Did you know?

Turkish Coffee, qahwah

Did you know that the first coffee shop was opened in by an Ottoman Ibrahim Pecevi in Istanbul in the year 1555. There were many storing involving the introduction of coffee in Istanbul in the late 1500’s, however, there were no records of them.  The coffeehouses spread into Mecca (city in Saudi Arabia), Damascus (city in Syria), and Cairo (city in Egypt). When these coffee shops first opened, they were used as places from political gatherings where people would criticize the government in all freedom. The people would also play checkers and chess. Sometime people would be talking in small groups and sometimes there talking in one entire group with a preacher or storyteller. Coffee shops, also known as Café, were adopted by English-speaking countries in the late 1900’s. Europeans were introduced to the coffee bean through Turkey, whom got it from the Arabs. Arabs called the coffee qahwa, which was later used in Turkey. Nowadays, coffee shops are mostly populated with men. Men gather there to drink coffee, tea, and other drinks. Men go there to relax, see some friends, hear the news, watch football (soccer) games, watch TV, and play board games. Hookah, also known as shisha, is also served as well. 

Sources:

Turkish coffee. (2013, April 30). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_coffee

Middle Eastern Music

This is a video from the Palestinian Culture Night hosted by the organization SJP (Students for Justice in Palestine) at UT Dallas. This video shows a form of Middle Eastern music using the instrument called Tablah, which is a one-headed hand drum. I apologize for the text on the video, it was trial version of a converter. Enjoy!

Woman In The Middle East

Middle Eastern women are mistaken to be oppressed in the view of the western world. In defense to the outsider’s views it does seem that way with the way that the women dress, but when you look closely and spend time with Middle Easterners you will realize and see how women are not only respected but also adored by her family. A woman is seen as a jewel in the eyes of the men in the family. In the Middle East 92% of the women there are Muslims. Islam came to the Arab world in the year 610 AD which is more than 1400 years ago. Islam was the first religion in history to give women her rights that was achieved 1300 years before the western world passed any women's rights laws. A Muslim Arab woman’s duties are not just a house wife that cooks and cleans; she is encouraged to be educated and to be in the work force if she wishes. There is no Islamic law that prohibits women from working, but she needs to make sure she has fulfilled and managed her duties as a wife/mother. Also if a woman works, she is not obliged to spend a penny on her family; that is the responsibility of her husband, everything she earns is for her. The women are financially secure from engagement to marriage and also after divorce from her husband. Islam is not only a religion, it is also a way of life that Muslims follow, and because of this I personally believe that the reason why Arab culture and Islamic teachings are mixed together in the Middle Eastern world today.

sources:

Islam's Women Jewels of Islam. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.islamswomen.com/articles/women_in_islam.php

An Americans Point Of View

For my second interview I decided to interview an American to hear about his opinion of the Middle Eastern culture. What he has to say is pretty interesting so keep reading.

Q: So Nicholas, What was your first encounter with an Arab?

A: My first encounter was when I was in middle school in health class, his name was Muawiyah he was an ESL student and I was assigned to help him with his studies. 

Q: What was your first impression of that person?

A: He was very shy and very courteous.

Q: What misconceptions did u have about Arabs?

A: I thought that the language was gibberish, I thought they were from a desert place and not from a modern place. I also thought of them as angry people.

Q: Did learning more about the Arab culture change those misconceptions?
A: Due to the fact that I married an Arab-American, I would say it changed a lot. over time I realized every language means something.  Arabic uses a lot more phonological abilities, it makes use of more sounds than English so I realized that its a language not just weird sounds.  I also learned that there is this really rich culture of manners and etiquette that is advanced which is very accommodating to guests like when you go to an Arab's house, you feel very welcome and taken care of. 

Q: If there was an Arab country you would like to visit, which would it be and why?

A: Jerusalem, because of the rich religious history.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of the Middle Eastern culture?

A: The treatment of guests and visitors and the close net families. 

