Dearest Allah,Since I move to California from Bangladesh I experience many joys and problems. I love USA and am being with my family. But why do so many make comments about Islam and terrorists? Four boys in a car call out to me yesterday morning, calling names and cursing God’s name. Why! Also why do they think I am Arab? Please be helping them to understand more your great mercy.
Rayhan Khan, Orange Country
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April 4th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Some know no better and are afraid of that which they do not understand.
Allah is great, no person will ever change that.
Hold your head up high, walk tall even if you are small.
be brave when you walk amongst your foes.
Love them for they do not love themselves.
April 10th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Hello,
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Best regards,
Snejana Farberov
April 10th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Allah may be great, Buddha, Jesus, pretty much whoever you consider to be great is great.
Apart from the religious aspect; You are great.
You are great for being who you are, what you are, and standing for the things you believe in. Don’t allow other people to bring you down by calling you names. Their ignorance will catch up with them sooner or later in life.
And them thinking you’re Arab; who cares? I’m from Amsterdam and whenever I’m in the USA people think Amsterdam’s a German province. I don’t mind.
You’re you, regardless of race, religion or geographics. And nobody can change that.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:28 am
I’m praying for you. There are dangers in this country. The are ignorant people. Ignorant, stupid people. I apologize. I am so sorry for the way ignorant people treat you. Don’t let their hatred anger you. I suggest that you feel sorry for them. Their stupidity keeps them in a box. They’ll never know the great things outside of their boxes. I am so sorry. So So SO SO SO SO sorry.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:00 am
As to mistaking you for Arab, sorry, but it is merely a huge, stupid generalization entirely based on your general skin color. What you may be mistaken for largely depends on the people in the area — the nationalization most commonly known either living in the area or on TV — it’s just the first thing that pops in their mind.
As to the insults and the Islam/terrorist connection… it is fear and plain ignorance. Most people know enough to fear, but not enough to know they don’t need to fear you. The overgeneralized connection to Islam to terrorists is a shame, but unfortunately common. Most people just don’t take the time to learn about different sects of a religion unless they are in it or at least know something in it. However, most people also know that and are not meaning have it apply to all Islamic followers when speaking about it in ordinary conversation. You might do well to correct them with the proper sect name so they will realize they are being offensive in their generalization.
The boys were showing some form of bravado in insulting you and were probably harmless, but they can be brash and dangerous. Be safe. The young are often also stupid.
May 10th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
may Allah help u brother in this ..and all Muslims face problems in u.s.a or any place ,,wish they know how wonderfull and lovely is our religion ,,,my prayers for u
May 19th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Don’t lose faith. Nor hope. But make a difference for your self first and then one person at a time of your faith and of other faith traditions.
Sorry for those that can’t see you as a person, or a human being. But don’t lose yourself in those that can’t even see themselves.
Do you see yourself as a human being? I know you do. So, if you do see yourself as a human being, then be human.
We are taught all to often to be inhumane, so too, to define what it is to be human is a good question to strive to answer. The answers are complex and yet very simple. I will try and answer this, I have but a few answers and mostly questions. To be aware of self. To be aware of others. To be aware. To be myself. To be authentic. To be. To learn to appreciate those different than myself that is everybody. To learn to appreiciate myself and to honor all people by listening twice as often as I speak. To learn… I hope you answer Don’t lose faith in Allah. Don’t lose faith in self or those that are different than you. I hope you find honor in what I say. I also expect that some will fully disagree with me but I am willing to risk the disagreement for connection, relationship, friendship and learning.
Peace,
Pastor Jeff M. Otterman
Far to often do we know the answer to what it means to be inhumane. We are good at being inhumane.
October 8th, 2008 at 12:46 am
dear Rayhan Khan,
i must admit that i don’t know that much about other religions besides my own, and you have made me think about what it is truly like to be ridiculed by people who don’t know you. i hope you understand that people who say and do these things mostly do them out of naivety about other religions and cultures. i hope that you stay strong and i admire your trueness to yourself.
i will pray for you, and i hope that our God (both yours and mine) will hear.
Love always,
Stephanie xoxo