akilanajmah | Ramadan 2012 Day 1: Bam! I'm here and that is something. (Reply)

Since last year lots have changed for me. I have a Muslim community that is more human to me. I've met lots of amazing sisters and brothers. So I guess I want to focus a bit on some social things during Ramadan.

But forgive me if I ramble. I'm on hour ten of my fast and my head is beginning to ache a bit.

So Matheen and I had a conversation about Jummah (friday/congregation) and Jumaah (together), community and what they should mean.
He posited that there is a scale of what people expect from Jummah prayers. The conversation started as a continuation of a conversation that we'd had with a larger group a few days earlier-- about connection with people and making it workable.

I won't go into that first conversation much because OMG RAGE STABBITY but here is his scale:

Traditional/Low: Jummah should just be your mandatory 20 minutes with the congregation. There will be a speaker. It doesn't matter if they speak a language you know, or if they're interesting or if it is a pleasant environment. Women can be wherever the powers that be decide-- in the basement, in the rafters, it isn't really important. You do it. It is over. You be out.

Middle low: Jummah should be at least in a language you understand. And on topic in some way. And the women should be somewhere in the same sanctuary, but not without a barrier.

Middle: Women should be in the musallah, but apart from the men without a barrier. The speaker should not only speak your language but should be somewhat charismatic and the khutbah should be relevant to life in some way.

Middle High: Women and men should pray together, shoulder to shoulder. Women should be able to be khateeb, but from the back.

High: Women lead prayer from the front.

Untraditional/Super high: Naked man woman prayer.

The scale isn't really about a preference, so ignore the words high and low. It is more about tradition and non-tradition.

Anyway. We were talking about what we believed, and what we'd want and then about why, really, none of it would work in the way that people wanted it to. People seem to want a congregational prayer that does everything for them. It makes them feel inspired and welcome and part of something bigger and holy and delightful and, frankly, like they just had a cigarette after 52 consecutive orgasms.

Matheen pointed out that he doesn't go to things like Jummah or a halaqa for the purposes of learning things. But because that's how you meet people. From then on, you have to put the effort in yourself.

I agree. There isn't going to be a single magical jummah for anyone. Just like there is no magical negro, there is no magical jumma. And if it doesn't work for you, stewing in the lack of magical jumma doesn't help. You know what does?

Doing something for someone else. That inspired feeling, that feeling part of something and feeling welcome? All of that will come if you do what the Prophet, may he have peace and blessings, prescribed the most.

CHARITY.

You go help someone who needs you, you'll feel inspired. You'll see your blessings in sharper relief and you'll pray thanks to Allah, drawing yourself closer to Him. You will feel part of something greater because, yo, you are and who doesn't welcome someone coming to help them? You'll be welcomed with open arms whether you're a convert, a Christian, an embittered white woman, a woman or a GLBTQ person. No one will care because you're there to help! You're there to dig someone else out of their dire circumstances. And, in making something not about you (for once in your life), you might be surprised about who you connect with.

None of that can be attained by sitting on the floor for a few minutes while someone talks at you, no matter how amazing the speaker. No speaker can draw all of the best of what Allah has bestowed on you out in the way that charity can. It is what connects us with one another and highly possible why the Prophet recommended it most amongst all other things.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Every Muslim has to give in charity." The people then asked: "(But what) if someone has nothing to give, what should he do?" The Prophet replied: "He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns)." The people further asked: "If he cannot find even that?" He replied: "He should help the needy who appeal for help." Then the people asked: "If he cannot do (even) that?" The Prophet said finally: "Then he should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds, and that will be regarded as charitable deeds." - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 524

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Save yourself from hellfire by giving even half a date-fruit in charity." - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 498

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Charity is prescribed for each descendant of Adam every day the sun rises.' He was then asked: 'From what do we give charity every day?' The Prophet answered: 'The doors of goodness are many...enjoining good, forbidding evil, removing harm from the road, listening to the deaf, leading the blind, guiding one to the object of his need, hurrying with the strength of one's legs to one in sorrow who is asking for help, and supporting the feeble with the strength of one's arms--all of these are charity prescribed for you.' He also said: 'Your smile for your brother is charity.'" - Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 98