BLACK MUSLIM EXPERIENCE, UMMAH, EID & ME - Juneteenth

In early 2020 I was contacted by a young woman named Sister Sherimma from Philadelphia to showcase my artwork and participate in an event titled the Ummah Shop. “Ummah” means community in Arabic. I was thrilled, honored, and delighted to participate. Then Covid hit, the nation went into lockdown, all in-person gatherings/events were canceled including The Ummah Shop. Sherimma called at the end of June saying that if I was still interested to participate I was more than welcome to come to Philly (the venue had refused to refund the cost) and she was opening up the space to all vendors for free on Eid.

Though I was hesitant (I’m terrified of Covid, always wear a mask, lysol everything!), I decided to go because the venue was socially distanced and outdoors! I’m glad I went because my eyes were opened and I learnt something very important!

I was the ONLY non, Black, non Muslim, non Hijabi, non Nikab wearing person/lady there! Did I feel any different? NO! I was welcomed with so much love and respect into this Ummah! The venue was BEAUTIFUL and I loved showcasing my art/designs (which celebrate Islam & Hinduism), sharing about my faith Hinduism (it happened to be Sri Varalakshmi Nombu the same day as Eid), and explaining how my faith, Islam have so many shared traditions/cultures in South Asia!

Folks loved learning about what a tabla, Afghan rubab, Qawwali & Bhajan music is, ladies especially loved learning about Varalakshmi Nombu & seeing flower garlands!

It's SO important to share/experience each other’s religion, history, cultures, traditions in order to create a more beautiful, compassionate, understanding world.

I love incorporating calligraphy with traditional South Asian Instruments. One young Muslim girl came up to me and said: "Sister, I get so much hate from the Muslim community for being a musician, they say Music is HARAAM (forbidden) in Islam. I said NO it's not, some of the TOP MUSICIANS in the world are MUSLIM -Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Qawwali), Ustadh Zakir Hussain (Tabla), Ustadh Ali Akbar Khan (Sarod), AR Rahman (Bollywood/pop), DJ Khaled (hip-hop) list goes on There's a Hadith (sayings of the prophet, PBUH) stating he loved music especially the drums, there are RICH Musical traditions of MANY Islamic cultures across the globe ;) - so there you go, HATERS GONNA HATE, whatcha gonna do, other than be yourself, spread positivity & #clapback

Usually, at Muslim events, I expect to see Arab, South Asian, Middle Eastern folks. Islam is a religion of diverse peoples and cultures and I expected to see more diversity. Yet everyone was Black other than me! I asked Sherimma where were the larger Muslim communities? Especially since it was Eid, wouldn’t everyone want to celebrate together??

She told me mosques in Philadelphia tend to be segregated: Black Folks attend one, Desis in another, Arabs in another, and so on. She had invited everyone but racism and colorism run rampant in Muslim Communities. I felt so sad because it’s the same crap as Hindu Temples in the USA- North/ South/ Tamil/ Punjabi/ Gujarati etc segregated!! UGH boggles my mind, the Quran clearly states: I made you in different shades, tribes, etc. Hinduism: The world is one big family! (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam)

I was shocked by the lack of diversity and the racism the Black Muslim Community faces, it breaks my heart especially because I am spoilt rotten by the Islamic Center at NYU ( a very special place of worship/community) led by my friend Sunni Imam Khalid Latif. Our Mosque is a place of inclusivity, we have old, young, black, white, South Asian, Arab, Sunni, Shia, folks from across the globe, non-Muslims all attending/learning together, made to feel WELCOME regardless of background or faith. -

I had a blast celebrating Eid in Philadelphia with my new friends and Ummah! Today on Juneteenth I write this post because I pray and hope that ALL people are treated equally and with respect. That black color, every single skin shade is cherished and made to feel beautiful, because if your’e racist towards a particular skin color or community, you are directly insulting the divine. The divine created the entire world in a multitude of shades, races, cultures etc.! I wish the entire world to be, a giant "UMMAH" Community - one that is is diverse, inclusive, welcomes all!