Jumah and Zikr at Occupy Oakland

by Rashid Patch

Muslims assembled for the Jumah congregational prayer at Occupy Oakland on Friday 20 October. The prayers and khutbah (sermon) were attended by about 150 Muslim men and women from Oakland and nearby communities, and observed respectfully by an encircling crowd of another 350 or more from many faith traditions, including Christian ministers, Jewish Rabbis, Buddhists, Wiccans, and atheists.

Rabbi Michael Lerner, prominent leader of the Jewish Renewal Movement, head of the Beyt Tikkun Community and Network of Spiritual Progressives, sat conspicuously behind Dr. Hataem Bazian in the crowd. Dr. Bazian of UC Berkeley acted as imam for the prayers. In his khutbah, he pointed out that all the great prophets and founders of religions had been concerned with social and economic justice. Moses, Jesus, Mohammad (peace be upon all the Messengers) all confronted the rich and powerful, and brought a message of justice. Justice is an essential part of all religion, and an essential part of Islam.

Dr. Bazian told that earlier this same Friday, after congregational prayers, people had left mosques in Cairo and gone to Tahrir Square, carrying signs expressing solidarity with Oakland. The crowd errupted with a series of loud takbirs when he told that he had received messages telling of similar demonstrations of solidarity with Oakland in Tunisia, Yemen, and even Syria.

Many of the non-Muslims present had never before attended a Jumah, or seen Muslims at prayer. After the conclusion of the salat, a Muslim brother spoke who had his arm broken in police custody after being arrested on Tuesday evening. A number of activists from different organizations offered assistance in his case.  After the congregation ended, scores of small circles of conversation formed between Muslims and Occupy Oakland activists. Some of the Muslims have been in Occupy Oakland every day since its beginning, but this was one of the first times their presence in numbers was felt.

Insh’Aallah (God willing), there will be Jumah in Oscar Grant Plaza every Friday. We pray that Jews will also offer shabbas prayers there on Saturdays, and Christians gather there for prayer on Sundays. As Dr. Bazian stated in the khutbah Friday, social and economic justice is at the root of all religion; people of faith should be prominent in the “Occupy”  movement.

A small circle for zikrullah also met at Occupy Oakland on Saturday afternoon, October 29. In the tradition of the Mevlevi Tariqat (Sufi order), established by Jelaluddin Rumi in the 13th century CE, a large tasbih of 999 beads was used to count repetitions of the Name “Allah”, along with takbirs and salawats. A zone of peace was established for an hour amidst the din of downtown traffic and drums and chants from the demonstrations.

A few of the onlookers spontaneously joined the circle for a time - the Mevlevi zikr is always open to all. This halqah was small, but insh’Allah it will grow. We plan to meet at Occupy Oakland for zikr again next Friday after Jumah salat. All murids of every tariqat are invited to attend. Semazens are particularly requested to participate; if there are enough strong murids to hold the circle, we may have turning. The circle is open to all, of every faith tradition, or none at all.

Gel, gel - Come, Come!

SEE ALSO

Occupy Together/ OWS - the Spiritual Dimension, a regularly updated blog on the participation of clergy and religious leaders, with TAM article collection.