Religion guides their lives

This Muslim now considers the Nation of Islam racist, and contrary to the Koran.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
hukriyyah Abdul-Salaam was brought up Christian. As a young adult, she joined Baptist, Methodist, Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-day Adventist churches searching for a spiritual force that would guide her life. Then, she joined the Nation of Islam.
"Black power was a big thing back in 1967," she said. "The Nation of Islam encouraged black men and women to know themselves and to be proud of being black."
Although she'd gone to church every Sunday when she was a Christian, Abdul-Salaam said the experiences never moved her spiritually. The more she learned about Islam, the more devoted she became.
"I became more aware of myself as a human being and of my obligations to be upright." She even changed her name to a Muslim name, "because a name should have some significance," she said.
"Shukriyyah means grateful and thankful and that's my goal," she explained. When she married her husband, Elus Abdul-Salaam, who'd also joined the Nation of Islam in the 1960s, she took his surname.
"He chose Abdul because it means slave servant of God. Salaam means peace."
Both Shukriyyah and her husband now practice what they call "true Islam."
What was bad: The Nation of Islam, Elus said, has become a racist organization. "They believe that the white man is the devil and the black man is God. That goes against the Koran. That's not Islam and personally, I don't consider them Muslims.
"Man is neither God nor the devil. True Islam teaches that God is beyond man's imagination. He created heaven and earth and everything in-between."
In converting to Islam, the couple has rejected Christian practices that have become ingrained in much of American society.
They don't celebrate Christmas or Easter, they dress more conservatively than they once did, and go to prayer on Friday rather than Sunday.
"It's a lifestyle for me," Shukriyyah said. "I'm very active. I go to prayer every Friday and fast during Ramadan." The monthlong fast prohibits Muslims from consuming any food or water or engaging in sexual activity during daylight hours. "It is difficult, but it's rewarding," she said.
Pilgrimage: The couple has also made the Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca required of all able-bodied and financially capable Muslims at least once in their lives.
The three-week trip in 1997 took the couple and four other family members to the Islamic holy places in Saudi Arabia where they performed a series of religious rituals commemorating significant experiences of the prophets, such as Abraham stoning the devil.
The trip was grueling, with 3 million pilgrims all occupying a tent city in the desert.
"There were people who got down and kissed the ground when we got home, and made us more appreciative of what we have at home," Elus said.
"I feel blessed to be a Muslim and here in the United States, free to practice my religion," Shukriyyah agreed.
There are two communities of Muslims in Greater Youngstown. Those who belong to the Youngstown Islamic Center are primarily black converts. Those who belong to Masqid Al-Khair are primarily Asian and Arab immigrants.
Although there is interaction between the two groups, Shukriyyah said cultural differences, and in some instances language barriers, keep them from uniting.
kubik@vindy.com