"We don't need people from another country telling us what to do. This is America, and we are American Muslims, and we will have Eid when we want to. I don't need third world countries telling me what to do. I am too intelligent for that," said one of the worshipers at a local mosque posted on our message board. Toledo's Muslims finally decide to divorce themselves once and for all from the Middle East and celebrate their holidays on their terms. Congratulations, you have finally grown up!
For many years, Muslims have been saying that we need to let the old countries do their thing, and let America's Muslims do it their own way. They talk about an "American Islam" all the time. Muslim political figures and scholars have been clamoring for this for years, but always end up caving to foreign pressure.
For many years, Toledo's Muslims caved as well. In the past, they would announce that the Muslim holiday of Eid was going to be on one day, then cave when the rest of the world decides to do it a day later or a day earlier. If Saudi or Libya or Syria announce that they are celebrating Eid tomorrow, many local Muslims start asking for Eid tomorrow as opposed to the verified and scheduled date that they had previously agreed to celebrate Eid on. Why? No one really knows. Maybe it's nostalgia. Maybe it's because they don;t want to fast the full 30 days. But usually, it's lack of education and understanding.
Previously, Toledo's two main mosques have agreed in principle to have Eid together on a pre-determined date. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. The problem in the past has been usually pressure from the constituents clamoring for Eid because "x" Middle Eastern country (or maybe all of them) decided to do Eid on the day before. Hence, they would pressure the mosque board to celebrate Eid early, and sometimes it worked. You would end up with husband and wife celebrating Eid on two different days; the wife fasting while the husband celebrates Eid and eats large meals.
This year, however, local area mosques are unwavering. Eid will be on Wednesday October first regardless of who decides to do it earlier or later. Congratulations on taking a firm and consistent stand on a non-issue issue!
The issue of Eid in the Middle East is more of a political game. Iran never wants to have Eid on the same day that Iraq does. Libya won't celebrate Eid on the same day as Saudi. A lot of politicking goes into their decisions. It's sad, but it is what it is. That's why the Middle East aggregate GDP does not even equal that of Japan's. It's also why the Middle East is routinely ranked as one of the least desirable places to live and work as well as low ratings on lifestyle and satisfaction surveys.
It's so bad in the Middle East that, even when it is mathematically impossible to be Eid, some country will decide to have Eid to be different or to upset their neighbor. This is akin to announcing 3 years in advance that the Super Bowl will be on February 3, 2008, then the day before deciding that it will be February 2, 2008 instead. Absolutely unfathomable, but they do it all the time, twice a year.
America's Muslims are mostly professional, educated, and intelligent and hence, deserve a better solution than the one offered by Middle Eastern monarchies (or anarchies). Because of the extreme advancement in astronomy and mathematics, it is possible to determine the exact nanosecond that is the beginning of Eid. For those who are unaware, Eid is based on new moon sightings and a lunar base calendar system.
Muslims pray fives times a day based on calculations and mathematical derivations of the various prayer times. Prayer is an absolute requirement for Muslims. Eid is not. Celebrating Eid is optional. If Muslims are willing to depend on calculations for something they have to do, why aren't they willing to do the same for something that doesn't really matter? They get extremely worked up over this non-issue issue.
Further, we live in a society that is 97 % non-Muslim. We have to realize that we have to adapt to local customs. You can't tell your boss, "I'd like a day off, but I am not sure if it will be Tuesday or Wednesday." That is ludicrous. Further, it only perpetuates the idea that Islam is a stone age religion for cavemen and not suitable to modern day living. It's 2008, let's act like it.
ToledoMuslims.com congratulates Toledo's Muslims on taking a stand and finally growing up and leaving the Middle East's backward political game. After all, it's just Eid. You don't really have to have it at all.
Hopefully, this trend continues for many years to come and Muslims stop looking to the decrepit Middle East for leadership and inspiration. It's time for us to be Muslim Americans.
Note: The views expressed in these articles does not necessarily represent the views of Muslims in Toledo, Ohio nor the views of ToledoMuslims.com, it's staff, owners, editors, webmaster, or writers. The views expressed represent the views of the writer only. ToledoMuslims.com is not responsible for any of the expressed views. Please feel free to comment on our articles in the article discussion area provided.
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