The Local Islamic Center Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Local Islamic Center - Essay Example After talking with Nazredinne, he informed me that he was presently cleaning the mosque. Summary of Experience I had made plans to meet Nazredinne at the mosque around six o’clock on a Friday evening. As I entered the mosque on the first floor, I saw piles of shoes lying upon the floor. So, following what other men were doing, I also took my shoes off and proceeded up the steps. Nazredinne served as my host and translator for the rest of the evening. After telling me that he had a few things to finish doing, he led me into the main room of the mosque and told me that he would be right back. As I looked around, I saw about 30 Middle Easterners sitting around the room, and it became very quiet. It was most uncomfortable. However, some of the men approached me out of hospitality to introduce themselves and their country of birth. Soon after my arrival, I was invited to partake of the fellowship meal. This is something that is done every evening of the day of prayer. The meal cons isted of lamb, rice, dates, eggplant, and many other Arab foods and delicacies. After going through the line to get my food, I then joined many of the other men who were sitting in lines on the floor of the prayer room eating their meal. All of the conversation, unless it was directed at me, was done in Arabic. Occasionally, Nazredinne would tell me what he and the others were talking about. After the meal, everyone helped out to clean up. While the men were cleaning up, Nazredinne and another Arab man took all of the male children to one corner of the prayer room in order to conduct Arabic lessons. These lessons were centered around readings from the Qur’aan, which I could not touch until Nazredinne took me to perform the ritual cleansing. After the lessons, the children left the room and everyone gathered around Nazredinne, who was standing at the front of the mosque. He delivered a sermon from the Qur’aan, and he talked much about the Prophet Noah. I only know this because Nazredinne had asked his Palestinian friend to translate the sermon for me. The pace of the sermon was so fast that I understood little, even with a translator at my side. The sermon lasted about twenty-five minutes, and it was timed perfectly so that at the conclusion of the sermon, the prayers could begin. I was permitted to stay in the prayer room during their performance of the Salah, as long as I did not speak and stayed in the back of the room. The prayer lasted much longer than what I would have thought, and Nazredinne of course led the Muslims in attendance through the ritual. Of course I did not understand what was being said, but I could feel the devotion within the room. Everyone knew exactly what to do, and everyone knelt and rose in one accord. At the conclusion of the time of prayer, everyone stayed around to talk and fellowship with one another. Up to this point, many of the Muslims in attendance had not come up to me to introduce themselves. However, once the ritual prayers were over, almost all of the Muslims came up to me and introduced themselves, and even offered their contact information in case I ever had any questions about Islam and its practices and beliefs. By this point, I am sure that everyone knew that I was not a Muslim, and for that reason they considered me a

An Assessment of the Current Economic Conditions of Africa Essay

An Assessment of the Current Economic Conditions of Africa - Essay Example However, the continent managed to present a 5% rise in economic activity. This was as a result of greater metal and oil prices, significant boost in formal development aid and enhanced economic stability. In 2011, the economic growth of Africa fell. The current economy of Africa seems to be recovering from a ‘devastating’ situation, following the economic performance decline in 2011. The African region has been shaken by the natural phenomenon as well as critical civil wars within countries, among other human activated activities. When all this is combined, it will always impact into a region’s economy either in a positive, or a negative manner. In a span of one decade, we have seen the continent’s economy fall and with no time able to recover again. Africa’s economy was not at its worst in 2011 as many would think; holding 3.4% GDP growth from 5% in 2010. Tracing back to 2009, the economy was even lower with 3%; a percentage lower than in 2011 befor e shooting to 5%, which means that the continent has the capability to put itself back to a better position, which would contribute to an increase in the total world economic growth. This is the reason to disagree with the position that the decline was devastating; instead it is better to term the decline as average though the impact was deeply felt by the population of the continent. Africa is a continent with about 54 countries, and over one billion people living at different levels of life. This prompts the need for development in the countries that have loopholes in governance among other necessities, to fasten the growth. In one way or the other, all the countries new and existing need to co-operate and focus on one mission of strengthening the economy. Africa’s economic situation in the 1st phase of 2012 shows a forecast of recovering process by end of 2012. â€Å"With the gradual recovery of North African economies, Africa’s average growth is expected to reboun d to 4.5% in 2012 and 4.8% in 2013† (â€Å"African economic outlook 2012: Macroeconomic† 15). North African economy had been compressed following the political problems, social tension and civil wars experienced. These are countries with credible sources of oil depositories where the pressure within was felt in the whole of Africa. In South Africa, the 2010 GDP growth was at 2.9%, with an estimated increase to 3.1% in 2011(â€Å"South Africa† africaeconomicoutlook.org). However, due to basic local weaknesses and the weak global economic recovery, there was an expected slowdown in growth in 2012. In 2013, the GDP growth of South Africa was estimated to rise to 3.6% (â€Å"South Africa† africaeconomicoutlook.org). In 2011, the rate of consumption and investment grew by 3.5% and 5.2% respectively(â€Å"South Africa† africaeconomicoutlook.org). Africa was the largest beneficiary of the IDA (International Development Association), World Bank’s fun d in 2011, with a $ 7.0 billion financial commitment to improve the economy and population’s living condition to eradicate poverty (â€Å"The World Bank Annual Report 2011† 3). Much remains to be achieved in the continent despite the huge borrowing and aids received in the region. Even after the debt relief in 2005 that was a ‘salvation’ of the African countries, debt seems to be on the rise though the act the suppressed rate of borrowing. Today more than ever, the continent has changed the rate and pattern of borrowing. African countries are keen on the interests and conditions involved when taking development funds, this has resulted to China being preferred over the World Bank on financial lending in Africa. However, Africa still remains fragile where the total expenditure in most countries