Hubris from Revelation: the Social Engineering of Ultimate Truths [Monday, Period 2]

[atreideslioness]

As the students arrived at the Danger Shop as handwavily instructed, they would find a feast set up. Long tables surrounded by large pillows and low couches, piled with heaps of food. "Last week we spoke briefly on Islam, so today I feel free to bump polytheism in favor of celebration," Ghanima said cheerfully, waving for them to take a seat. "Today is Eid ul-Fitr, often abbreviated to Eid."

"Eid is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity", while Fiṭr means "to break fast"; and so the holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period. It is celebrated after the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, on the first day of Shawwal."

"Muslims believe that during the month of Ramadan, Allah revealed the first verses of the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. Around 610 A.D., a caravan trader named Muhammad took to wandering the desert near Mecca while thinking about his faith. One night a voice called to him from the night sky. It was the angel Gabriel, who told Muhammad he had been chosen to receive the word of Allah. In the days that followed, Muhammad found himself speaking the verses that would be transcribed as the Qur'an. At many mosques during Ramadan, about one thirtieth of the Qur'an is recited each night in prayers known as tarawih. In this way, by the end of the month the complete scripture will have been recited."

"While celebrations vary worldwide, there are some common themes to the day. Typically, Muslims wake up early in the morning and have a small breakfast -- as a sign of not being on a fast anymore -- before attending a special Eid prayer, or salah, that is performed in congregation at mosques or open areas like fields, squares etc. Many wear new clothes for the occasion if possible, otherwise it is expected to dress in your best. The Eid prayer is followed by the khutbah -- sermon -- and then a supplication asking for forgiveness, mercy and help for all living beings across the world. The khutbah also instructs Muslims as to the performance of rituals of Eid, such as the zakat. It is then customary to embrace the persons sitting on either side of oneself, whilst greeting them. After the prayers, people also visit their relatives, friends and acquaintances, and some people also pay visits to the graveyards."

"Before the Eid prayer begins, every Muslim who is able must pay Zakat al-fitr, an alms for the month of Ramadan. This equates to about 2 kilograms of a basic foodstuff such as wheat, barley, dates, or raisins, or its cash equivalent, and is typically collected at the mosque. This is distributed to needy local residents prior to the start of the Eid prayer. It can be given at any time during the month of Ramadan and is often given early, so the recipient can use it for Eid purchases. This is distinct from Zakat based on wealth, which must be paid to a worthy charity."

"So embrace your neighbor, have some lamb, and pass the vegetables," Ghanima said, gesturing at the table. "Your assignment for today is to go out and pay Zakat al-fitr as best you can after class. Give a friend a cookie, make pancakes in the common room, break the fast, and spread joy and goodwill to all. There's some handouts by the door if you're interested in learning more, but for now, eat."

[OCD up!]

Comments

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"It does that anyway around here," she said wryly.

"No one told you?"

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[furnaceface]

//Wot? About Fandom Island's bloody sense of bloody humour?// Jono had apparently been educated in it already, yes. //Between flying pudding and homicidal ducks and the fact that everybody and their cat appears to be able to talk telepathically, I think I managed to figure it out, luv.//

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"Everyone and their cat?"

She was wondering whose cat, oddly enough.

"I don't think Nyx is quite up to that, to be honest."

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[furnaceface]

//Talking?// There was a sort of a scoff, to go with that, all feeling and no noise, like a fragment of his psionic voice that hadn't been intended to carry all of the way. //Nyx is yer cat, then? It'd be a relief if he-- she? If it kept up that inclination to meow.//

Not that he had anything against talking cats at all. Pounce was pleasant enough. But it was still a matter of principle. Or something.

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"Nyx is my kitten. And while she is a wonder on her own, she's mostly just a wonderful kitten. No talking or telepathy."

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[furnaceface]

That was almost a sigh of relief, there, yes. Almost. Those were difficult, without lungs.

//So this place does let some things remain normal. Good to know, that.// A pause. //Sorry, luv. I've seen stranger where I'm from, I ought to stop moanin' and complainin' about it, here. But it's... strange, that so many people are so quick to accept things however they are.//

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"No, I understand. I'm just really really thankful for it. If people here didn't accept so quick, I probably wouldn't have any friends."

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[furnaceface]

Jono went quiet at that, eyeing the water that he'd been dabbling in.

//I keep waitin' for the other shoe to drop. Waitin' for it to go from all of this being alright, to people deciding that it isn't right at all.//

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She was absolutely crap at comforting people. She'd picked up the signs that they might need it, or that someone was uncomfortable, but knowing what to do about it?

