9-11 Caring Carolina

Cultural Diversity

                To understand September 11, we try to understand Muslims and the Islam religion. The religion is really founded on peace but with any religion the Taliban has its own evil interpretation. “Even the word ‘Islam’ is a form of the Arabic word ‘salaam’ which means peace,” says Marc Mullinax, a religion professor at Mars Hill College in North Carolina.

                Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad began to receive revelations from Allah (Muslim god) in about 610. These were transmitted by the angel, Gabriel, over 22 years in Mecca and Medina. These revelations were compiled into a book called the Koran. As we have looked through the Koran, we did not see any words that encouraged hate and violence. The Koran contains the words and practices of Muhammad and make up the foundation of Islamic law.

                There are 1.1 billion Muslims in the world and it is the world’s second largest religion behind Christianity. Muslims face Mecca five times a day, praying to get forgiveness from Allah. Fasting is required during the holy month of Ramadan. Muslims are urged to make pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during their lifetime. Mullinax says, “Nearly 99 percent of Muslims in the world will say the Taliban is not correct and their radical interpretation of Islam is wrong.” It is sad to think only 1% of the Islamic religions has caused so much heartache, evil, and destruction.

                As South Carolinians, we must be careful not to condemn all Muslims. Franklin Graham said on a national news program that Islam “is a very evil and wicked religion.” Is it, or is it just a few? He states, “…In the past, I have expressed my concerns about the teachings of Islam regarding the treatment of women and the killing if non-Muslims or infidels.” 

                Some Middle Eastern students on South Carolina college campuses have been harassed since September 11. Twelve of the eighty-three students at the University of South Carolina have dropped out. Furman and Clemson University Arabic students say they have had mean glares and things yelled at them.

                Columbia has two mosques, Masjid al-Muslim Islamic Center and Masjid as-Salaam. And there are many more in South Carolina. An Irmo High School student, Shoeba Hassan says, “We want other people to know about the religion, and so far people have been very supportive. With recent events a lot of students and teachers have realized how much they didn’t understand.”

                A good thing is that Columbia Muslims joined with ministers, rabbis, Hindus, and others to meet with Governor Hodges. They held a summit of religious leaders in South Carolina after the September 11^th attacks and this is a step in the right direction. This will help us learn and respect each other’s differences and cultures to get along better.