Muslims celebrate Ramadan
By Jessica Cross crossja84@gmail

While the conflict in the Middle East can portray the Islamic religion as one of violence, many Muslims, both in the U. S. and abroad, live a life of discipline and peace. Dr. Mohammad Shami and his wife, Khalida, are two such individuals.

Dr. Shami is a religious leader at the Masjid Noor- Ul- Huda Mosque at 517 Winmet Drive off Fairfield Road in Columbia. Between 40 and 60 people attend the four- year- old mosque's weekly Friday Juma Prayer service, a service comparable to church on Sunday morning.

These and other Muslims live life without things such as alcohol and pork, partially for health reasons, but also out of obedience. Muslims also abstain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from dawn until sundown during the month of Ramadan. One of the five Pillars of Islam, Ramadan, occurs during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Ramadan began this year September 12 and will end October 12.

These are just a few examples of discipline in a Muslim's life. But the tenets are more than mere habits. According to Mark Hill, who attends the mosque, "Being a Muslim means you've submitted your will to God."

Mark Hill, left, with Dr. Mohammad Shami in front on Masjid Noor- Ul- Huda

Being a Muslim also entails living peaceably. In fact, the word Islam connects to the Arabic word, salam, which means peace. And this peace, says Dr. Shami, comes through submission to God.

But the state of the Muslim world is not characteristic of the peace in Islam. Dr. Shami indicates this violence may stem from Islamic extremists' misinterpretation of what jihad, or holy war, actually is.

The word jihad means struggle. Dr. Shami explains there are two levels of jihad, the first, which is inside the heart, against one's ego. The second level refers to a physical struggle in instances such as self- defense or cases of one's personal property under attack. But Dr. Shami says the stronger man puts himself down, not others.

Dr. Shami has been through times that he or someone he knew was put down. When he attended Washington State University, prayer was not allowed at school, but he says a local church provided a place to pray.

The Shamis were somewhat nervous about any possible association with Islamic extremists after September 11. So a neighbor in Irmo loaned the family an American flag to display outside of their home. "How can I think of persecution in this country," says Dr. Shami.

He says most people have been kind to his family. "There are many people here who consider us neighbors," says Dr. Shami. "We are Americans, too. We need to coexist."

And for Dr. Mohammad and Khalida Shami, part of coexisting means acknowledging the similarities among world religions. For example, the traditional Christian view of Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior, as part of a holy trinity, differs from the Muslim's view of Jesus as a prophet and a good man.

But Khalida says we ought to wipe out the differences. Though this particular belief is central to the Christian faith, both religions maintain that there is one God and He is merciful.