about Islam and their Muslim students by providing accurate information on Islam. Our primary objective in publishing this booklet is to provide educators with resources that can help them become better teachers and to promote inclusive and diverse learning environments.

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[1] Council on American-Islamic Relations, Growing in Faith: California Muslim Youth Experiences with Bullying, Harassment & Religious Accommodation in Schools (Santa Clara, CA), accessed May 30, 2018, from https://ca.cair.com/sfba/wpcontent/ uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GrowingInFaith.pdf?x93160.

[2] Dalia Mogahed and Youssef Chouhoud, American Muslim Poll 2017: Muslims at the Crossroads (Dearborn, MI: Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, 2017), retrieved from https://www.ispu.org/american-muslim-poll-2017/.

The Quran was revealed in Arabia

Why do Muslims read the Quran in Arabic? Is the Quran translated into different languages? If so, what is the difference between the Arabic and the translated versions?

The Quran is only in Arabic. This is not to say that it cannot be translated, but the translation is not the same thing as the original text. However, the message of the oneness of God and confirming what one’s conscious already knows is available in all languages. Previous revelations were sent in the language of their people. We did not send any messenger but (speaking) in the language of his people, so that he might clearly convey the message to them (Quran 14:4).

The Quran was revealed in Arabia

The Quran is God’s final revelation and because Muhammad peace be upon him lived in Arabia, the Quran is in Arabic. And if We had made it a non-Arabic Qur’an, they would have said, “Why are its verses not explained in detail [in our language]? Is it a foreign [recitation] and an Arab [messenger]?” Say, “It is, for those who believe, a guidance and cure.” And those who do not believe – in their ears is deafness, and it is upon them blindness. Those are being called from a distant place (Quran 41:44).

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Because the Quran is in Arabic does not mean that Arabs are superior to non-Arabs. Rather, all humans are equal. However, God chose to reveal His final message to mankind to a people who had a very high sensitivity and appreciation to the finest nuances of the language. The Arabs of the 7th century took great pride in their linguistic skills. The Quran is revealed in very precise Arabic. If the Quran is to be the final text, then its meaning must be preserved. In order to do that, the language itself must be very precise and defined.

Because the Quran was revealed in Arabic, scholars went to painstaking lengths to preserve the dialect, idioms, sayings, poetry of that language so that the correct understanding of Qur’an can be reached. This was always a priority for Muslim scholars, many of whom were not Arab.

Nuanced Meanings Gets Lost in Translation

When someone translates a text, their translation is not the same as the original text. It is rather their understanding of the meaning of the original text. There although translations can give one a general understanding of the text, they are not the equivalent to the actual text. For example, in American culture one often hears the expression “you are my dog” or “dog is man’s best friend.” As Americans who understand the place of dogs in this culture, we can easily understand not only the literal meaning of these phrases, but their deeper cultural connotations as well.

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If these same phrases are translated into a language and culture that do not take dogs as pets, but rather view them as unclean and wild animals, a literal translation will not suffice. Rather it will require further commentary onto what these phrases mean in the original language and culture. Similarly, the Quran was revealed in Arabic in a particular context and must be understood in that context.

The Arabic Language is Rich

The Arabic language has a very complex system of grammar and word formation. One statement can mean many things, and this is only possible in the Arabic language. Arabic is syntactical which means it cannot be compared to any other languages in terms of grammatical rules.

The shortest wording without any loss in the meaning is only in the Arabic language. It is also the most advanced language amongst world languages in terms of eloquence, literature and fluency. Thus, no other language can express the meanings in the world.

Because Arabic is a highly developed language, a translation of a text like the Quran never fully convey its deeper message. Despite pre-Islamic Arabs being highly skilled in Arabic, the Quran’s literary style stunned all of the poets and language experts of the time.

Mental Strength

Although living a God-conscious life can contribute to a healthy internal state of being, it is essential to recognize one’s limitations. It is necessary to reach out to a mental health professional when difficulties become too challenging to manage, whether in relationships or as an individual. Seeking help from a mental health professional in no way implies that a person is weak, has weak faith, or is incapable of making decisions on their own. It is important to work through all negative assumptions about therapy and counseling so we are not holding ourselves back from seeking the help we truly need.

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There are many places in the Quran and Ahadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad upon whom be peace) that discuss our mental health and the importance of taking care of it. The Prophet (pbuh) said, ‘There is no disease that God has created except that He also has created its treatment’ (Hadith). When we think of disease, we immediately think of the physical ailments, but this includes mental health illnesses as well. God did not leave us alone to deal with difficulties, but He provided us with many avenues of healing to aid us in our lives.

We end this article with a positive reminder from God, the source of all strength and hope: “There has come to you from God a light and a luminous Book, through which God, by His grace, guides all who seek His good pleasure on the path of peace, and brings them out of the depths of darkness into light and guides them unto a Straight Path” (Quran 5:15-16).

Feeling low and looking for happiness in life? Call 877-WhyIslam to learn more or get a free Quran.

Islam emphasizes the importance of relationships

Islam emphasizes the importance of relationships, keeping the ties of kinship, being kind to one another, forgiveness, and so much more that contribute to healthy relationships and a healthy overall state of mental health. If we are God-conscious in every relationship, it can make a beneficial impact on the health of that relationship and thus make a favorable ripple effect on our internal state of being.

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One relationship that makes a significant impact on our lives is the one with our parents and, as parents, the one we have with our children. God says in the Quran:  “And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as] ‘uff’ and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say: ‘My Lord! Have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.” (Quran 17:23-24). These are essential reminders to all children to maintain a respectful and positive relationship with their parents. A healthy relationship with one’s parents contributes to one’s positive state of mind. With this constant awareness of God’s reminder, kindness and respect will encompass the relationship and it will be an atmosphere of positivity.

In addition to the parent/child relationship, a healthy marriage is also vital to one’s psychological well-being. Being in a loving, respectful relationship allows a person to excel in his/her personal life as well: “..And one of His signs is that He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest in them and He put between you love and compassion; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect” (Quran 30:21). With the entire household encompassing love and mercy, it will aid in the happiness of each individual. To keep the atmosphere of the home full of compassion, Dr. John Gottman, relationship expert, and researcher, says there needs to be a 5:1 ratio of positive statements vs. negative statements. When couples aim to speak more positively with one another, they will contribute to a happier home.