My life experiences as a Muslim American

A few weeks ago, my family celebrated a very happy and very important milestone in our lives when our last child, our baby daughter, got married.

In a recent column, Reverend Daniel Wysong of St. John’s Church described a recent wedding he officiated, “I got to officiate at a wedding this past weekend. We stood under a driftwood arch covered in roses, carnations, and eucalyptus. The venue was delightful — hydrangeas and roses and zinnias under tall pines surrounding a rose petal-strewn grassy aisle. The bride and groom were overjoyed to be committing their lives to one another. They got to stand next to the one they love most, surrounded by a group of people who love them — and commit to the way of love for the rest of their lives.”

My daughter’s wedding was officiated by Imam Mumtaz Ahmad Qasmi of historic and central mosque in Sacramento. The very tall tree types and the flowers as described by Reverend Wysong might have been different in this beautiful “The Secret Garden” where the ceremony was held. But I could not have done a better job of describing the beauty of the surroundings and the love and spirits of the new couple and both attending families and friends.

Upon arriving in USA at age of 24, my first job was at a tomato harvester in fields for 10 days. At high noon in the summer heat we would get the lunch break in the middle of the fields where rotten stinky tomatoes were all around us which I can still smell and then for about the next 10 years I did not eat a single tomato.

Thank God that a few days later I got hired in the accounting department of the Yolo County Office of Education. When I was being introduced to the County Superintendent of Schools, answering one of his questions, I told him that I am a MUSLIM and I am from Pakistan. After my answer he started sharing with me the American “Melting Pot Theory” and then said that my 3rd generation in USA will not be a Pakistani or a Muslim.

I did not have any children at that time, but, his statement hit me hard. I could understand that my kids born here will be Americans, but it was very hard to swallow that my kids may not be Muslims. Immediately that one statement got etched in my heart and mind and I never forgot it.

And then when Allah blessed us with two daughters and a son, following Islamic tradition immediately after birth I whispered the Azan or the call of prayers to the newborns. I may add that the process of whispering Azan to a newborn may be considered as is baptism in the Christian faith.

But more importantly, there is a very important message for the new parents in this blessed activity of whispering the call of prayer. The lesson is that the baby starts getting the effect of the worldly environment and events from a very early stage of their lives. We the parents should nurture and bring up the newborn with love and care from day one.

After these realizations, my wife and I made a conscious decision to do just that. Today we are happy, grateful to Allah and proud to say that as married adults all three of our children are good Muslims, good American citizens and more than that they are great caring human beings. Not only our three married children but their spouses carry the same religious, citizenship and great humanitarian values.

Muslims believe that family life is the foundation of human society providing a secure, healthy and nurturing environment for parents and growing children. The best place to pass on and develop human virtues such as love, kindness, mercy and compassion is in a family.

Today in our multi-cultural society I strongly believe in a “Salad Bowl” theory wherein the mix of the bowl, there could be a number of distinct things, the green salad, red tomatoes, cucumber, some fruits and vegetables and even some nuts, yet each item could stand out and make a very beautiful and healthy mix, which does a body good.

A few years ago at our local Presbyterian Church in an adults Bible study class, they read a book on Islam. At the conclusion, the class had many questions and I was invited to answer questions and explain some of the concepts. Here in conclusion I shall share just one question that I was asked and my reply.

Question: We wondered how you combine the American principle of the “separation of church and state” which is intended to allow for full citizenship for people of diverse religions, and the teachings of Islam which so integrate religion with all of life.

My Answer: The American principle of the “separation of church and state” does not create any problem for me in my daily life here. Our constitution protects all my freedoms here to worship the way I want, to speak, to live life and affords me all the opportunities possible for any other citizen of this great country of ours. Islam and the USA constitution are very compatible on larger scale other than few exceptions. For example, drinking is forbidden in my religion and in an Islamic country drinking might be forbidden by law as well. But here in USA law allows us to drink but it does not force me to drink, therefore I do not face any problem.