Reflection 1: Brick by Brick First off, Ramadan Mubarak. We made it. Ive been looking forward to this day since last Ramadan ended. A community is like a building. We have a foundation, the leaders that organize everything. And then we have the rest of the building. The part that shows. The common man. Lets suppose that this brick building is the Washington Monument, so its not to wide, but very tall. One brick falls there is some worry, but we arent frightened. When many bricks start falling you wouldnt want to go near that building. Thats how our communities are. Unfortunately we dont look at the individuals who try feeling accepted because we dont value them as much. And when many people leave our communities due to feeling not valued enough, thats when we say that weve always have loved them. يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ (49:13) Sahih International: O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. (49:13) What we each have to do is reach our hands out to everyone. It happens in every community (intentionally or unintentionally) that there are people who leave because they felt under appreciated. Today I met my brothers of the mosque after a very long year. Some I meet at Friday prayer during my school breaks. And the rest only during Ramadan. I never was a part of my community my first four years in my new residence. I had no idea of what was going on. Sure I prayed friday prayer, but what is the purpose of this congregation? And it hit me later on that there has to be a set form of community. Organizers and volunteers. Last Ramadan was spectacular because I fully engaged into everything. Volunteering every day for breaking fast time (known a iftar) and during the last 10 nights I even sat for retreat (ittiqaf). I started volunteering at the coffee table. So I could make coffee for everyone during taraweeh and iftar to reduce crowding. By the end of Ramdan I was in charge from the Mens side for Suhoor (time to close the fast) running back and forth making sure everything was ok, and I was one of the people helping for iftar too. Some days I didnt get but a few dates because it was all done by the time I checked on everyone. It made me realize that all these events that take place in life require responsibility. And it requires people to take a stand for doing things themselves. It made me appreciate all the things leaders do even more. So in a nutshell: At times we feel uneasy in an organization and say that they did not pay much attention to me, but how much did you do for the community/organization? How much did you do to build it? To show your support? To make a change? At times we want to blame others for not accepting us, but we need to show who we are and be as less selfish by ignoring the bigger picture. Everyone is important, that includes you and those in your community.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 07:21:22 +0000
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