Volu m e I - Purdue University Calumet

effect”, after the bombings took place. The “rally around the flag effect” is when the United States public
turned to the presidency, and overwhelmingly supported the decisions that the government made in
response to the terrorist acts, like the commitment to the war on terrorism. It is the focus turned to an
entity whether it is governmental or religious in a time of need or guidance. The mosque in the Muslim-
American society has become a social, religious, and educational sphere for the immigrant, and the
generational Muslims in America.
These mosques have become places of congregational worship for the community, where they can
gather and practice their beliefs or pray together (Bukhari. 262). This becomes especially important during
their holy month called Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic Lunar calendar, during which
observing Muslims fast from dawn until dusk during the entire month. After dusk they usually break this
fast as a whole. “Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking, and sex…only those who are able to
participate: the ill, the old, the young, women who are breast feeding or menstruating and travelers are
excused” (Curtis. 428). The mosque becomes a unifying religious center where Muslims can practice their
beliefs without fear of repercussion of outsiders. However, there are ongoing disputes between the genders
within the mosque, concerning the patriarchal rules that restrict the women in the Muslim community. This
dispute is more prominent in the Muslim-American society than any other Muslim society because of the
fact that women are used to more equal treatment at work, and home, and then have to go to the mosque
where they hinder women’s rights in such a way that many believe was just established by men, not by the
Quran, or Islamic law (Abdo. 139). Their religion influences just about every aspect of their lives. They can
only eat certain meat prepared in a special way, excluding pork, pork is forbidden, their marriages are
arranged by their parents, and above all else Muslims must respect their parents. The Mosque in Muslim-
American society is seen as a well-rounded establishment where immigrants can associate with other
Muslims and practice Islam, a place to educate their children about Islamic beliefs, traditions, and norms,
156