The 10th of Muharram

I am still trying to get the hang of this whole blogging thing. I am hoping I'll get the hang of it soon and find an appropriate style.

My days of vacation are dwindling, and I realize how fast time is flying. I’ll be starting the last Spring semester of my undergraduate career in four days, inshallah. (The plan is to graduate this May…Of course, my destiny may change in the next few months, so I am hoping for the best.) I can’t help but feel a little emotional and nervous. It makes me realize how fast I am growing up! :P

Although I wish I had done something exciting for break, I am glad I had a chance to relax and catch up on life. Winter vacation also gave me the opportunity to fast for the first 10 days of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. Yesterday was the 10th of Muharram and the day of Ashura. The significance of Ashura is different for Sunni and Shia Muslims. Shias mourn the death of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hussain ibn Ali, who was martyred at the Battle of Karbala. The Battle of Karbala consolidated the power and position of the Umayyad dynasty, which was led by Yazid I at the time (Islamic history can be a bit complicated). Thus, Shias commemorate this day as a day of mourning. Sunnis, on the other hand, observe the 10th of Muharram differently. According to Sunni sources, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) encouraged his followers to fast on this day when he found the Jews of Medina fasting on this day. The Jews fasted on this day because it was on this day that Prophet Moses fasted as a sign of gratitude to God for saving the Israelites in Egypt. Muslims view Prophet Moses (Musa) as a great prophetic figure because he is often mentioned in the Qur’an. I’ve also read that the 10th of Muharram the day when Prophet Noah left his ark after the great flood.

I fasted on this day as a sign of devotion to Allah, and because I come from a Sunni family. I have a problem with the label Sunni and Shia, but I claim Sunni because my family and religious practices reflect the attitudes of “Sunni Islam.” These labels are human constructions that need to be deconstructed. I hope to expand my knowledge about Islam and improve my faith, so I may become more in touch with a strong Islamic identity. Anyway, the 10th of Muharram is a day of contention between Shia and Sunni Muslims, a rivalry that has contributed to major problems in Islamic societies. The schism in Islam occurred shortly after the Prophet Muhammad’s death when Ali did not become caliph, or spiritual ruler of the Islamic community. This great schism has led to bloody battles and conflicts in Islamic societies that continue into the 21st century. This is what often makes me emotional and frustrated. Maybe if this schism didn’t exist, a good number of problems in the Muslim world would disappear. Sometimes, I can’t fathom why and how this conflict has become this way. How can people brutally murder each other? Why is there such strong hate and distrust between these two groups? Conflicts like these reflect the worst aspect of human nature. When you study the roots of these problems, power is often the primary issue behind these conflicts. The struggle for power tends to result in despicable acts. Is it because religion is so personal that it affects other aspects of life? Personal beliefs also cause many of us to judge others because we believe our ideologies and beliefs are better than the rest. I’ll be honest, I think people who argue about the rightful successor of the Prophet (SAW) are petty. The caliphs of Islam are very important, but what progress will we make if we argue who should have succeeded the Prophet in the 7th century when we are living in the 21st century. We have our own problems that need to be addressed. History is important because it can teach us a lesson, but it seems in this case that it is only a source of contention. I pray and hope that Muslims will come together and all our problems will end, inshallah. May 2009 be a better world for everyone…