Farah Kinani hopes that her new book can dispel misconceptions about Islam while helping educate young children.
Moroccan writer Farah Kinani released her first book in an effort to explain Islam to non-Muslim children in the United States. "Ramadan" explores Muslim rituals during the holy month and the nature of the religion.
"We cannot stand still waiting for non-Muslims to find out the real face of Islam. It is our job to introduce our faith to others," Kinani said, adding that "the Islam I grew up cherishing means love and compassion, my Islam is lending a hand and embracing others; whether they are Muslims or not should be irrelevant."
"The way Islam is portrayed in the news nowadays does not represent me," Kinani told Magharebia, trying to explain why she felt it necessary to write about her faith.
Kinani, who worked as a journalist in Morocco for over 10 years before moving to the US to join her husband and work as a correspondent for Moroccan newspapers, said that the main objective of her book is to explain Islam and correct the mistaken vision some hold of the faith.
"It is our job as Muslims and foreigners to play the ambassadors we ought to be, in a country that opened wide to welcome us," she said.
Kinani said that her experience proved that people were eager to know more. "So many questions they had! Talking to people after I published my book and the presentation I gave about Ramadan, I realised that, just like Muslims, they want to hear our version of what the media is spreading. "
"I realised there are many misconceptions about Islam, and it is our duty - as Muslims - to set them right in the minds of the other. We cannot just remain helpless and simply feel sorry about those negative ideas. We need to take action, especially if we are in a country that endorses dialogue and is willing to listen to the other before judging them. All we need to do is take the initiative and master the art of persuasion," Kinani noted.
Having lived in Washington, DC for nearly 10 years and having met many in the American Muslim community, Kinani was able to probe into issues of adaptation and integration with a society that is so different from her homeland, Morocco, which proudly clings to its traditions and religious identity.
Kinani found that integration was possible in light of an open-minded, moderate dialogue that urges for tolerance and acceptance of the other, a dialog that renounces extremism, violence and imposing one opinion over another.
She thought the exchange of ideas should start with children, as education and orientation at an early age play a vital role in entrenching the right ideas. Kinani took that decision after an episode she had with the daughter of one of her friends.
In the preface of her book Kinani writes, "When Laila, my friend's daughter, did not attend lunch with her classmates, they did not understand anything. Some thought she was being punished. Some felt sorry for her and suggested that she hide so she could eat or drink. Laila was not punished. She was just performing one of the five pillars of Islam; namely fasting during one of the months of the Hijri calendar - the month of Ramadan."
The writer continues, "When she told me about it, I went to visit her school, and got the chance to briefly talk to students about Ramadan. I realised that a large number of children, and even adolescents in this country, are unaware of the meaning and significance of fasting. Hence, I decided to write this book through which I seek to present a clear and objective idea about the month of Ramadan in an attempt to address some essential issues. The book also showcases some of the festive traditions and customs observed by the American Muslim community in this month."
The 23-page book contains illustrations by Laura Diab and leans on the consultations of a number of scholars to verify some of the religious information it presents.
"I think it is our duty, as Muslim Americans, to explain to non-Muslims how we correctly practice Islam," the author said. "Since we have merged in this society and are benefitting from its culture and civilisation, it is our duty to communicate to people here what our own culture and civilisation are all about, since they will enrich the American culture and will not be foreign to it."
In addition to explaining Ramadan in simple and easy to understand language, Kinani talked about "Taraweeh," a tradition of praying in mosques at night, and "Lailatu Al-Qadr," a holy night on which Muslims become closer to God by praying until the early hours of the next morning. Farah also talked about reading the Qur'an back-to-back, which Muslim regard as a practice that boosts their relationship with Islam, and "Zakat al-Fitr," which helps Muslims understand the suffering of the poor and the needy.
Kinani did not forget to mention the elegant Moroccan attire, made up of traditional Jalabiya and Bulgha, which showcase Morocco's Islamic identity and fits the mosque where all members of the family, including young children, go to perform Taraweeh prayers.
"There is so much we need to explain to Americans, to shoulder our part in refuting many of the misconceptions that continue to distort the image of Islam and Muslims in Western societies. Therefore, I decided to communicate my message through other books in the near future," Farah Kinani concluded.
"After reading Ms. Kinani's book about Ramadan, my eight-year-old told me that at first, she thought that Ramadan was just another holiday to celebrate. Now she realises that Ramadan is more of a special holiday because she has a deeper understanding of why and how Muslims celebrate this holy month. It's a special privilege for us to get a glimpse of the Muslim world," Thao Nguyen said. Serbo-Croatian American Tamara Kondic agreed, saying the book is "a great introduction to a celebration of Ramadan. It provides a rare glimpse into special tradition and reasons why one should celebrate such a holiday. This book is meant to educate kids and teens. However, I would suggest it as a recommended read for everyone wanting to know about the spiritual experience of Ramadan."
Abisourour Boubker, an economist at the World Bank and founder of the Ibn Khaldoun Academy, said that "in the last 10 years a lot has been said and written about Islam and Muslims. This book is timely and had to be written to dispel some misconceptions and bias some people have about Islam and Muslims."
"In Ramadan, people see Muslims going in and out of the mosques and they must be wondering what those Muslims are doing in the mosques and what impact that could have on them and that is understandable, hopefully this book will answer their questions," Boubker said, saluting the initiative to educate the public.
"Farah Kinani is a very knowledgeable person, she knows our community and she understands American society, as religious and moderate Muslim she the best person to present our religion. We all needed the book, not just Americans but also our kids who are growing up in America," he said.
© Magharebia.com 2011
