As I am writing this, Ramadan is beginning in its first nightfall. I live in a Catholic household so not much will be changing at home but life will be changing for nearly the rest of my community that is 98% Muslim.
Ramadan is a major holiday so I’ve known about it and been aware of it happening each year. This year it takes on a new meaning as much of my host family, most of my coworkers, and all of my friends observe the 9th month of the Islamic calendar with the practice of fasting.
Fasting is a big part of Ramadan. I’ve always known this, but what is the importance of it and why now?
Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. There is also a verse in the Quran that prescribed fasting for all Muslims who are mature and healthy enough to fast a whole day. Muslims fast as an act of worship, a chance to get closer to God and a way to garner compassion for those in need.
So why fast during this month? What makes the ninth month of the Islamic calendar special?
Ramadan is a holy month dedicated to prayer, Quran recitation, introspection and fasting during the sunlight hours. It is a month of the Islamic calendar in which Prophet Muhammad is said to have revealed the Quran to his followers. It is also believed the gates of Heaven are open and the gates of Hell are closed. Because of this, Muslims believe that their good actions bring a greater reward during this month than at any other time of year, as this month has been blessed by God. In turn, bad habits will be easier to break in this time as the devils are chained up in Hell and cannot be tempters.
I am also taking this month to reflect on religious tolerance. We’ve been struggling to accept those different from us, often for religious reasons, since the creation of world religions. All this time has passed and it’s astonishing to me how far we have to go. I have come to forget this struggle for tolerance in my daily life as I walk around my community and not even notice difference due to the strong community across religions. In our world it is made out to be that Christians and Muslims couldn’t be more different. Yet, here in Senegal they live, work, eat, and even pray side by side. Differences aren’t glossed over, but celebrated and protected. Living in a majority Muslim country I have felt no shame for being Christian and only interest and respect in conversations of religion and practices.
This isn’t just tolerance, it’s religious symbiosis. We all need each other to keep everything running and everyone happy.
Why can Senegal foster this religious symbiosis, but nearly the rest of world seems to be struggling so hard to even broach the topic of tolerance?
The opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem seems like a step in the wrong direction.
President Trump has moved the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem citing it as “a long-overdue step to advance the peace process and to work toward a lasting agreement.”
However this move is highly controversial as it breaks decades of US and international policy during a time where there is already conflict in the region.
The move of the embassy increased the intensity of conflict in already tumultuous times. The day after the opening at least sixty people were killed and thousands more injured in fighting between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians protesters.
I won’t bog you down with all the history of conflict and contention leading up to present day realities in the region. But believe me when I say it’s not ideal for peace that the movement of the embassy shows the world that the US is squarely on the side of Israel.
After the opening, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land released a statement in strong opposition to the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem. Bishop Sani Ibrahim Azar explains, “This move is in violation of international law and reversed decades of foreign policy regarding Israel and Palestine. Such a unilateral decision undermines any potential for achieving just peace based on the UN Resolutions, and in fact has increased tension and conflicts throughout the region.”
“Jerusalem is a very special city, holy to three religions, and therefore it should be a place of peace, justice, and reconciliation.”
Jerusalem is a shared city for Christians, Jews and Muslims and freedom of access to holy sites for everyone is essential. Limiting this access to any group, to any person, only sets us back in the goal for our world to be a Mecca of religious symbiosis. Riddling these consecrated sites with conflict sends a message to the world that we all wish to work against each other. When what we need is to come together.
We are in need of reconciliation in our world. Reconciliation leads to symbiosis.
Unfortunately, the US and many of its citizens aren’t even close to reconciliation. It amazes me a country that was brought up with the hard work and ideals of persons escaping religious persecution in the Old World would be the same to foster so much ill will towards religious tolerance and not even recognize the possibility for religious symbiosis.
There are events, large and small, happening all around the world that are furthering us from religious symbiosis. It’s furthering us from peace and community, and hurting us. And to think, this is all happening during the holy month of Ramadan.
Sojourn in Senegal 