"You're not the only one. If that means anything. Which might be why people won't decide that it isn't all right.

"Too many" and if she'd been talking just about herself, she would have said 'freaks' but since Jono was included "people like you and me."

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[furnaceface]

//Too many people who aren't the same as everybody else,// he mused. And then he nodded faintly. //I've met a few. Other people who find it odd that the people around them think... not that they're normal, I don't think. Just that they're not strange, either.//

And then he was almost laughing again, though it was a hollow feeling still.

//An entire bloody island full of outcasts and monsters waiting for the other outcasts and monsters to decide they're not bloody good enough. It's absurd, when yer think about it.//

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

That made her sit up a little.

"I haven't met a single monster," she said with a lift of her head and a look at him that was at once worried and annoyed, "just those, as you've said. We're all a little different. Coming here makes us different, even if at home we would be normal, I think."

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[furnaceface]

//Some monsters might just be better at hiding it than others, luv.// Jono shrugged. He wasn't exactly the world's most inspiring conversation, no. And especially not at that particular moment, apparently. //And what, then, if yer not normal at home, either?//

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"I don't know. That's like asking 'how do you live your life?'. There's no pat answer."

Her lips quirked.

"If anyone's a monster here, they've hidden it very well. I haven't seen anyone do anything where I'd call them that. A few people are jerks, but that's about all."

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[furnaceface]

Very fascinating glass of water, indeed.

//I suppose it depends on the definition of monster, then. Worse than a jerk is one thing. Frightening people just by existing, that might be one, too.//

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

That got some fire in her eyes.

"That's just a load of nonsense," she said firmly.

"No one can be frightening just because they exist. And if they are, it's because people are stupid or too lost in their own little world to give someone a chance."

While she had killed Perry Millhouse, she had made friends with Soukh. One was a crocodile the size of an apartment, the other was a man in what looked like mechanic's clothes.

She'd made friends with the crocodile. Being a 'monster' was what you did, nothing more.

...she had to believe that, or she might as well consider herself cannon fodder.

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[furnaceface]

Jonothon's own eyes faded to pure white at that, and his posture straightened sharply.

//Yer might be surprised how many people are 'too stupid or lost in their own little world,' then. Ignorance doesn't excuse the hate, no, but the fact that it is ignorance doesn't make it go away, either.//

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"I'm not," because a straightening of posture got one in return, of course. Getting Fiona's ire raised was about as easy as making a kitten do something cute. "Surprised or naive.

"It is a load of nonsense. I didn't say it wasn't real or that people don't have to deal with it or that it's not nonsense that most people indulge in. But it is nonsense. You are what you do."

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[furnaceface]

//It's bloody tiring, is what it is,// Jono replied, and his eyes returned to normal in a blink as he crossed his arms over his chest and proceeded to attempt to hold a gesture that was somewhat indicative of scowling.

Oh, yes. Now he was in a snit again.

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"Well aware," she informed him, doing her best to breathe out and get her emotions under control again. Thankfully, she hadn't actually gotten that angry, just annoyed.

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[furnaceface]

And then he was twirling his finger in the water. All... wet and watery and such. Hooray, water.

//Maybe it's just as much waiting for the other shoe to drop as it is trying not to get used to it.//

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"That's..."

She had to admit--

"Yes. I can understand that as well."

As she usually did, her first thought was to Dinah and that day in the flower shop when she'd confessed all.

"In a lot of ways."

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[furnaceface]

//Not too keen on going back to it either, gel?//

It seemed like the logical conclusion to draw, there, really.

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"Not at all."

Her fingers tapped on her own thigh in a rare display of nervousness.

"Thankfully, we never celebrated holidays, so I don't think I have to go back for any of them. I'll have to work out something so Eliot can visit, though. Or I'll go visit him."

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[furnaceface]

//And, at the very least, there's that Parents Weekend thing, right?// Jono nodded a little. See? That was totally... something. //Excuses are easy enough to come by, really. I mean, if yer want something badly enough. Yer just have to get creative with it.//

Re: Activity: Eat and Discuss

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"Not with my mother," she said, not so much a wry grin on her face as a troubled sigh, "or the rest of my family, to be honest. I really only want Eliot to come to Parent's Weekend. Or maybe Aunt Dallas or Uncle Aaron."

As much as she wanted to see her father, it wasn't really safe. Especially on a weekend like that.