Mujahid & Shaheed Mohammad

Georgia Hemmings, Staff Reporter

Mujahid and Shaheed

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Mujahid Moham-mad and his 13-year-old brother, Shaheed, know they are different from other boys their age - they are practising Muslims.

It is a difference that has influenced their upbringing, beliefs, lifestyle and outlook on life. But the boys are not ashamed about "being different", and spoke proudly about their lives in a recent interview with Religion Today.

Born in November a year apart, the boys have never celebrated the anniversaries of their birth as Koranic teachings forbid this. "We are taught that no day is more special than any other," Mujahid explained, "and so there's no special recognition of birthdays or anniversaries. Every day is treated as a special day."

Invitations to birthday parties are not accepted, and traditional celebrations as Christmas and Easter are not recognised. During these periods, the Muslim community in Jamaica organises other celebrations to occupy the children's attention. Eed (Eid), for example, is specially anticipated by Mujahid and Shaheed "where everyone gathers to share food, thoughts and presence for one day" in the month after Ramadan. At this time, the boys meet friends they have not seen in a long while, play a lot and give gifts.

Taught thriftiness through their faith, Mujahid and Shaheed save regularly - money received as gifts, their lunch money or proceeds from the sale of small items.

Shaheed participates in a neighbourhood "partner", contributing the princely sum of $500 per week by buying and selling World Talk cards in his mother's shop or saving his lunch money.

This careful management of money is nothing out of the ordinary for the two boys as their religion forbids "squandering or waste of resources."

"We begin to develop this attitude now," Shaheed states quite seriously "for in the future when we need money, we will have to help our parents to help us."

Certainly for the future, funds will be required to fuel Shaheed's ambition to become a pilot or chemist. Mujahid, however, wants to become a chef, and laments the absence of home economics on the curriculum at the all-boys school which they attend.

He knows how to prepare a variety of dishes, including chicken and lobster and his skill is being constantly upgraded by his uncle Abid (himself a former restaurateur).

While Islamic doctrine forbids the eating of foods like pork and shortening, members can only indulge in other meat forms, like beef or chicken, if the animal is killed in a certain ritualistic fashion.

Their strict regimen means they avoid some fast food outlets, but they enjoy fish treats where they are offered. They do not eat prepared food in the school canteen, but occasionally they buy light snacks from vendors.

Prayer is an all-encompassing part of the boys' lives. They pray five times daily - every day! The first prayer is performed before sunrise, the second at noon, the third in the late afternoon (3:30-4:00 p.m.), the fourth at sunset, and the fifth before retiring to bed.

The prayer ritual includes ablutions of hands, face and feet; bowing and prostration; and the recital of sections of the Koran. They last for between five to 10 minutes, "on any given day, only about half-hour is spent in prayers, despite praying five times daily," a family member explained.

The boys participate in Jumah (a special congregational prayer) once every three weeks, and have to make arrangements for absence from school for this Friday's service.

In addition to foreign languages taught at school, the boys are learning Arabic on Saturdays, supplemented by teachings from a relative currently studying in Saudi Arabia.

"It's the language of the Holy Book (Koran)" says Mujahid, "and prayers are usually offered in Arabic."

The boys wear traditional garments during prayer sessions and are taught to respect women.

As there are no other Muslims at their school, the boys are often subjected to taunts about their religion. They cope by "ignoring the offenders or complaining to teachers," Shaheed explained. Still he wishes there was greater tolerance among Jamaicans for Muslims or greater understanding of Islam.

The boys feel the Islam religion could offer solutions to some of Jamaica's social problems, with the strong emphasis placed on the rights of children, family unity, and respect of people everywhere.

In the meantime, they participate in sports and club activities at school; excel in academics; and pursue varied hobbies.

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