Small acts of Ramadan "Not so kindness"
Tom's last post about all the acts of kindess during Ramadan really got me thinking.
In the last week I have been the victim of two attempted muggings...one at knife point, both in busy streets in downtown Fes and both during broad daylight. As I am sure you can imagine this has been quite an interesting week for me. I am pretty down right now not just because of the normal anxiety and fear that comes with being mugged but because it makes me a little disillusioned about the whole idea of Ramadan and whether people really get it.
This is my first Ramadan in a Muslim country and I was so excited to spend it with people who are all celebrating and holding themselves to the same principles that I am. I envisioned this utopia of everyone behaving and being polite and kind to each other..... But I have quickly learned that Ramadan isn't just a time of fasting, purity of thought and action like it is prescribed in the Quran.
I have now been told that Ramadan, especially right before the breaking of the fast, is one of the most dangerous times and that muggings and street-fights are very common. No one was surprised to hear that I was held up at knife point in broad daylight- it is common during Ramadan when people with no work need extra money to pay for all the "necessary" extra food, sweets, etc. for Ramadan. Also since a lot of people tend to think like me that being mugged during Ramadan is an IMPOSSIBILITY in a muslim country a lot of people tend to let their guard down and this gives the thieves a better opportunity. And its not just the foreigners..I know two Moroccans that it happened to this week and i have watched the police arrest 3 people for fighting or stealing in the last 24 hours.
This whole situation is really making me think. Ramadan can't change the fact that there are no jobs here and that people are poor and willing to do anything to survive. Sure, we are all experiencing what it is like to be hungry and how it can make you go mad, but we all know we will have a big table of food waiting for us at maghreb. what if we didn't? Would we be mugging some "rich foreigner" to get enough money to put food on our tables too?
When I got held up at knife point I was so mad at the guy and I could yell at him was "Hashoom Alik, Hashoom Alik, Kayn Ramadan!!!!!!!!!!" (shame on you, shame on you, its Ramadan!!)
Yes, its Ramadan. But people are still poor and have no hope for work, and if Ramadan and the command of God isn't going to stop people from stealing, what is???
In the last week I have been the victim of two attempted muggings...one at knife point, both in busy streets in downtown Fes and both during broad daylight. As I am sure you can imagine this has been quite an interesting week for me. I am pretty down right now not just because of the normal anxiety and fear that comes with being mugged but because it makes me a little disillusioned about the whole idea of Ramadan and whether people really get it.
This is my first Ramadan in a Muslim country and I was so excited to spend it with people who are all celebrating and holding themselves to the same principles that I am. I envisioned this utopia of everyone behaving and being polite and kind to each other..... But I have quickly learned that Ramadan isn't just a time of fasting, purity of thought and action like it is prescribed in the Quran.
I have now been told that Ramadan, especially right before the breaking of the fast, is one of the most dangerous times and that muggings and street-fights are very common. No one was surprised to hear that I was held up at knife point in broad daylight- it is common during Ramadan when people with no work need extra money to pay for all the "necessary" extra food, sweets, etc. for Ramadan. Also since a lot of people tend to think like me that being mugged during Ramadan is an IMPOSSIBILITY in a muslim country a lot of people tend to let their guard down and this gives the thieves a better opportunity. And its not just the foreigners..I know two Moroccans that it happened to this week and i have watched the police arrest 3 people for fighting or stealing in the last 24 hours.
This whole situation is really making me think. Ramadan can't change the fact that there are no jobs here and that people are poor and willing to do anything to survive. Sure, we are all experiencing what it is like to be hungry and how it can make you go mad, but we all know we will have a big table of food waiting for us at maghreb. what if we didn't? Would we be mugging some "rich foreigner" to get enough money to put food on our tables too?
When I got held up at knife point I was so mad at the guy and I could yell at him was "Hashoom Alik, Hashoom Alik, Kayn Ramadan!!!!!!!!!!" (shame on you, shame on you, its Ramadan!!)
Yes, its Ramadan. But people are still poor and have no hope for work, and if Ramadan and the command of God isn't going to stop people from stealing, what is???
6 Comments:
I just wanted to mention that poor people who are in need of food and basic necessities can never think of mugging or even bagging.
I live in Tunisia and it's almost about the same situation here as in Morocco, maybe a little better.
The only category that dares to offend people (not even foreigners, because they are super protected here in general) is about some dirty young people that try to find some extra-money to buy drugs and stuff like that but never to eat or feed their families.
Another point to clarify about Ramadan is: it’s true that Ramadan is the month of fasting, prayers, purity of thought and action like it is prescribed in the Quran. But it applies only to believers and people who do respect Ramadan and the religions in general. But unfortunately the reality in the North African countries are far from that perspective, our countries are lost between Western and Arab worlds.
And if one wants to fast or be good he/she has to do it for God and forget about people, just be nice to them, that’s what I think personally.
ppl now a days don't really represent the religion as if they did, alot of things would have been better esp for those poor ppl ...
I do wish ppl get to act as the principle of Islams rather than just doing things for the sake of ppl ..
If Zakat was done properly by all and poor people were well taken care of, this would be an insignificant problem. Like Ahmed said, it isn't the believers or those with enough who act out in this way. Rather, it is those people that create one of the reasons we fast to try and understand poor people so that we might be better to them in the future.
This is a terrible thing that happened to Suzanne, but a great story for the need to fast to understand and inshallah to help resolve these problems better in the future.
"If Zakat was done properly by all and poor people were well taken care of, this would be an insignificant problem."
That's rather an extreme view there, hensel! This is something you hear from the Muslim Brotherhood when they want to convince you that "Islam is the solution"
People who are facing difficulties and do not want to steal they seek help and some help is usually given. They seek help through mosques of people they know. They would rather get Zakaa than steal.
Those who choose to steal take a different path.
I'm in no way shape or form affiliated with any Muslim Brotherhoodum. Promise.
But even if it weren't Zakat, if even 1% of all the money in the world were appropriately given to help the poor, I'll bet you would see crime rates decrease fantastically.
I totally agree with Hansel !
If people and governments in Muslim countries paid more attention to enforce zakat on people, the communities will be much better.
As for Morocco, the community is really corrupted there! No jobs, low wages ! and it's all the governments fault ! anyway I don't want to get into politics now, but wish you all a blessed ramadan and don't forget to give money to charities and needy people!
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