Being a Muslim in Aceh is VERY Different From America.

Generally, the locals here assume that I am not from America. When they see me, they generally believe that I am from Turkey or rarely, even some Arab state. However, when they learn that I am from America, a flurry of questions follows.

"Where are you from in America?"

"Were you born Muslim?"

"Why didn't you take on a Muslim name?" (Reader note: my name is the name of a Biblical prophet and thus sufficiently Islamic, at least from my point of view.)

All of these are fair questions, and I appreciate the conversation. Something which doesn't often translate as well is the fact that being a Muslim in America is rather difficult. Here's a list of problems we face in America, and reasons why I have come to love living in an Islamic region.

1.) There's a masjid everywhere. In America, it's rather difficult sometimes to find a masjid and there's almost no prayer rooms of any sort anywhere. This means that prayer is usually done at home. I personally like to pray outside, and I do feel that this is important. In the hadith it has related, "When the time for prayer has come upon you, perform the prayer for all of the Earth is a place of worship for you."

Still, praying in public is not always easy as I'll explain later.

2.) Everyday, I hear the azaan. In America, you will never hear the azaan unless you are actually inside a masjid. The difference for me is incredible. There is just this... energy you feel when you hear it outloud each day. It's an affirmation for me, and extremely important.

3.) I don't experience prejudice for being a Muslim. In America, a large number of states have now outlawed the Shari'a. Not that Americans understand that Shari'a is a code of conduct for Muslims, that outlawing it is effectively outlawing Islam...

Then again, there are many Americans who would LOVE to outlaw Islam. Right now, it is a significant talking point in the Republican primaries. A man or woman who could very well be our next president may be actively hostile to Muslims. These are dangerous times for Muslims in America, and I'm not certain I want to raise my family in America.