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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Azhan replaced School Bell for a day |
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| eleanor |
| 05/02/02 at 08:29:45 |
| Bismillah [slm] I saw this in the paper today - and translated it to share with you guys. I thought it was nice. The Call of the Muezzin replaces School Bell. 30 Experts inform about Muhammad and Muslims - Workshop for Schoolkids SINDELFINGEN. To come to a better understanding of Muslims the schoolchildren of the Goldberg Secondary School have hosted "Islam-Day". Some of the teachers were critical however and felt that more practical demonstrations would have been better. By Stephan Hack At 11 o'clock on Tuesday the school life of the Sindelfinger Goldberg Secondary School was temporarily interrupted. Teachers and schoolchildren listened attentively to the speakers. In the yard and in the school building, the school bell didn't ring as usual - the call to prayer was broadcast instead. "It's really moving" said one schoolgirl, who was overwhelmed, even though she didn't understand a single word of what was being recited. The call to prayer was one of the highlights of "Islam-Day" in the school. The whole morning Muslim Students, workers and professionals were holding seminars and workshops about their beliefs and shared experiences from their every day life. "We all have stereo-types of Islam in our head. Through this Islam-Day we want to gain an objective view about the religion", explained the Principal, Michael Kuckenberg. The idea for the workshop on the themes of "Muhammad and Muslims" came from the staff of the school. "We don't want to talk about terrorism and put Islam on the same level". Last October, the school started preperations for "learning about Islam" together with the Sindelfinger Representative for Foreigners, Ahmed Amini. It was clear that not only the religion should be discussed but also the culture and Muslim way of life should be on the itinery. 30 Muslims volunteered to take part. "This event should have taken place much earlier" said Klaus Holz, the chairman of the Christian-Islamic Association in Pforzheim. He had travelled to Sindelfingen with the Afghani theologist Hossein Fatimi. At the end of the Islam-Day, Holz was less than satisfied with the outcome. "I recommend in future, inter-cultural events like this should have more practical aspects on display. The schoolchildren had prepared questions to ask, but they were about the usual things like Sharia, Holy War or the role of the woman in Islam. Overall, they were far too passive." Whoever has little or no interest in his own religion, finds it hard to understand why Muslims are so intensive and passionate about their own religion. Ideally, on Islam Days like this one, the whole spectrum of Islam should be displayed. Holz would have found it far more interesting if the school-children were to try on a Burka, the long and almost hermetic covering worn by women, or to watch and maybe even take part in a prayer. On top of that, the Muslims should have had problem situations ready and to see how the children would confront them." Every religious-paedogogical media center has islamic objects, like prayer beads or head scarves. That would have led to a better "hands-on" experience for the children", said Holz. The school-children however didn't seem to miss out on anything. In class 11b there was a hefty discussion after the seminar by Company-Management Advisor, Hülya Balaban. Many felt it was strange and foreign that a Muslim man may be married to more than one woman at the same time..Babalan was quick to point out that in normal circumstances " a man may marry up to four women, but he must treat them all equally well. For example if he were to buy a car for one wife then the other wives have the right to a similar car." The 17 year old, Chrissi and her class mate Christoph were quick to comment - "it's amazing how much Christianity and Islam have in common". The Representative for Foreigners, Ahmad Amini saw the Islam Day as an important stepping stone. "In Sindelfingen there has been a christian-muslim dialogue going on for four years now. I think that helps to abolish stereotypes." Of utmost importance is the person themselves, the religion or nationality is of secondary importance. |
| 05/02/02 at 08:33:33 |
| eleanor |
| Re: Azhan replaced School Bell for a day |
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| jaihoon |
| 05/03/02 at 00:51:18 |
| Nice :) Can u specify the original source . Jazak Allah khair |
| Re: Azhan replaced School Bell for a day |
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| eleanor |
| 05/03/02 at 04:25:24 |
| [url]http://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/stz/page/detail.php/160019?_suchtag=2002-05-02[/url] I don't know how long this is good for... it's from a newspaper - Stuttgarter Zeitung ma'salaama eleanor |
| Re: Azhan replaced School Bell for a day |
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| jaihoon |
| 05/03/02 at 15:46:36 |
| German site, eh? ::) nice. :) That was kind of u to translate such a valuable article. I have heard that Germany had great thinkers and poets. Kant has been called the 'Gift of God to Germany'. And not to forget the philosopher who developed the concept of Superman. |
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