Do Muslims Create Their Own Stereotypes…even during Ramadan?
One would suspect that this one article would be perceived as “a huge win for the American Muslim community”, Whole Foods Goes Social for Ramadan. After all it was published in highly-respectable marketing blog Clickz.com. However, this one paragraph didn’t settle well in my inner circle of Muslims and non-Muslims.
“Often times, Muslims’ online activity dies down a little bit during Ramadan because it’s a fasting period,” Mabe explained. “People are tired and hungry during the holiday, so they are not spending as much time on the web.”
Curious as to feedback from respectable non-Muslim, when read aloud, my colleague immediately responded “Nah…that’s not right, they shouldn’t have said that…it’s because of Islamic reflection and acts of worship….nah…that’s not right.” [
Basically, the Muslims did not take well to being perceived as "tired and hungry" as it definitely doesn't portray us very well. But, in my attempt to draw attention to the fact that I know and respect Lisa, and that she must have data to back her statement of.
I myself was terribly interested in getting hard data showing that "Muslims' online activity dies down a little bit during Ramadan"...which my non-Muslim colleague immediately asked, "But, aren't you just online elsewhere, right?" As she's fully aware that my family and I do our Qur'anic studies online, we research our Islamic studies online, etc...back to her point that of our "Islamic reflection and acts of worship". [Amendment: Keep in mind, this is one of my colleagues, who knows me and my family and know how we & those who I associate with (many whom she personally met) practice Islam.]
So, in search for the truth, I asked Lisa for any data to back her claims.
Here’s how the conversation went:
I was discussing another project we were working on together, then I brought up this topic as such:
Amended Note for clarification: This is an excerpt of a larger email we were discussing as I’m working on a Ramadan project with 2 organizations/individuals mentioned in the linked article of question: my past partner Saffron Road & sister Yvonne of My Halal Kitchen (another dear partner, Muslims sister blogger): I have never doubted nor questioned Whole Food’s acknowledgement of Muslim Americans. PLEASE read the whole article, word-for-word before you comment out of context. I’m speaking from a Muslim to a Muslim, and sharing what non-Muslims have to say.
FYI, based on your clickz. quote you made, do you have data to share of the 2 things you mentioned:
1. Muslims are less online during Ramadan, and
2. That Muslims are offline b/c we’re “tired and hungry”.Having been online since 2004, I know we die down to the month of Ramadan (just personal friends & colleagues’ choice and vacation time), but haven’t found data written about it.
And, I know for my entire family and friends (100s, if not 1000s of Muslims), it’s never because we are “tired or hungry”. We are most productive during Ramadan as we’re all dedicating our entire month to acts of worship and charity. For example, I just posted 99 Tips to Help Kids Fast During Ramadan yesterday. My emailboxes are full, b/c everyone appreciates that we [correction: my family] work harder with longer hours to please God, not because we’re even thinking of food or sleeping. Typically we sleep much, much less; because of Taraweeh & Qiyam al-layl prayers throughout the night, and work during the day.
I’m not offended by your words, but some colleagues have already discussed your quotes with me, and I believe they are. I was however just a bit saddened, because that website is for general public, and it makes us look unproductive, however, I shared, “she (you) must have data” in my optimistic view. Anyways, some have asked that I share my views publicly, which is just the above.
Would love you to share your side too, especially with data, or is it observation? Hopefully not speculation…
Lisa replied,
It’s unfortunate that anyone would be offended when we’re thrilled that for the first time a major grocery retailer in the U.S. is acknowledging Muslim consumers and Ramadan nationally; this is a huge win for the American Muslim community. My quote in the article said nothing about Muslims being less productive, but simply alluded to the fact that some Muslims are not quite as active online during Ramadan. From a business and consumer targeting point of view, it makes sense to try to reach consumers several weeks out from the month of Ramadan.
My second attempt to gain clarity, while sharing my position on this topic:
“Often times, Muslims’ online activity dies down a little bit during Ramadan because it’s a fasting period,” Mabe explained. “People are tired and hungry during the holiday, so they are not spending as much time on the web.”Yes, you did allude to the highlighted areas in yellow, which I am in total agreement. I was just hoping to get some data or justification to your quote highlighted in green, such as research, professional observation or personal speculation. It’s not a reflection of you, its a reflection of the Muslims who are living the days of Ramadan being tired and hungry and others perceive them to be this way, however, God bless, my girls and I aim to stay away from those two feelings and/or Muslims who let those two feelings overcome them [mashaAllah]. I have a fun headline for tomorrow’s post already.
Amendment: I never doubted Lisa’s point. I simply asked if there’s any supporting data, as I want some because as noted about, “I am in total agreement” with her.
Muslims often create our own bad-wrap
Now, this is not the first time, I’ve shared that we as Muslims create the poor images portrayed about us. That’s why I always share the fact that “Alhumdulilah, Praise be to Allah, I feel in LOVE and became a Muslim before I met “real” Muslims, mashaAllah.”
I actually only knew 3 Muslims when I was studying and learning about Islam before I embraced it. It took me 8-months later before ever walking into a masjid. When I walked in I met the Islamic school’s principal, one teacher and a bunch of tiny Muslim kids who taught me to pray that one-week I went for dhuhr prayer every day. May Allah reward them all for all that they taught me. Ameen. The are in my daily du’a to this day.
Then, on a Friday, I was encouraged to attend maghrib and ishaa prayer with a sister’s halaqah in between. It was a whole new unexpected experience for me, and unfortunately I left the night totally perplexed, and sadly disappointed for the behaviors, attitudes, manners, and conduct of many of the sisters and their children. It was at that point that I realized Muslims are still just people and no matter what, each faith has its devout worshipers, and those simply by name.
At that very moment, I vowed to do exactly what I’ve done my whole life: Be selective as to my circle of friends–my likeness of high morals, ethics, behavior and most of all, as a new Muslim–devout belief, inshaAllah.
There’s NO doubt that some many possibly the majority of Muslims are “tired and hungry”, after all the majority of Muslims actually gain weight during Ramadan–which is a complete contradiction, huh?
Actually not at all…
If you’re tired and hungry, your also apt to eat poorly, eat too much, and the binge-and-purge attitude is not only unhealthy, but a source to unhappiness, laziness, lack of productivity and so many more negative, non-Ramadan-spirited attitudes, behaviors and actions.
Are You a Productive Muslim During Ramadan?
Subhanallah, Glory be to Allah, it was just a couple of days ago that my girls and I watched these 2 very telling videos.
Curious, which Muslim are you in these videos? No, I’m not asking you to comment publicly, but to contemplate deeply…and inshaAllah, may du’a, seek Allah’s forgiveness and guidance to take critical positive actions to make this the most productive Ramadan, ever.
Become a Productive Muslim During Ramadan with Me!
How? I’m a member of Productive Muslim’s Productive Ramadan course, and I’m on the 3rd module and loving it because it’s so energizing! Join with me today to see the results we all should be driving for: to be a Productive Muslim During Ramadan.
But as I shared to Lisa I don’t associate myself or my family with unproductive, tired, or hungry Muslims–not during the year, and most definitely not during Ramadan. Of course, we get tired and are to some extent hungry, but that’s not an acceptable reason to die down offline, or die down period…is it?
As always, I’m open to your kind thoughts, reflections and input. Also, if you have any question about Productive Ramadan membership course, please comment below, a more detailed report will be shared later next week, inshaAllah. Don’t want to miss it? Subscribe to our RSS feed today.
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Category: Family
