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The Spirit of Ramadan

SARBPREET SINGH

 

 

 

A chic, modern space on the seventh floor in a building on Boston’s fashionable Newbury Street. Breathtaking views of downtown Boston. The chatter of polite, convivial conversation. The delicate, wafting smells of Mediterranean food.

A colorful crowd of mostly young people. Muslims from many parts of the world. Jews of every stripe. Ministers, Imams and Rabbis. A group of young Sikh musicians.

I look around and take in the colorful mosaic that is this celebration of Ramadan, the most holy month in Islam, as I stand before the crowd to introduce the musicians and provide a brief explication of the hymn they will be singing.

First, God created Light; then, He made all mortal beings. From that Light, the entire universe sprang forth. So who then are we to judge anyone? ||1||

O people, do not be deluded by doubt. The Creation is in the Creator, and the Creator is in the Creation, omnipresent and ubiquitous ||1||Pause||

I speak briefly about Bhagat Kabir, the mystic -- one of the Bhagat contributors to the Guru Granth Sahib -- whose broad world-view easily transcended the boundaries of Hinduism and Islam, the dominant faiths of his time. His constant reiteration of the unity of all creation. His unequivocal rejection of the divisions that we humans inevitably create amongst ourselves.

About how appropriate it is, during this celebration of Ramadan, which symbolizes self-discipline, restraint, generosity, and brings forth the best in every Muslim, to reflect on the wisdom of Kabir.

My thoughts drift to the events of the holy month a year ago, when I had a personal encounter with the spirit of Ramadan, something I shall remember as long as I live.

It is the evening of August 6, 2012. A day has passed since a white-supremacist walked into the Oak Creek Gurdwara and opened fire, killing six Sikh-American  worshippers and felling a courageous Police Officer. All of a sudden, Sikhs in America are in the spotlight.

Ever since word of shootings hit the newswires, a media frenzy has descended upon every gurdwara. Our gurdwara in Milford, Massachusetts is no exception.

As a spokesperson for the local Sikh Community, I have spent the entire day camped out at the gurdwara, talking to news reporters of every stripe. The phone is ringing off the hook. The press calls seeking quotes and sound bites. The calls from the community at large offering condolences and sympathy.

A woman from the Unitarian Universalist Church, Sherborn hesitatingly steps into the unfamiliar environs of the gurdwara bearing flowers, her compassion as apparent as her trepidation at possibly intruding at such a difficult time.

Our young people have decided that we should have a special service at the gurdwara in the evening, followed by a candlelight vigil outside. Every member of the press who visits is told about the service as are all the people who call to offer their condolences.

Word starts getting out on social media as well and it seems that the service is increasingly taking on an interfaith slant, for which I am extremely grateful.

Representatives of various Catholic and Protestant Churches have offered to speak during the service.

I pick up the phone and call a Muslim friend, who attends the Worcester Mosque, to invite the Muslim community to participate as well. She is kind. Like the whole world, she expresses her shock and dismay at what has happened. She promises to get word out to the Muslim community, but reminds me: it is the holy month of Ramadan. Our service will run from 7 to 9 p.m., overlapping completely with the time of day when our Muslim friends will be offering their prayers and breaking their fast after a long day. It is unlikely, she says, that many will be able to come.

At around 5 in the evening the phone rings. It is my Muslim friend again. She asks if we can arrange for some white sheets to be spread on the lawn outside the gurdwara in the evening.

Busy fielding a never-ending series of phone calls, I task someone with arranging for the sheets somewhat absentmindedly, and focus on the upcoming service.

It is 7 in the evening. The gurdwara is packed. Our congregation is here in full force, of course, but also present are our neighbors. Hindus, Muslims, Jews. Christians. Speaker after speaker steps up. They all express their outrage at what has happened.

Shabads of sorrow and comfort are sung.

As the service progresses inside the gurdwara, a grand and surreal spectacle is unfolding outside. There is a large contingent of Muslims on our front lawn. They offer Namaz. Following which, they break their fast.

On this day in their most holy month, their compassion and solidarity with us in our hour of pain, brings them to our door. With generosity that is breathtaking, they bring their goodwill with them in the form of their prayers, to a place of worship that is not their own.

For one sublime moment, there is no ‘other’.

How easily do these shibboleths roll of our tongues: “We are all one”. “What unites us is more profound than what divides us”.

But today, these are not shibboleths. They have become real. Meaningful. And profound.

A year later, as I celebrate Ramadan, surrounded by my Muslim friends, I realize that I have just shared this story, after the explication of the shabad that is about to be sung. The room thunders with applause as I conclude my remarks. Many heads nod in assent as I explain how I came to understand the grace and beauty that are the spirit of Ramadan.

To one and all: Ramadan Kareem.



Ramadan started on July 9 and will continue for 30 days until Wednesday, the 7th of August.

July 29, 2013

Conversation about this article

1: Steve Henshaw (Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA), July 29, 2013, 11:03 AM.

I was there. Friends of other faiths demanded to know the address so they could attend too. The call to prayer rang out. The fast was broken. The Magrib Salaat was prayed. I wouldn't have been anywhere else that day.

2: `Harman Singh (California, USA), July 29, 2013, 12:14 PM.

In a world that seems increasing split along ethnic, racial and religious divides, events like these reaffirm ones faith in humanity.

3: Manbir Singh (Ludhiana, Punjab), July 29, 2013, 2:42 PM.

Wonderful. Thanks, Sarbpreet Singh ji, for this article.

4: Devinder Pal Singh (Delhi, India), July 30, 2013, 2:38 AM.

Thank you for sharing with us an event which brought together humanity. Guru Nanak preached there is no discrimination in the eyes of the Creator; this fact is accepted by all but practicing it needs a lot of courage as it often tends to invite confrontations, sometimes meek but often strong. Nevertheless, as long as mankind understands this fact we can all be optimistic that things will improve globally. Religious barriers however remain an exception and there are many more mostly created by the haves and have-nots. Hope thrives on the many good souls like those that participate in society to double the happiness and reduce pain, sorrow and suffering. Once again, thanks to Sarbpreet Singh ji and also to all the participants that made it possible for him to share this wonderful experience with us all. We pray that tranquility prevails everywhere, and human beings learn to recognize and accept all individuality.

5: Ali Hussain  (Hyderabad, India), July 30, 2013, 4:51 AM.

Thank you, sikhchic.com. Muslims and Sikhs are so-o intertwined in basic theology ... One God, Creator of the universe, Fearless, Unborn ...

6: Rup Singh (Canada), July 30, 2013, 3:28 PM.

A tragedy or a crisis does bring people and communities together, as well as religious groups. The real challenge is in making those feelings of goodwill, kindness and togetherness last among the different groups. Thank you for a very inspiring article.

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