Sick
The most amazing thing happened this week: I had my appendix removed. Well, that’s not exactly the amazing part. The neat thing was how many people visited and contacted me during my recovery. As I lay hopelessly bored in the hospital bed, I had to recharge my phone several times a day to keep up with the texts, emails, and phone calls of concerned friends and family.
Getting sick is an extremely effective way of learning who cares about you. To keep with the intent of this blog, I have to address a basic question: “Who would call on a sick Muslim?” Dumb question, I know. Nonetheless, one might wonder: do Muslims tend to stick to their own? do Muslims accept prayers and well wishes from non-Muslims? are sick Muslims allowed to be visited by non-Muslim people of the opposite gender?
Actually, an interesting event during my hospital stay was the visit by the chaplain. A heard a knock on the door and a kind, gentle soul entered the room and asked permission from my spouse to visit me. I spoke up and invited the guest in. I could see confusion and discomfort on the caring face of this individual who has most likely held many hands and prayed through some difficult illnesses. I could practically see the questions swarming in that thoughtful head.
“Thank you so much for coming to visit me. Yes, I have a wonderful support structure of family and friends that are caring for me,” I reassured my concerned visitor. “Please let me know if there is anything I can do to assist, ” the comforting words worked their way through an awkward smile. As the hospital chaplain departed, I wondered if I should have answered the burning question “is okay for us to pray together” that lay buried beneath the cordial conversation. I, too, felt uneasy. I guess I worried that my stance on this issue may set a precedent.
As you may come to learn on our journey together, there is no simple answer to these questions. Some Muslims may feel offended if asked to pray by a non-Muslim; while others may feel honored. One Muslim may feel threatened to be visited by a non-Family member; while another may not even flinch or even enjoy the visit.
The bottom line is that like any other group of human beings Muslims come in a large variety of viewpoints that range from ultra-conservative to ultra-liberal. Although there are certain religious principles and concepts that are universal (as we shall discuss in future), actual practice and implementation varies tremendously.
I don’t want to leave you feeling more confused than when you started reading this post so here are my parting thoughts for today. 1) When in doubt, ask and don’t let the answer surprise you. It’s that simple. The lesson here is that Muslims are people too. If you ask their preference, you’re likely to get an answer. 2) At the same time, do not generalize. If you visit one sick Muslim who allows you in and you say a prayer together, don’t expect the same every time. 3) Finally, don’t be offended by the Muslim’s choice. Just because someone doesn’t feel comfortable shaking your hand that does not mean that s/he has a problem with you. More than likely, the person is just shy (a common thread for Muslims).
Best wishes my friends. May you find the truth as you journey through this socially-cloudy planet.
Farewell for now…
Your Muslim Neighbor
Holy War
As a Muslim, I hear the Arabic word “Jihad” often translated as “Holy War.” What an oxymoron! What could possibly be holy about killing, destruction, and terror? Translating in reverse, I would describe a Holy War as two groups of people engaged in serious combat using large water cannons full of holy water.
Being modestly educated in the religion of Islam, I find that most Muslims who have some understanding of the word Jihad translate it as “struggle against evil and injustice.” Many people of this planet (not just Muslims) are at a constant state of Jihad with their inner demons and fighting to protect the rights of the innocent.
True. The concept of Jihad has and is still being misused by some to justify violent struggles for land and power. However, not all the cases that commonly come to mind upon the mention of Jihad are as black and white as we would hope. Regardless, Islam strictly forbids harming civilians as well as suicide.
Thank God I’m not God! I’m not responsible for either side in these controversial wars. Since I don’t have to manage the planet, I can focus on my own Jihad to be a better spouse, parent, sibling, child, neighbor: basically a better person. That should keep me pretty busy for the next several decades. Fortunately, peace-loving Muslims such as myself (as common as we are) are not very newsworthy. So don’t look for me on the evening news or on the front page of the paper. Instead, look in your neighborhood for the guy mowing his lawn or the lady watering her flowers. Don’t be surprised if he/she isn’t the color/race you would expect.
Best wishes always,
Your Muslim Neighbor
