| | 
The headlines of recent days have been dominated by events influenced by Islamic fundamentalism. In the past several decades there has been growing trend towards Islamization in many secularized Muslim countries such as Turkey and Morocco. In an increasingly chaotic world, many Muslims have come to believe that if only their countries could practice a more pure form of Islam, all their problems would be solved. As Muslims around the globe become more serious about studying the Koran and Sunna (Muhammad’s life example), they are more likely to turn away from folk religious practices, and follow the five pillars of Islam. These are the confession of faith in one God and his prophet Muhammad (the shahada), the five daily prayers (salat), the Ramadan fast, the paying of alms (zakat), and the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in your lifetime (the Hajj). Some consider jihad to be a sixth pillar due to the emphasis it receives in the Koran and Hadith (the collected sayings of the prophet Muhammad).
Despite this global drift towards Islamization, the Manya of Liberia seem to be bucking the trend. Before the war there were strong Islamic teachers who strived to keep communities under the bondage of Islamic law, but now most of these figures have passed away. If anything the Manya are becoming less devote Muslims, and becoming more increasingly influenced by folk religious practices. This drift towards paganism among the Manya and its implications with reaching them with the Gospel will be the subject of my next few posts.
Since the end of the war the Manya of Lofa County have returned to their towns and villages and begun rebuilding their lives. Most are simple farmers, clearing large patches of forest every year to grow just enough rice to feed their families. Relatively few adults have received even a sixth-grade education. While a handful of elderly people populate the average ramshackle village mosques for the five daily prayers, the majority of the younger generation seems preoccupied with other worldly matters
Islam is a religion of salvation by works, and every able-bodied Muslims is supposed to follow the laws of Islam if they hope accepted by God on Judgment Day. Yet in practice, most Manya do not follow the five pillars of Islam, much less the hundreds of other laws and prohibitions laid out in the Sunnah (the lifestyle of the prophet Muhammad). Their intense farming work makes it difficult to perform the five daily prayers, so if they go only to the Friday prayer service, they believe surely God will understand. Yes, they are supposed to pay zakat and perform the pilgrimage to Mecca, but financial constraints do not allow the average Manya to do these either. Surely God will understand... For sure fasting throughout the month of Ramadan is required, but if you are pregnant, or sick, or have another good excuse, God will understand... Even the most basic tenant of Islam, the confession of faith, is not even necessarily uttered since everyone in the community is just assumed to be born a Muslim anyway. A Muslim background believer once told me, “Islam (in Liberia) is like a table with five legs. Yet you can remove each of the legs and it will still stand!” Many Muslims here live with the false assurance that despite their irreligiousity, the Prophet Muhammad will stand up on their behalf on Judgment Day, simply because they professed the Muslim faith on this earth. This is despite Muhammad’s admission that he himself was unsure of his eternal destiny and could not mediate for others (Sura 46:9)
The main exception I have observed towards the typical Manya’s rather casual approach towards the Islamic religion is the Ramadan fast. Ramadan will be observed next month by millions of Muslims around the world. Many of the Mandingo here who have been less than faithful throughout the year will try to their best to get their act together for Ramadan. During the course of this fast, no food or water is allowed to pass down your throat during daylight hours. Meanwhile you are encouraged to read the Koran and try to devote yourself more fully to God. The more devout will not even swallow their saliva all day long! Yet during the hours of darkness, they are free to indulge in as much food as they desire. During the hot African days, this fasting can be borderline torturous. Although work is not prohibited during this time, most do not have the stamina to continue at full capacity. Farm work seriously declines during this time, and in Monrovia the whole transportation system is affected since the majority of the taxi and bus drivers and Mandingos.
Their reasons for this asceticism are varied. Many only fast because it is expected of them by the Muslim leaders of the community. Those seen eating during fast hours are scowled upon as being a “kafli” or infidel. Some fast because they hope that by doing so God will forgive them for the sins of the previous year. A system of indulgences if you will. Others fast because it is believed that one day in that month is a day of blessing. The exact day is not known, so you have to fast every day so you don’t miss it. This blessing usually has to do with some temporal improvement in one’s life, rather than a spiritual blessing.
As folk Muslims, the Manya are not overly concerned about their destiny in the afterlife. Certainly everyone hopes to go to paradise after they die, but the pressing question for most is not “How can man be made righteous before God?” Rather they are asking “How can I find blessings and protection for my life now?”
|
| | Posted 8/18/2008 5:27 PM - 103 Views - 6 eProps - 5 comments
- recommend
  - recs0
- share
- email
 - sent0
|
