Posted on Mon, Nov 15, 2010 : 1:54 p.m.
Michigan Islamic Academy students take a 'pilgrimage' to Mecca without leaving class
By Lon Horwedel
Maryam Jamil, 4, waits to give up her dollar bill to a cardboard sheep as part of the Michigan Islamic Academy's annual Haji program on Nov. 11. The Haji program gives students the chance to re-enact the pilgrimage rites at the various sites in and around Mecca.
Lon Horwedel|AnnArbor.com
Students at the Michigan Islamic Academy in Ann Arbor participated in the school's annual Haji program on Nov. 11. The Haji program gives students the chance to re-enact the pilgrimage rites at the various sites in and around Mecca.
Photo slideshow by Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
Comments
bedrog
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 8:39 a.m.
susan willow...re your quranic citation:the disconnect between the 'word and deed', throughout history and especially now, is substantial. To pretend otherwise is counterproductive fantasy.
Tarek
Fri, Nov 19, 2010 : 2:54 p.m.
Thank you for taking nice pictures. Looking forward for next year
Susan
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 5:25 p.m.
re Nicole: This is American - freedom of religion and all that - right? And yes, many women here do cover their heads, choosing freely to do so. These children were acting out the Hajj, Pilgrimage to Mecca, which is made by Muslims every year. They chose to participate, chose to wear a scarf at this time and at any other time they wish. And in general reference to the girls 'choosing' to wear a scar -- "there is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break. Allah is Hearer, Knower." Qur'am 2:256
John Ricardo Jr
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 5:11 p.m.
@nicole, I really think a lot of people dislike such pathetic uneducated comments like yours. We are an open society and comments like yours echo the anti-blacks and anti-japanese discriminatory rhetoric that those of us who are educated condemn.. your comments also contradict the very values upon which this nation was built. I suggest you go educate yourself to become a little more open-minded.
Kim
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 4:42 p.m.
These pictures depict "pilgrims" performing the hajj. Ibrahim, who upon the commandment of Allah, swt, left his wife in the desert with their infant son, Ismail with limited food and water. His wife, pleading with Allah, swt, for sustenance and running between two mountains Safa and Marwa, finally received water in the form of the well of ZamZam. Years later, Ibrahim returns to visit his family, and Allah, swt, again tests him by asking him to sacrifice his son, Ismail. Ibrahim said to Ismail : "O my Son, I see in a vision that I offer you in sacrifice. Now see what is your view? " (37:102) Ibrahim had consulted his son who willingly offered himself to Allah's command. The choice of Ibrahim was sacrifice. That of Ismail was self-sacrifice: Martyrdom. In the Quran, Prophet Ibrahim is described in surat an-Nahl as a model: "Ibrahim was indeed a model. Devoutly obedient to Allah, and true in faith, and he joined not gods with Allah " (16:20). The name of the religion is Islam, which comes from an Arabic root word meaning "peace" and "submission." Islam teaches that one can only find peace in one's life by submitting to Almighty God (Allah) in heart, soul and deed. The same Arabic root word gives us "Salaam alaykum," ("Peace be with you"), the universal Muslim greeting.
krc
Tue, Nov 16, 2010 : 8:35 a.m.
My mistake. Please forgive me for writing such a glib comment. I wrote without thinking and realized too late that of course those little girls hadn't chosen to wear the hijab at such a young age. But I have to say that I admire the older girls that make that decision, especially in this day and age. And @bedrog, haha.
nicole
Tue, Nov 16, 2010 : 12:15 a.m.
Um....we live in the United States of America. Women and girls don't cover their heads here.
bedrog
Mon, Nov 15, 2010 : 8:35 p.m.
maple..glad to hear the hijab is not required of little girls most of the time at the academy. The entire country of France, which has banned it altogether in schools, will also be pleased. My admitted sarcasm grows not just from the disingenuousness ( or innocent naivete)of the first post ( "choosing"?), but also from an intimate familiarity ( since i wrote some of it!)with the vast literature ( much of it by muslim anthropologists and sociologists) on how such symbolic 'screening" ( purdah) of women reflects a rather condescending view of women as sexual objects who can easily tempt men into socially disruptive behaviors. So your faux feminist pique at the author for treating these kids as exotic 'objects' rings a bit hollow. BTW.
Maple
Mon, Nov 15, 2010 : 6:23 p.m.
Actually, most of those girls are only wearing a headcovering for this event, they don't usually wear it regularly at their age. The sarcastic nature of the above comment did not escape me, BTW. Why no pictures of the boys, anyway? Were only the girls exotic enough for you?
bedrog
Mon, Nov 15, 2010 : 5:15 p.m.
re krc....hmmmm! isn't 'hats off' a bit of an oxymoron in the context??
krc
Mon, Nov 15, 2010 : 4:16 p.m.
Beautiful! Beautiful children! And good for these girls to choose to wear the headcovering at such an early age. Hats off to you.