One Moroccan morning the group joined us at our host family’s house to have a discussion with a local Imam, an Islamic prayer leader.
Lamira, our host sister, had shown Shelby, Carla and me how to wrap a “fulah,” the French word for the headscarf, before everyone else had joined. We each donned our scarves in an elegant wrap around our heads thanks to her.
She had also pinned hers on before our fellow nomads arrived. After everyone was settled, Lamira started the discussion with a reading from the Qur’an. It was a breathtaking and humbling performance to observe as she sang the verses from right to left.
Though there is a mix of beliefs within our cohort, it was a moment of respect and adoration for her willingness to share her faith with us, especially in the honored presence of the Imam.
Our discussion traversed many topics from Islamic reforms to terrorism to the structure of Islamic councils. The message that seemed most important to the Imam and are collective group of host fathers who had joined the meeting was to understand Islam as a tolerant and universal religion.
The Imam stressed that Islamic laws adapt with time as needed but also remain strong in tradition. This strength in roots and fluidity reflects the connections that overlap Islam and other religions. The key to it all is to respect others’ beliefs no matter what.
This universality is felt in the human spirit the Imam said.
His journey as a prayer leader as influenced him to value people over any material object. He said that his inner spirit feeds off of the shared spirit like the one we were sharing in that living room as we discussed differences and theories. This spirit is within the self then the local community and it molds into the universal one.
This is why our Moroccan host fathers stressed the tolerance their country has for those who are different. It is more important to show respect and ask questions to better understand each other than to harbor misconceptions, which leads to division.
With the theme of coexistence blanketing the message from the Imam, I was honored to have been wearing the headscarf for this meeting. It may not be an aspect of the religion I was raised in, but it showed my curiosity and desire to show respect to the culture surrounding me.
When the talk was over, Amy asked if Lamira could help her with a headscarf too.
Lamira, our host sister, had shown Shelby, Carla and me how to wrap a “fulah,” the French word for the headscarf, before everyone else had joined. We each donned our scarves in an elegant wrap around our heads thanks to her.
She had also pinned hers on before our fellow nomads arrived. After everyone was settled, Lamira started the discussion with a reading from the Qur’an. It was a breathtaking and humbling performance to observe as she sang the verses from right to left.
Though there is a mix of beliefs within our cohort, it was a moment of respect and adoration for her willingness to share her faith with us, especially in the honored presence of the Imam.
Our discussion traversed many topics from Islamic reforms to terrorism to the structure of Islamic councils. The message that seemed most important to the Imam and are collective group of host fathers who had joined the meeting was to understand Islam as a tolerant and universal religion.
The Imam stressed that Islamic laws adapt with time as needed but also remain strong in tradition. This strength in roots and fluidity reflects the connections that overlap Islam and other religions. The key to it all is to respect others’ beliefs no matter what.
This universality is felt in the human spirit the Imam said.
His journey as a prayer leader as influenced him to value people over any material object. He said that his inner spirit feeds off of the shared spirit like the one we were sharing in that living room as we discussed differences and theories. This spirit is within the self then the local community and it molds into the universal one.
This is why our Moroccan host fathers stressed the tolerance their country has for those who are different. It is more important to show respect and ask questions to better understand each other than to harbor misconceptions, which leads to division.
With the theme of coexistence blanketing the message from the Imam, I was honored to have been wearing the headscarf for this meeting. It may not be an aspect of the religion I was raised in, but it showed my curiosity and desire to show respect to the culture surrounding me.
When the talk was over, Amy asked if Lamira could help her with a headscarf too.
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