Faith as an instrument of integration among islamic immigrants:  (Page 3/8)

In this dilemma of opinions, some voices consider the inevitable confrontation between the two civilizations: Muslims and the western civilization, the first one with “bloody borders.” Others emphasize the enriching challenge that involves the permanent encounter of the variety of ways “of being human.” The two visions are conscious of the risks that coexistence entails from very distant values. Next to the rejection of the Muslim immigrants on behalf of the welcoming society, is the organized terrorism on behalf of those who feel “outraged” in their identity, which is fed from their religious sphere. This brings about our investigation, through the field work in Extremadura, to show if the Islamic religiosity of the immigrants who arrive at Extremadura is a factor of integration, or the opposite, as a brake for the coexistence in the new society. Does Islam integrate or even reinforce its positions of origin, reaching a radical position of terrorism? This is the basic question in the process of this investigation. The young immigrants who arrived with their parents, do they assume Islam as a global answer in their new lives? Or on the contrary, do they renounce it? It is easier to investigate on Christian religiosity of the Latin American immigrants who in the beginning - considering the slope of Liberation Theology - occupied sacred and identical settings. In reality, I describe different religious experiences from the immigrants and their consequences in Extremadura society.

Religious experience of the moroccan immigrants

SURA I

In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.          

SURA II

Verse 255- profession of Muslim faith.

GOD: there is no other god besides Him, the Living, the Eternal. Never a moment of unawareness or slumber overtakes Him. To Him belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth. Who could intercede with Him, except in accordance with His will? He knows their past, and their future. No one attains any knowledge, except as He wills. His dominion encompasses the heavens and the earth, and ruling them never burdens Him. He is the Most High, the Great.

SURA CXIII: THE SURA OF DAWN NACIENTE

Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak.

From the evils among His creations.

From the evils of darkness as it falls.

From the evils of the troublemakers.

From the evils of the envious when they envy."     

Morocco is an Islamic state, an Islamic country, with Islamic towns; as are their inhabitants, in Morocco and in the zone of Talayuela. Moroccan immigrants in Talayuela are, according to their definition, religious. They believe in the Oneness of God, they believe Mahommed was sent by God, they believe in the angels and demons, there is nothing more than the Absolute one, and that death and poverty are relative. They have the obligation to go, once in their lifetime, to Mecca; to give alms; to fast in the Ramadan; to abstain from eating impure animals; and to have five daily prayers. They are thankful by the expressions of the prophet and hospitable because every person is the disguised face of Allah.