My Condolances To The Victims Of The Boston Marathon

This blog post is going to be a little different. Because of the recent incident that took place last week at the Boston marathon, I feel the need as an Arab American Muslim to show my sympathies to the families of those who were lost and injured. No one in this world deserves to go through such hardship and sorrow. Those who carry out terror attacks in the name of Islam are not who they think they are and do not represent the teachings of Islam.

“To kill one innocent man or woman is to kill all of humanity; to save one human is to save all of humanity.” (Quran 5:32)

The verse above is from the Quran, the holy book of Muslims. It shows that the taking of one innocent life is not taken lightly and that every life is sacred. Islam is the religion of peace and tolerance and is the religion of the greatest civilizations where all religions were given freedom to coexist peacefully. Any justifications that these criminal have to cause such terror to innocent lives are invalid. Their corruptive thoughts and actions cause much more harm and corruption and never provide a solution.

There’s a joke that goes around in the Arab community that when the news breaks with incidents similar to this, it is the most time we cross our fingers and pray to god, praying that the suspect isn’t Arab or Muslim. The bombers don’t realize that they don’t only harm their victims but they also harm people of their own race and belief; causing them to undergo stereotypes, discrimination, and racism.

When I heard the news my heart broke for those innocent lives that were taken or changed because of such acts of cruelty. My deep sorrow and condolences go to the victims of the Boston marathon and for all the sufferers of violence around the world.

Religion In The Middle East

         The Middle East has three main religions; Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Islam has the largest percentage of population in the Middle East. It is divided into numerous sects; the most popular are Shi'a Islam and Sunni Islam. Islam is grounded on a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion which is based on the holy text (Qur'an) and the teachings and normative example (Sunnah) of Muhammad, the last prophet sent to them by god. Islam is made up of five pillars which are Shahadah (witnessing there is no God but Allah, and that Mohammad is his prophet), Salah (praying five times a day), Zakah (charity), Sawm (fasting during Ramadan) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). An advocate of Islam is called a Muslim. 

          Muslims make up 91.8% of the Middle Eastern population making Christians and people of Jewish belief a minority at 3.7% and 1.7%. Below is a circle graph showing the percentages of people that follow each of the religions in Middle East.

Sources:

The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. (2013). Middle east religions. Retrieved from http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/religionsMEmap.html

An Arab-American In The U.S

Today there is an estimate of 3.7 million Middle Easterners living in the United states. A number of these Arab-Americans are 2nd or 3rd generations who have lived here all their lives. Today I decided to interview an Arab-American about herself and her life in the U.S.

Q: Where are you originally from?
A: I am a mix of Jordanian, Syrian, Kurdish, and Turkish.


Q: How long have you lived in the U.S?
A: I was born and raised here. I have lived here all my life; I am 28 years of age.

Q: What religion do you follow?
A: Islam.

Q: So you wear your Hijab (head scarf) when you go out?
A: Yes I definitely do all the time because my religion tells me to wear it for multiple reasons that are a benefit to me.

Q: Can you tell me what those reasons are?
A: Well, first of all its a protection  for me from society to make people judge me for who I am and not for my physical appearance. Second, it teaches me to be modest. Third, it makes me focus on more important things than just my looks, but don't get me wrong I do take care of my appearance but in a very modest fashion.


Q; What reactions do you get when you interact with the public here in America?
A: Well, in the past there wasn't much diversity so people reacted differently towards us covered Muslims.  They would stare, whisper to one another, sometimes say hateful things like "go back to you country" or "take that rag off your head", but now in the present time with more diversity in America,  I feel that people have changed and have become more open minded. There are still some "ignorant" people, but I don't give them much attention at all, I mean its a free country isn't it? That is what I like about America it is built upon different people from different origins who came here to find freedom.

Q: Do you ever wish to have been raised in the Middle East instead of America?
A: Actually I am going to give this question a yes and a no. No, because I am grateful to be raised in such a great country and to be given a lot of opportunities and freedom to choose who and what I want to become. Yes, because I always wished that I was more fluent in my Arabic language. Honestly, I also felt that I fit in  more in the Middle East just due to the fact that I am a covered woman, and in the Middle East it is dominantly a Muslim country.


http://www.journalism.org/analysis_report/arabamerican_population_growth