Doing Calypso the Islamic Way?...................
“Travel agents like to promote Trinidad as a tropical Caribbean paradise, an ideal vacation spot throbbing with calypso, carnival and steel bands. But Trinidad is also the focus of Muslim life in the Caribbean. Last August, Saudi Arabia's Prince Muhammad ibn Faysal visited to address the 24th international convention of the Islamic Missionaries Guild. The oil-rich island, smaller than Brunei or the state of Delaware, boasts the western hemisphere's highest concentration of mosques - 85 in all - a Muslim speaker of the house in veteran politician Nizam Mohammed, and even a Muslim president, Noor Mohammed Hassanali. Last May, both men were featured speakers at Trinidad's first-ever official public celebration of 'Id al-Fitr, a joyous event marking the end of the fasting of the month of Ramadan. Nearly 4,000 Muslims turned out for the gathering, which for the first time was held at the national Jean Pierre Cultural Complex in Port-of-Spain. "The Muslim community in Trinidad, despite being small, is very organized," said businessman Imtiaz Ali, who attended special 'Id prayers at the Jinnah Memorial Mosque, one of the country's largest. Ali, who from 1974 to 1978 studied at the Islamic University in Medina, Saudi Arabia, today manages the Muslim Credit Union Co-operative Society in Curepe, a small village near Port-of-Spain. In keeping with the laws of Islam, the credit union charges the equivalent of $1 a month in dues, while offering its 1,500 members interest-free loans (See Aramco World , May-June 1987)………….”
I understand that the Calypso sessions start late at night, and they end just before dawn. They won’t interfere with any other spiritual activities.
Given the interest of the Saudi princes in the islands Muslim community, and his visit to the Islamic Missionaries Guild, I am guessing they are not Shi’as, nor Episcopalians. Or Hasidim for that matter. Nor Normons: imagine having to wear a dark suit and tie while everybody else is doing the Calypso or the Limbo on the beach?
Cheers
mhg
Mon Email
Comments