The Importance of Islamic Holidays

You are a CEO of a Fortune 500 company and your company does not observe Islamic holidays? Why not? Did you know Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world? With about 1.8 billion followers, almost one in four people are members of the Islamic faith. So, why aren’t Islamic holidays nationally observed just like Christian ones? Well, it is most likely because Christian holidays like Christmas were adopted in modern society in 529. It is difficult to understand why Christians are able to take days off for Christmas and Good Friday while other religious populations are left out of the equation. Christmas Eve, Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter, account for the same amount of days as Eid ul Adha, but Muslims do not get their fair share of days off. In order to be a more inclusive society, we need to be more accepting and tolerant of religions different from ours, and allow others to take the religious days off they need. 

There are two Muslim festivals set down in Islamic Law, Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha. Eid ul Fitr is not observed to celebrate the end to fasting, but to instead thank Allah for giving Muslims self control during the time of fasting. During this holiday, a celebratory meal is eaten during the daytime. Eid ul Adha is the second of the two Muslim festivals set by Islamic Law. During Eid ul Adha, followers of Islam celebrate Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his own son to Allah. Even though the devil attempted to persuade Ibrahim to disobey Allah, Ibrahim persisted. Muslims relate this to their sacrifices and submission to Allah, and this is why the holiday is celebrated year after year. Sheep are given as sacrifice, and the meat is split evenly among three groups: family, friends, and the poor.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. During this time, Muslims fast during daylight hours. During the ninth month, the Quran, (the Islamic sacred book), was revealed. The gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed with the devils inside. Because the month is blessed by Allah, Muslims believe that their good actions bring a greater reward during this month. Also, they believe it is easier to do good during this month because the devils are locked in Hell, meaning they are unable to tempt Muslims. Lastly, all Muslims try to give up bad habits during this month. They also try to become better Muslims by reading the Quran more often. 

Black Lives Matter, To Most

 

Title: In South Africa, Police Violence Isn’t Black and White

Summary: In countries where Black Lives Matter exists, such as the US, UK, and Canada, police violence is a black and white issue. Conversely, in South Africa, a country engulfed by a legacy of apartheid and racial hierarchies, for mixed race (a.k.a. colored) individuals, police violence is more nuanced/grey. In South Africa, colored people are the minority, and because of their deep history with apartheid and colonialism, they feel neglected and unseen. Apartheid forced this diverse group of mixed people into one group, known as colored. Because of this, colored people began to believe they were not Black. The colonizers of South Africa furthered the colored people’s feeling of superiority by separating the groups, furthering the idea that the Blacks were inferior. For example, being referred to as a “Bantu” in the colored community was extremely hurtful, as it was a slur meant to be used on a Black person. The author of the article shared one way the slur was used was by elders in order to get someone to behave. 

The obvious differences between the two groups was only furthered when a sixteen year old colored boy, named Nathaniel Julies, was shot dead for no apparent reason in his predominately colored neighborhood. The teenager had down syndrome, and he was killed by a Black police officer only a few feet away from his house on a walk to get a biscuit from a local store. The violent incident only furthered the hatred and frustration colored people in South Africa’s society have toward the Black majority government.

Analysis: A lot needs to be done in order for South Africa to combat this issue. In my opinion, for a country that has experienced harsh and unjust discrimination and segregation in the past, they are starting to move in the right direction. During apartheid, the colored South Africans were pawns or active participants in a system that brutally and systematically oppressed their Black brethren. I feel as though being bystanders to the apartheid laws has now allowed the Black majority to justify the killings of some colored people such as Nathaniel Julies. I believe the hatred colored people have towards the Black South Africans needs to be followed with action. The removal of apartheid laws should have been followed by the removal of colored people’s feeling of superiority. One way to combat the issue at hand is getting colored South Africans in political power. Another way to combat the issue could be teaching kids in South Africa about the Black vs. colored war that is going on. Without proper education on the subject, the country risks facing another apartheid, or even mimicking the Rwandan Genocide. 

Discussion Question: Do you think a colored South African could be successfully elected to political office despite being a minority and feeling ostracized in their own country?