basically, the long and the short of it is, the religion editor for huff post put out a tweet call for vegan and vegetarian muslims. i responded. she asked me how i deal with iftars at mosques being a vegan. i told her i don’t and she wanted to know why.
Alright, my comment wouldn’t fit in the reply section or your ask. XD
Ugh, I wish you didn’t have to feel this way. (I know if you were in my house for iftar, my dad would probably want you to try all his vegan recipes, lol.) I never thought about that before, that people in the Ummah would question/judge your lifestyle choice of being vegan. But on being vegan/vegetarian in the Black Community- I completely understand what you’re referring to. Although I’m not vegan or vegetarian, my food choices are healthier than most, and I get teased a fair amount for not eating beef, fried chicken, soda, processed food, etc. (especially since I go to an HBCU).
I hope you’ll be able to break through this barrier. It’s strange how until Ramadan, you really don’t notice how much revolves around food and food activities. I hope that both communities- the Black community and the masjid community where you live accept you. :3 I know I would (and already do).
ALSO PEOPLE SHOULD READ THIS IT’S QUITE GOOD~
aww thank you.
i wish i didn’t feel this way either, but considering how much emotional energy it took for me to even muster up the courage to attend a mosque in the first place, let alone a primarily african american mosque on the south side of chicago, was already a huge thing for me. and then for me to attend iftars without eating anything because of my dietary choices just seemed like wayy too much to lump into a new relationship. while i know they welcome me because i am willing to travel so far to spend my fridays with them, and they are a family style community, i know my being from the north side, being from a wealthier part of town, is a barrier between my world and theirs. and because i don’t know quite yet what’s normal and standard for them i’m not willing to bring my diet as an additional barrier into our growing relationship.
it honestly wasn’t something i thought a lot about, because my intention was to attend jummah and just bounce. but being asked to attend multiple iftars (i even got invited to somebodys iftar birthday party tomorrow) just made me realize how much of a struggle it would be on my part and theirs.
next year i will have put wwaayy more thought into this! lol
