Poetry presentation: Hamod (Sam), “After the Funeral of Assam Hamady,” UA 288
Reader: Shaista Pollard
Recorder: Tish Adams 

ISLAM

            The belief in Allah, the one and only God is the very basis of the Islamic faith. Moslems also believe in various prophets as many as 240,000 prophets including Moses, Abraham, Joseph, David, , Jesus and Mohammed himself. The

Koran is the exact words of God to man. The Koran is the Muslim's Holy Book like our Bible. The Koran is the highest authority on every matter of faith, theology and law. Moslems give extraordinary reverence to the Koran.

According to Islam, people are punished for their actions whether they are good or evil. One does have a choice of what path one should take. Muslims should also belief in God's books, angels and the Last Day of Judgment.

            There are five pillars of Islam. This is the duty of man to try to fulfill these five expectations. This would fulfill the required worship of God. Shadaah, or confession of faith is the first pillar of Islam. A Muslim repeats the following prayer several times in a day. "There is no God but the one God, and Mohammed is his prophet."

            Another pillar of Islam is Salaat or prayer. A Moslem has to pray five times a day: at dawn, at noon, in late afternoon, at sunset, and after sunset. The person has to purify him or herself before praying. The person repeats the prayer, bows and bends at various times during the prayer.

            Zakat  is the third pillar of Islam. It is alms paid for the poor and needy.

It is calculated on the person's ownership of property. Muslims are asked to give voluntary contributions called Sadaqat. This offering is separate from Zakat.

            Sawm is the fourth pillar of Islamic faith. This is the fast required by all able Moslems. Children, the infirm and women menstruating are not required to keep the fast. The fast is practiced during the month of Ramadaan. Fast begins at daybreak and ends sundown. At the end of Ramadaan, Moslems celebrate Id-al-fitr, marks the high point of Moslem religious life. Special prayers are offered during this time.

            Hajj or pilgrimage is the last pillar of Islam. If a person can afford it, a Moslem should go to Mecca in their lifetime. As Moslems enter Mecca, they have to put on special clothes called ihram. The heads of the pilgrims are shave after ceremonies are performed. It takes several days to perform Hajj. The Muslim has to kiss the black stone which inside one of the corners. At the end of the pilgrimage, Id-al-Adha is celebrated. This celebration marks the sacrifice of Isaac, Abraham's son. Moslems around the world celebrate this special occasion.

            The poem "After the Funeral of Assam Hamady" is a poem by Moslem American poet and writer Hamod. Hamod shares his feelings in this heartfelt piece of poetry. He is a third generation immigrant living in the United States. The grandfather being the first generation immigrant is very religious and goes exactly by the book, he prays five times a day. The dad is religious but not as strict as the grandfather, I do think he prays five times a day like the grandfather. Hamod is a good Moslem but he seems like a person who takes prayer and communion with God as a private matter. I can see the pain in his eyes when in the poem he feels bad for his dad and grandfather when the women just gawks at them while they are praying on the blanket. His action of not going and joining was two-fold, on one hand he was embarrassed of their actions and on the other hand he was worried about their safety. Farther in the poem he says that he was embarrassed of the situation. Hamod driving a 1950 Lincoln at ninety miles an hour tells me he has assimilated to the culture. Everyone knows that most Americans drive above the speed limit. He is moving about like most Americans. It is the fast life. In America people move from one place to another. Hamod enjoys these trips. At the end of the poem he states he really feels like he would join like to join his grandfather and father in prayer. This means to me that the poet does take pride in his religion now and forever. I do not feel like he really thinks it is necessary still to make a scene of the whole situation but he feels like as a true Moslem he should not be embarrassed to join his father and grandfather in prayer. He does not want the guilt of not practicing his faith on his conscious. I feel like Hamod is a true Moslem, he has great love and respect for his religion as well as his elders. Hamod is a great writer too. In his writings, he openly disagrees with America supporting Israel in any way or form.

Cultural objectives covered in the Poem, “ After the Funeral of Assam

Hamady”

Immigrant Narrative Stage 3: Shock, resistance, exploitation, and discrimination.

Immigrant Narrative Stage 4: Assimilation to dominant culture

Immigrant Narrative Stage 5: Reassertion to ethnic identity

Literary Objective 1: To comprehend the story of immigration as a fundamental narrative of American literature and culture

Literary Objective 1c: To explore the immigrant narrative as an organizing principle for studying multicultural literature.

Literary Objective 2a who writes the immigrant narrative?

Literary Objective 2c character by generation: to identify and question the

standard generational identies

Discussion:  Reader: Shaista Pollard  Recorder: Tish Adams

Shaista: How would you feel if you saw someone get out and pray in public?

Dr.White: It is outlandish because it is a public prayer. With the Lord’s Prayer, you can blend in with the group. The Islamic Prayer is marked because one has to change positions while praying.

Cristel: We do not know about different religions. Islam is quite similar to

Christianity. We find these similarities by learning about the religions.

The child seemed more assimilated-yet he was embarrassed while his elders prayed.

Shantel: He was standing guard.

Guest: He wants to join in. He is in conflict-he does not whether to join in

or not.

Cristel: He wants to get back to his original culture looking back.

Shantel: When my dad prays in public-worried  if people are looking

Naomi: As a teenager anyone would be embarrassed by things like that

Dr.White: Their religion is very private. It is putting yourself on the line

when you perform public acts.

Guest: Public display-is it meant to mean faith?

Shaista: It increases esteem.

Naomi: Christianity bowing means you are better than others. In Islam means worshiping God.

Lynn: Why did he choose a Navajo rug?

Natalie: Do they have to bless the blanket each time?

Shaista: Yes, I think everything concerning religion has to be clean and respected.

Dr. White: Maintaining rituals is very important if you want to maintain ethnic identity.