Being my brother's-and sister's---keeper is as much a part of my religion as ritualistic prayers. I've become quite wary of lectures that focus on ritualistic prayer and that alone in Islam. It's as if the lecturer has blinkers on when it comes to what makes a true Muslim; going to the masjid, praying, fasting, etc., is all what my faith is about. Fortunately, one of my favorite verses the Qur'an explains what makes us complete believers..
Shama Farooq
| True piety does not consist in turning your faces towards the east or the west but truly pious is he who believes in God, and the Last Day; and the angels, and revelation, and the prophets |
Being my brother's-and sister's---keeper is as much a part of my religion as ritualistic prayers.
I've become quite wary of lectures that focus on ritualistic prayer and that alone in Islam. It's as if the lecturer has blinkers on when it comes to what makes a true Muslim; going to the masjid, praying, fasting, etc., is all what my faith is about. Fortunately, one of my favorite verses the Qur'an explains what makes us complete believers:
True piety does not consist in turning your faces towards the east or the west but truly pious is he who believes in God, and the Last Day; and the angels, and revelation, and the prophets; and spends his substance - however much he himself may cherish - it - upon his near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and the beggars, and for the freeing of human beings bondage; and is constant in prayer, and renders the purifying dues; and [truly pious are] they who keep their promises whenever they promise, and are patient in misfortune and hardship and in time of peril: it is they that have proved themselves true, and it is they, they who are conscious of God. (Surah Al Baqrah 2:177; Muhammad Asad Translation)
Thus, if Muslims want to "prove" themselves, we must look out for the less privileged, spend of our wealth and time for the welfare of others and be patient when in times of trouble, in addition to believing in God and His creations and maintaining prayer ("turning... faces towards the east or the west.") The best Muslim is one who can do all of this and thereby keep a constant observance of God in everything she does. That is not easy. I am blessed to have a career that allows me to at least attempt this complete God-consciousness.
I have one of the world's best jobs. I am a public defender. I serve as a court-appointed defense attorney for criminal defendants who are unable to afford their own counsel. I'm lucky enough to have found a niche that allows me to practice my faith on an everyday basis. Through this position, I get to look out for my fellow woman and man as the verse above urges. When I first started this job, we were told court-appointed criminal defense attorneys are the only lawyers mentioned in the United States Constitution-a document that is second only to the Qur'an in my life.
| Over three and a half years later, I have a reputation, and my clients have learned to immediately look beyond the hijab and conservative attire and treat me as a practicing attorney first and foremost. |
The vast majority of my clients have had rough lives. Most come severely under-privileged backgrounds. Very few benefitted solid family backgrounds. It is not uncommon that multiple members of the same family are clients in our office. Many have mental health problems they've never really tended to. Add to this a criminal justice system that has very little room for rehabilitation, and every day is a challenge. But it's a challenge that I look forward to, and I think being a Muslim has helped provide the passion needed for this important work.
When I first started, witnessing people's reactions to seeing a South-Asian-American public defender in hijab (religious headdress) was downright amusing. On my very first day, I walked into the courtroom and the Caucasian-American bailiff started talking to me in Arabic. (His Arabic is better than mine.) My clients almost always do a double take. The best thing is visiting them at the local jail. Many of my African-American clients would immediately break into a smile upon seeing me and call out "Assalam-o-Alaikam sister!" No doubt because such Islamic phrases are part of contemporary African-American culture. And no, very very few would actually call themselves Muslim. Others would literally lean to the side, squint their eyes and say incredulously, "you? You my attorney?" Over three and a half years later, I have a reputation, and my clients have learned (or learn others) to immediately look beyond the hijab and conservative attire and treat me as a practicing attorney first and foremost. Now, I am amused by the many variations of my name my clients come up with. I've actually been keeping a list. My favorite is "Shama Sharooq."
There are many trying days of course. As many experienced litigators point out, the courtroom is basically a stage for civilized warfare. Your client's statements to the police are shrapnel. Motions practice is like sending out scouts to canvass the enemy's terrain. Negotiating a plea agreement is not that different negotiating the terms of a seize fire. The adversarial nature of the work can take its toll. My support structure includes my colleagues, to be sure. But what keeps me going is that the fight for social justice and welfare is at the heart of my faith and without this there is very little purpose in life.
I am very very far away being a good Muslim. Working every day as I do gives me some selfish reassurance-that I am conscious of the Divine and a higher purpose. My job is more than a job and more than a career. It is a vital part of my life as a practicing Muslim and more fundamentally, a socially conscious human being.
