|
 In
the Name of Allah, Most
Gracious, Most Merciful
8 tips on sharing Ramadan with
your neighbors
Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As: Mujahid said that
Abdullah ibn Amr
slaughtered a sheep and said: Have you presented a gift from it
to my neighbor,
the Jew, for I heard the Apostle of Allah (peace and blessings
be upon
him) say: Gabriel kept on commending the neighbor to me so that
I thought
he would make an heir? (Abu Dawud).
The Prophet Muhammad said: "He is not a believer who eats his
fill while
his neighbor remains hungry by his side" (Baihaqi).
"By Allah, he has no faith (the Prophet repeated it three
times) whose
neighbors are not safe from his wickedness" (Bukhari).
*****
Ramadan is a great opportunity to share Islam and more
specifically, its
values of spirituality, generosity and kindness with others,
especially
your neighbors. It's a great time to do Dawa. And Dawa is very
much needed
in the current atmosphere of anger, tension and sadness in the
wake of
September 11, 2001.
Here are some ideas on how you can share the joy with your
neighbors this
Ramadan.
1. Begin with Dua
Make Dua that Allah give you and your family the sincerity,
strength, motivation
and wisdom to do this. Dawa is hard work, and it needs
preparation, commitment
and organization.
2. Put up a Ramadan banner on your door
This can be something handmade or something more formal.
But don't stop there. Print out a factsheet on Ramadan and
stick that
on the door to educate readers passing by about the blessed
month and what
it means to Muslims.
3. Send neighbors Iftar snacks
Include a note with the food that the month of Ramadan is here
and you
are sharing your joy with them.
You can offer snacks that are not just "American" but also
"ethnic" (i.e.
African, Middle Eastern, Indo-Pakistani, etc.). You can include
index cards
with the snacks listing all of the ingredients. This will help
neighbors
avoid food that causes allergies.
4. Give kids Ramadan Mubarak balloons and candy
Let your neighbors' kids also feel the happiness of Ramadan by
including
chocolate and candy among your snacks. Balloons also add a nice
touch,
and if you can get some printed which have "Ramadan Mubarak"
written on
them, they may remember the blessed month even after it has
passed.
5. Publish Ramadan information in your neighborhood newsletter
If you are part of a tenants' association, a group within your
housing
complex or your neighborhood block parents' association and
they publish
a newsletter, inform them about Ramadan and prepare a short
write-up about
the month. This is a great way of informing many more neighbors
about Ramadan.
6. Have a neighborhood Iftar gathering
You don't have to invite everyone. Perhaps just the closest
neighbors can
attend this event. Send handmade invitations for an "Iftar
gathering" at
most a week in advance (avoid the word "party" as it may be
misunderstood
to mean a gathering including alcohol, loud music, etc.).
Ask about allergies or other food issues before establishing
the menu.
Include American and "ethnic" food.
Be sure to invite Muslim family and friends who are comfortable
interacting
with non-Muslims to this event, and brief them about how they
should properly
share Ramadan with the neighbors.
Also, have some written material on Ramadan available for your
guests.
You can print out this factsheet and put it on some fancy paper
to add
to the festive air of the evening.
At the gathering:
Be cordial, generous and friendly, but maintain Islamic rules
of behavior
and modesty. This should not be a "party" in the common
understanding,
but more of a religious celebration that is spiritual and
respectful to
all.
Don't impose information. Just let non-Muslim guests ask
questions, if
they want to. As well, be ready for questions about Islam and
violence/terrorism,
the oppression of women, etc. Give neighbors the benefit of the
doubt and
clarify their misunderstanding in a calm, gentle manner.
7. Get your kids on it
Tell your kids to inform other neighbors' kids what Ramadan is
all about
and have the children invite their classmates to your Iftar
gatherings.
8. Talk about what Ramadan means to you
What's it like to fast? How do you work/go to school and still
fast? These
are some questions you may be asked. Don't just point your
guests to the
pamphlets. Tell them and use some personal examples they can
relate to.
Copyright © 2002 Sound Vision Foundation, Inc
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