[Repeated Title] - No 18th Title

“Asalaam Alaykum (Peace be upon you),” is a common way that Muslims greet one another. This greeting was derived from the sacred text of Islam, The Holy Quran. Islam believes God, also known as Allah, conveyed his message through his prophets. The first prophet was Adam (peace be upon him) and the last was Muhammad (pbuh). Many claim that Islam didn’t start until approximately 610 C.E., when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Muhammad (pbuh) on the night of power (Lailatul-Qadr), but there were many prophets before him. Islam originated in Saudi Arabia, specifically in the cities of Mecca and Medina. To this day remains a monument known as the Ka’aba, the gate to Heaven, believed to be built by Abraham, and his son Ishmael. At least once in a Muslim’s life, they must go on Hajj to Mecca. Hajj is a pilgrimage that consists of several rituals, some of which involving the Ka’aba. Completing Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. The five pillars are, testimony of faith, prayer, giving Zakat (donations to the needy), fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to Mecca. These five teachings from the Quran are what every Muslim strives to achieve throughout their life. In the Modern World, roughly one billion people worldwide practice Islam and there are many branches. Two of the most popular branches are the Sunni and the Shiite. One of the main differences is that each section had a different opinion on how the world will end, and they disagree about who was the successor of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) when he passed away. The lesser popular are the Ahmadiyya and the Druze. Up to this day, scholars still argue over different interpretations of the Quran, probably one of the reasons for different branches of Islam.

In New York City, there are an estimated 600,000 Muslims, and they live in various neighborhoods. The place of worship of Muslims is a called a mosque, and there are 175 in New York City. However, Islam can be practiced daily in the comfort of your own home. Many Muslims pray five times a day in their own homes. Nevertheless, mosques are usually open 24/7, with an Imaam who calls the people to prayer. A popular tradition is attending the mosque for Jumaah on Fridays, where one listens to the Imaan preach about Islamic beliefs, current events, and other topics. Islam has adjusted over the years, by interpreting the Quran into what is mandatory, and the things that you don’t have to do, but it would be better for you if you did. Islam has the ability to change, due do the many interpretations of the Quran.

I interviewed my grandmother Bibi Ameena Amin, age 69, a Sunni Muslim who currently lives in Queens, NY, but was born and raised in Guyana. When asked, she classifies herself as semi-religious, always remembering god and trying to be a good Muslim. She prays five times a day, reads the Quran, but claims that she isn’t a fanatic. She just tries to follow the rules of the Quran. On occasion, Mrs. Amin goes to the mosque to pray, but not often due to medical conditions. She has been a Muslim ever since she was born, due to the fact that both her parents were Muslims. From when she was young, Islam had changed so that there are many ways for non-Muslims to acquire knowledge, like through books or the Internet. She said it has changed from when you were little and the reason behind your religion was ‘because mommy said so’. She feels that there are many more converts nowadays, and instead of the Quran only being in Arabic, it is now in many different languages. There are even kids as young as 10 years-old that manage to memorize the entire Quran in Arabic, even if they are not able to speak or understand Arabic at all. One of my questions was, “What are the ways in which Islam affects your life?” to which she responded, “Islam itself is a way of life. It affects an individual’s interactions with others, and your way of thinking. It provides moral codes, and teaches people right from wrong. For example, Islam is against charging interest. When one wishes to by a Quran, they only pay for the labor that was required to produce it; no profit should ever be made. This says a lot about the values of the religion.” Mrs. Amin told me that by observing the laws of the Quran, and understanding the Surahs (chapters) one can live the ideal Muslim life. Mrs. Amin’s words to me were, “Love people, give good advice, help those in need and never be selfish. Islam encourages charity, and these are all acts of charity. Be kind and give a smile, because you never know who you could be helping out.”