Muslims At Ramadan: Assimilation And Controversy

From Alliance Defense Fund:

Muslims at Ramadan: Assimilation and controversyPosted on August 5th, 2010




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Islam’s holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin on or around Wednesday, Aug. 11. The month of fasting and abstaining by Muslims is increasingly recognized as part of America’s religious life, but this year it coincides with a bitter dispute over the construction of an Islamic center near Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan.



The construction of the Islamic center is a project of the Cordoba Initiative, which aims to improve relations between Islam and the West. But the project has become a flashpoint for controversy, with many saying it is inappropriate to have an Islamic center and mosque so close to the site of the 9/11 terror attacks by radical Muslims.



Others say the Cordoba Initiative would show the Islamic world that America is committed to religious freedom, and they argue that the center would showcase a mainstream Islam that rejects violence and fosters dialogue among all faiths.



The center still faces hurdles, and the dispute — coinciding with the monthlong observance of Ramadan — has become a marker for the state of Islamic assimilation in the United States.



This edition of ReligionLink provides links to a number of editions on Islam that can help reporters cover the Ground Zero controversy, the Ramadan holiday and other issues related to Muslims in America.



RESOURCES

Mapping Muslim assimilation: Islam’s growing social infrastructure — Like Jews, Catholics and other immigrant groups before them, Muslims are building a social infrastructure in America that includes houses of worship, schools, health clinics, banks, charities and more. Muslims’ social and religious needs are diverse — and that diversity is reflected in the network of mosques and related social services centers they are creating.



Muslims and civil rights: A continuing debate — President Barack Obama’s June 4, 2009, address to the Muslim world served as a fresh reminder of the tensions between civil rights and national security that have played out in the U.S. and abroad since 9/11. The president’s speech was welcomed by the Muslim community, which remains deeply concerned about attacks against Muslims.



Understanding Islam: From Sunnis to Shiites and beyond — Muslims tend to avoid terms like denominations or sects to describe the different streams of tradition. All Muslims are one, they note, and share the same basic beliefs and rituals. But there are different schools of thought within Islam, denoted by historical and legal differences — differences that can lead to serious divisions.



Covering Islam and politics — Muslims’ engagement with government and politics is becoming more prominent in the United States and abroad on issues ranging from immigration and terrorism to charities and civil rights. This guide lists research centers, organizations and scholars with expertise on the growing role of Muslims’ interactions with government and politics.



Covering Islam 101: The basics — Fifty-eight percent of Americans say they know little or nothing about Islam’s practices. And what they know is sometimes wrong. Meanwhile, 32 percent of Americans say the media are the biggest influence on their perception of Muslims. This edition of ReligionLink is a journalist’s guide to covering Muslims and Islam in America. It is a complement to a Religion Newswriters webinar presented on March 11, 2008.



Islam: A guide to U.S. experts and organizations — This ReligionLink guide includes more than 100 experts who specialize in such areas as civil rights, politics, foreign affairs, art, culture, history, law, family issues and more. It also includes Muslim advocacy organizations, research centers and think tanks.



NOTE: Islam follows a lunar calendar, and the start of Ramadan is determined by the sighting of the new moon. Because that sighting can vary from place to place, there are ongoing debates about the official start of the holiday. The Fiqh Council of North America hopes to establish a firm date beforehand (Aug. 11 this year), but that effort has met with some opposition. Check with your local Muslim leaders for when they will mark the start of Ramadan.