In eight months, no one in Malaysia ever mentioned to me that there is a connection between eating with the hands and Islam. I was very interested to learn this from you.

WOW I must say I got a tickle out of your aggresiveness in the responses. Never would have thought it from you. WOW

But I’m still not sitting at a platter and eating with my hands. I’ll stil spoon out my portion and my girls protions onto a plate. I’ll still endure the stares from others who just dive in. Yes I know sunnah and all but it gives me the willies. I’ll eat with my hands from my own portions of say fried chicken or something but a community plate.. nope don’t even do that with dip. But count in Mr.Man and Jihad for such a sit down.

As for immigrant issues I sit here and see the same issues applied towards americans in foriegn lands. People have lived here for 20+ years and still know nothing about Saudis rarely share meals with them, never joined in on anything cultural. The language, past a few catch phrases nothing no efforts. They also freely take the resources all the while despising the culture and its people. The same people that allow them the econcomic benefits they would NEVER get in the US. And this is an attitude that is supported by the US consulates with all of their warden messages and their very own conduct.

Now this is what many immigrants (at least Arabs) see going into the US. They see in their own lands that Americans have refused to assimiliate in any shape or form in their countries. Yet as soon as the get to the US they are demanded to drop everything about their own cultures?

And why can’t people simply eat the foods they want? Why can’t they dress the way they feel comfortable? Do such issues really hinder intergration? Or does it make others feel uncomfortable about their foreign status heaped with loads of prejudgements?

stealing white women.. hehe Are there issues in the US communties with some taking advantage of women? Yes.. and that is the fault of the Ummah that basically just leaves convert women out on their own doubled with pressures to ‘marry’ as soon as they utter shahadda. That is a community failiing not a evil drive of all immigrant men. The countless number of foriegn women living happily.. ohh yes happily here counters such a stereotypical fear. Of course lets also mention that some women bring it on themselves so some blame lies with them as well.

said enough

I always like to quote verse 13 of al-Hujraat:

“and We created human beings, men and women, and in different races, so they would befriend with each other”

Notice that Allah says, different races, not different religions, meaning that there’s only ONE religion, also notice that Allah also says that we should be friends with each other and not to hate or condemn or kill each other.

I have no objection at all that brushing teeth with ‘sugi’ wood is healthy. Eating with and licking fingers afterwards is also healthy. In fact prophet ate with three fingers, we Malays eat with five. Does it mean the less the more Islamic? How about the Chinese using chopsticks than? Even less!

For certain food (eg: bihun soup, curry mee, etc), I use spoon and fork. I donno how to eat them with fingers. If eating with fingers is Islamic, then I should just be eating bread instead of rice! See, we’re beating around the bush.

Keeping beard, as a matter of fact, is legacy of pre-Islamic era which is also accepted as Islamic culture, but I and many of us Asians are created with “less testosterone hormone” around our chin and if keeping beard is Islamic, why then I am created without nice beard? Does it mean I am fated to be not Islamic?

I think what Jordan wants to say is what’s inside is more important than what’s outside. I couldn’t disagree more (is this the right way to say I absolutely agree, Abang Zayn?) People can wear turban and still they skip prayers.

Being punctual, hungry for knowledge, respecting neighbors – these are some of the qualities encouraged by Islam, and if these are the benchmarks of ‘islamicness’, then perhaps I can say that Americans, Japanese, or Europeans are more Islamic than the Malays, even though they are not Muslims.

We can follow sunnah whichever we can. If we can’t, don’t say it’s stupid or condemn it. Some things our prophet did need not be copied exactly (eg: riding a camel instead of driving a car). Learn the skills of archery (we can use modern weapons as a means of defense). While some things (eg: sleeping on ur right side) are not difficult to be made a routine.

I know how it feels like when some ppl try to “Turkishize” or make you ‘masuk Melayu’, or “Arabify” you when you can’t even eat their food. Islam is not by race. It’s by faith. It’s universal.

As for Brother Zayn al-Abideen, I really donno what is the best word to say, other than “Masha-Allah, you’re ahl ul-jannah”. Even though I was a born a Muslim, it doesn’t make me more Islamic than a convert. I am learning a lot of things from Jordan and you.