Two things I did today , and one was to ask the store owners
near where I live ,who are Iranian /Muslim where
I might find a Mosque to pray in .
"It is for everyone, if I go ? " , i asked ?
"Sure, sure sure ! Of course it is for everyone !...
They quickly and enthusiastically replied.
Later on this evening I went out to dinner
at this very nice multi-cultural restaurant~complex
on the eastern side of "Bahgdad by the Bay"
where I live . While waiting for my order , approached
two younger woman/students wearing Islamic scarves
and chatting quietly and eating together.
When I spoke to them , they were not taken back ,
though one was a little shy , and talked with them
about recently doing more study on the subject of
Islam . The one who was more vocal at first told me
she was from South America and a convert from Catholicism.
I asked her what she found more in Islam that led her
to convert , and she said she found herself fulfilled
in everyway ...so many more ways in every level
of her life experience.
When I mentioned to them that it appeared the present rate
of conversion by women to Islam in the west was almost 30 to one from men, and
even the reticent one became interested and joined in the discussion eagerly,
and the conversation was quite pleasant. I found them
both to be extremely open and intelligent , with no
hint of hidden anxiety or disatisfaction.
I explained that I understood Mohammadan was an archaic
word no longer used to describe a person of Islam,
and that Islam regards only Allah as one to
be worshipped , not men or prophets ( women ?) who
bring the message.
All in all , very nice experiences today doing some
research into Islam , and found the two young women
very enjoyable , and also the little store owners
ready enthusiasm.
Next...I go to a Mosque .
regards
;-)
Mars
PS: The term "Bahgdad by the Bay" was a phrase
coined by a great San Francisco wit and famous
journalist Herb Caen , to describe humorously
the great City by Bay . |
