U.S. Laws Protect Right To Wear Religious Garb at Work

26 September 2007

(Colleagues, neighbors accommodate Muslims’ faith requirements)

Washington -- Muslims in the United States typically observe Ramadan and fulfill their other religious obligations with the encouragement and support of non-Muslim friends, colleagues and neighbors, say U.S. State Department officials Seema Matin and William Lawrence.

“I have always found that my non-Muslim colleagues and friends are very supportive during this [holy] month of Ramadan,” Matin said in a September 26 USINFO Webchat.  She recalled that when she was in college, many of her non-Muslim classmates expressed solidarity with her by joining in the daytime fasting that Ramadan requires.  “At work, many of my colleagues will try not to eat or drink around me, and … I am always touched by their thoughtfulness,” she said.

Matin, an American-born Muslim whose parents emigrated to the United States from Pakistan, teamed up with Lawrence -- a convert to Islam -- to co-host the Webchat and answer questions from online participants about Muslim life in the United States.

Newly arrived Muslims usually adapt very well to the United States because historically “immigrants from different lands have come to this country and have been able to integrate within a generation,” said Matin.  “Of course, this requires the immigrants to reach out of their own cultural comfort zone and get involved and engage with their local community and neighborhood.  I think the most important part of integrating into American society is to understand that you are an American and … not see yourself [as] separate from mainstream society.”

Americans, she said, are among “the most welcoming and friendliest people you will find.”

Asked whether the United States bars women from publicly wearing the hijab (the traditional headscarf worn by many, but not all, Muslim women), Matin replied that the U.S. Constitution protects the wearing of all religious symbols, including the hijab.  “I have never had any problems wearing the hijab in the United States,” she said.  In some Western societies, “there are misconceptions about the hijab,” but “I think they will change,” she added.  “I think it’s important for people to know that for many of us in America, [wearing the hijab] is a personal choice: something that was not forced upon us by our parents or spouses.” (See related article.)

Iftars, the dinners served at sunset to break the Ramadan daytime fast, often are shared by Muslims and non-Muslims, since U.S. mosques almost always welcome public participation.  “But it isn’t just the Muslim Americans who invite people to iftars; in fact, some of my non-Muslim friends have invited me to iftars in their home,” said Matin.  “Just recently, one of my dearest friends invited me to his home for iftar and said that he and his wife -- both non-Muslim -- would even prepare the meal with halal meat that they were going to purchase specifically for this occasion.  I was really moved by their kind gesture.”

Interfaith events are hosted by many U.S. mosques during Ramadan, and also at other times of the year, to promote peace and understanding.  “These are always very pleasant occasions for everyone,” said Matin.

According to Lawrence, Americans have become more knowledgeable about Islam in the last several years, in keeping with the rapid growth of the U.S. Muslim population.  “I converted to Islam in 1994,” he said.  “When I was young, few people [in the United States] knew what Ramadan was.  Now nearly every American has heard of Ramadan … [and] all Americans now know we have millions of Muslims in the U.S.  Information about Islam has increased greatly.”

To honor Ramadan, “the White House will be hosting an iftar, as will the State Department,” he said.

In response to a question about building trust between the Islamic world and the West, Lawrence suggested that the two entities are not entirely separate.  “I would like to point out that the Muslim world includes elements of the West, and the Western world includes large [numbers] of Muslims, so … blending is part of the process,” he said.  “Trust starts with trustworthiness.  It also includes respect, and listening, and tolerance for different points of view.  Ramadan is an excellent time of year to spend more time listening and reflecting and trust-building.”

On the subject of why U.S. Muslims are well integrated into the larger society, Matin and Lawrence agreed that several factors probably come into play.  “American Muslims tend to be [highly educated] professionals,” earning significantly more money and voting “at much higher rates than average Americans,” said Lawrence.  This degree of sophistication makes assimilation much easier, he indicated.

Besides, Matin added, the nation’s ethnic and religious diversity fosters social inclusion, and U.S. laws forbidding discrimination reinforce that concept.  During Ramadan, Muslims go to work, attend school and maintain their usual schedules, while also adhering to Islamic customs.  “I think America is unique in this regard: that you can integrate into mainstream society without completely giving up your traditions and values,” said Matin.

For more information, see Celebrating Ramadan in America.