In recent years, the holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims who are able fast from sunrise to sunset, has coincided with the holidays in the United States, a season that is kicked off with feast of overeating -- Thanksgiving -- and ends with a tradition of overdrinking at New Year's. As American Muslims commemorate Eid al-Adha (the Feast of the Sacrifice), we watch an orgy of excess, with the pangs of our hunger still fresh in our memories. With our spiritual selves amply fed by our self-denial, our thoughts often turn at this time to those who are unable to meet their basic needs.And yet, Muslims in the United States have their own cultural block when it comes to helping those left behind at the holidays. Many Muslims take the exclusivist position that their aid is only for other Muslims -- from or in their own country of origin, or who speak the same language as they do, or who practice their brand of Islam. Such a stance negates the practice and instruction of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which enjoins us to respond to the need of those closest to us.More... (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nurahrosalie-amatullah/why-muslims-should-get-in_b_799209.html)
Why Muslims Should Get in the Holiday Spirit and End Hunger (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nurahrosalie-amatullah/why-muslims-should-get-in_b_799209.html)