This is a report made by Mrs Naima Fahmi,a fulbright recipient,on her visit to the United States in May 2002.
I learned a lot during my visit to the United states. Before travelling there I had a terrible fear of going to a country where, as I heard, Muslims were victims of harassment of various kinds after the Ilth September. I shared my fears with Mrs Michele Cassavante, the person who was going to host me. She was very calm and reassured me. Then I summoned alI my courage and headed to the Airport.
Of course I was subject to a meticulous control at the customs, but I was telling myself alI the time that the customs ofticers were doing their duty .
At the Airport, Mrs Michele cassavante was there waiting for me. Her smile was so precious and helpful. l badly needed warm feelings. Her children were welcoming. A very comfortable home was waiting for me.
Mrs cassavante had made every inch of the room l was going ta 1ive in look nice.
A day after, Mrs cassavante introduced me to the teachers as weIl as the students of Blacke school. Then l started talking about my religion in social studies and comparative religion classes. Most of the students were showing an interest in learning more about Islam.
I discovered that most of the students failed to differentiate lslam trom the culture. They didn't know that there is a distortion of the Koran to serve men's wishes. They didn't know:
I )That Islam insists on a nice relationship between people and orders Muslims to argue toward others, esp. the ]ews and the Christians with tolerance (Koran: 29,46).
2)That women occupy a very privileged place in Islam:
a. they were given the rights to vote 1423 years ago (Koran: 60,12).
b. In Koran Allah addresses both men and women equally (Koran; 33,35).
c. They have the right to be educated as the women who were jurisprudents and poetesses throughout the periods of Islamic history .
d. They have the right to kind treatments (Koran :
30,20).
3) That polygamy is only a licence impossible to be utilised
because it is conditional upon a proviso very difficult to fulfil: "But if you fear that you cannot maintain equality among them (the wives) marry only one" Koran :(4,3).
4) That a boy receives one full share and a girl receives 1/2 inheritance in an Islamic society where men should provide for women, not in a society where women are left to strive alone against poverty.
5) That a Muslim woman who wears a Hijab is not an oppressed woman, but a woman who believes that her body is her own private concern. She feels free from the idea that her worth is proportional to her attractiveness. By covering her body and sbowing only ber face and hands, a Muslim woman complies with Allah 's recommendations and asserts that in any social interaction her physical person isn't to play any role.
6) That "Jihad" means:
a. A life long effort that alI people must make to improve themselves by struggling against their weakness.
b. Spreading the word of Allah at the time of the prophet (P .B. U .H) and the khalifs since it was a divine duty upon Muslims to make this new religion known .Now spreading the word of Allah can be achieved by Muslims'behaviour. Allah says: "There is no compulsion in religion". Koran:(2,255 ).
Many students who attended my lectures came to me, shook hands with me and said they were thankful because they knew Islam only through Muslims'behaviour which is in same cases very far from the real religion.
I never knew that American people are so friendly. Many times l felt ashamed of myself because of the stereotypes l had in mind. Most of the people l met were hospitable, thoughtful and tolerant. Many examples will stay with me for a long time. I won 't forget for example Mary Ellen, a teacher of French, at Still water High school who called from the hospital, where she had a surgery , to make sure that l had someone to drive me to school instead of her the following day.I won't either forget many students'mothers who came to school and invited me to cafes and also to their homes.
We were able to share our feelings as human beings without thinking of any political barriers. There were no frontiers to our love. l do believe now more strongly than before that people can live in better understanding of one another, celebrate both their differences and their common heritage if they are allowed to communicate face to face. What goes on in the political fields makes people biased, and consequently full of prejudices and may be hatred. It's only through real contacts that we can erode the wrong ideas we have on "the other".
I truly thank M.A.C.E.C.E. for having given me the opportunity to make American "Sisters" and "'Brothers." as the following letters show:
l also had the opportunity to know about the American educational system. l must say that l was fascinated by it.
It doesn 't constitute any barriers to students. It believes in the student and encourages him/her to choose his/her own learning goals. It believes that the students have a natural inclination to learn and helps them to do it through tremendous facilities.
P.S:
I also insist on thanking the woolmans. I truly cherish the moments we spent together. I also thank the Dessi Olive family and their lovely children who helped me to feel at home. And l finally thank alI the students 'parents who were extremely nice.
Casablanca, the 6th June 2002
Mrs Naima FAHMI
