September 10, 2010, is the first day of Eid and the last day of Rosh Hashanah. In our home, both will be honored.
In a recent Washington Post article, "The Spiritual Convergence of Rosh Hashanah, Eid al-Fitr and 9/11," co-authors Rabbi Marc Schneier and Imam Shamsi Ali compare the two holy days and find much common ground: Ramadan and Rosh Hashanah are both based on timeless principles of the unity and brotherhood of all human beings. Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of humankind itself and reminds us that all people, regardless of ethnic or religious background, are created in God's image. As President Obama noted in a recent message to the American Muslim community, Ramadan is a time when Muslims "reflect on the responsibility human beings have to each other and to God."
They continue: Both of our faiths teach us that every person, whatever his or her station in life, has the power to make a positive difference in the world. The shofar (ram's horn) which is sounded during the Rosh Hashana service, is meant as a goad to conscience; to awaken each of us to our moral obligation to raise our voices on behalf of justice. During Eid-al-Fitr, Muslims are urged to reach out to people with whom they have become estranged and to do good deeds on behalf of the poor and unfortunate.
Indeed, in our own interfaith household we find common ground every day. A Muslim, a Jew, and a Roman Catholic by birth, we have all experienced religious intolerance.
At dinner last night, we discussed anti-Muslim sentiment in America and the tiny group in Florida who are inciting others to burn the Qur'an on 9/11. Shakib noted that, unlike him, many people in Afghanistan believe that the Qu'ran burning is widespread. They do not understand that the pastor inciting these actions has a flock of only 50 people. Such news gets to them in broad strokes and their anger is fueled by Taliban insurgents.
Shakib has been looking forward to Eid which is the happiest day in the Islamic calendar and typically celebrated with feasting and gift giving over a 3-day period.
When we asked the local mosque about their plans, they said that they will have Eid prayers and a breakfast on Friday morning but nothing more. So I went online to search for possible Eid celebrations in the area. I found nothing.
Digging a little deeper, I began to understand what was happening. Most US Mosques and Islamic Centers are not celebrating Eid over the 3-day weekend because of the 9/11 anniversary. They are both fearful of being misunderstood - a fear grounded in recent experience - and committed to respecting the national mood. They are also Americans in mourning. Innocent Muslim-Americans died in the 9/11 conflagration too.
Over dinner, Shakib shared with us some of the rumors that he had heard in Afghanistan -- that Osama bin Laden had already been killed by Americans and that some Americans had directly participated in the 9/11 plot. He also wanted to know if we had heard of Guantanamo.
We did our best to answer his questions. He was thoughtful and interested. And I could sense the despair beneath the surface as he spoke of his people, the violence he has seen and his sense that things have only worsened in his short lifetime.
"People who get out don't want to go back," he said. "Why would they when it is better everywhere else? But I will go back and help. I do not fear death. I only worry about what will happen to my mother if I die."
For now, Shakib is safe. Tonight he will break his Ramadan fast. And Jon will finally sleep past 3:40 am.
Shakib will go to the mosque on Friday morning for the local Eid celebration. On Friday night, we will take him to the circus.
For Jon, who does not attend services, it is nonetheless Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. He will exchange greetings with family and friends and reflect on his responsibility to raise his voice on behalf of justice.
Not wanting to be left out, I consulted the Catholic Liturgical Calendar. September 10th is Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time.
Everybody else gets a holy day and I get Ordinary Time? I was disappointed. Then I found the Gospel reading for Friday. It was perfect.
And he told them a parable, "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?...How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,' when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother's eye. (Luke 6:39-42)
Eid Mubarak! Happy Eid!
L'Shana Tova! Happy New Year!
Peace be with you. And may your eyes be open to all expressions of love and faith in this Ordinary Time.
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