LEXINGTON - Giving to charity, dressing up, praying, gathering with family and buying toys and gifts for children.
Lexch.com
by BETSY FRIEDRICH
World-Herald News Service
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For most Nebraskans, September is too early to think about holiday traditions, but not for a growing group of Somali refugees in Lexington.Ramadan, the month-long Muslim holiday, began Aug. 22 and will end with the feast of Eid al-Fitr on Sept. 18 or 19, depending on the visibility of the moon.
“The month of Ramadan was the month the Holy Quran was revealed to our prophet Muhammad, so we remember that during this time,” said Naji Abdi, director of Lexington’s Somali Community Center.
Abdi said during Ramadan, Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset. “It helps strengthen your faith. The purpose of the fast, I think from an Islamic point of view, is the gain piety, to be very close to God.
“Also it’s kind of equality because if you are rich you can afford to get your daily needs, but there are people who cannot. It gives you a sense of, a feeling of, people who are starving because around the world there are many who do not get their daily food.”
Abdi said at the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr with customs similar to Christmas.
“On this day, we give to charities, we give to the poor, especially to those who cannot afford to buy his meal that day,” he said.
“Some of the activities we do is in the morning we have a prayer, we have a big congregation prayer.
“Everybody dresses in their new clothes. There is a family meal, everybody tries to eat together. Usually, we have something delicious like dates.
“Usually for the kids, we try to buy them some gifts, toys and things, and try to take them outside. Also there is a long night prayer, usually almost three hours long.”
Since about 2006, Somali refugees have been moving to Lexington in search of job opportunities, particularly at the Tyson meat packing plant. Abdi estimated 750 to 1,000 Somalis have moved to town in the last three years.
“The number is every day increasing. Every Monday, we get usually 10 or 15 more people coming in. They are coming for the job opportunities,” he said.
The city now has three Somali grocery stores and one Somali restaurant.
Abdi started the community center in his home in 2006 and taught English to other newcomers. He opened the Somali Community Center in downtown Lexington in September 2008.
He said it isn’t easy for the Somali community to celebrate Ramadan in Lexington’s mostly Christian culture.
“It is very difficult, because the children are supposed to come off from school, but since people have not been educated in this, it is very hard in this country,” he said.
Because there is no mosque, Abdi said Muslims will gather in a hall at the Dawson County Fair-grounds to celebrate Eid al-Fitr and pray together.
Despite some difficulties, Abdi said Somalis like living in Lexington.
“It’s less stress in Lexington because it’s a very small city. They usually come from Minneapolis, and in Somalia they are from small cities on the outskirts. In our culture we are pastoralists. We move from one place to another in search of grass and water for our cattle and sheep. It is easier in Lexington because it’s more rural.”
Abdi said education is needed on both sides to integrate Somalis more fully into the Lexington community.
“My overall goal is to see this community get help with the transition to this country and help them start a sustainable life. I want to try to improve their quality of life so they become independent and can drive their own car, go to the shopping mall by themselves, be self-sustaining,” he said.
“One thing I would like everybody to know about Islam is, there are some stereotypes about Islam, but the word means total submission to God.
“Not all Muslims share this value, I know. There are some who go astray, go the wrong way. But a good Muslim would show the respect we try to give to the world, how we care about our neighbors, how we care about our country, how we respect our elders and how we try to be very sincere and honest,” he said.
“I would like people to try to learn what Muslim is rather than being told what a Muslim is.”
Source: Lexch.com, Sept 02, 2009