Poland's Indigenous Muslims (minority, blood, abomination, Wahab, catholic)

[Djamila]

I've mentioned several times in previous threads that Poland is one of those European countries with an indigenous Muslim population. I know they have a representative in all of our European Islamic organizations and I know their number is quite small, but I really know little about them so I'm sure most Muslims on RF know even less.

So here's some information about Polish Muslims from a Central European Review article by Wojtek Kosc (heavily cropped, just to give you an idea):

The village's only street, tightly flanked by two rows of low wooden houses, leads past an insignificant green building, also made of wood. Walking through a pleasant yard, one has to negotiate a path between old cherry trees that lead up to the entrance door, where visitors often catche a glimpse of a crescent shape atop the building before knocking. A jovial keeper opens the door and gestures visitors inside. There are Koran verses on the walls. The keeper points out a window which faces distant Mecca: "You may even see it, if you look hard enough," he laughs.

Welcome to Bohoniki in eastern Poland. Bohoniki, and nearby Kruszyniany, are most often mentioned because of their mosques, quite an unlikely feature of a village in Poland.

Bohoniki and Kruszyniany have been Tartar villages since the 17th century, when King Jan Sobieski III allowed Tartars to settle there as a reward for their loyal service. Descendants of those people still live there, which is evident in the Asian features of the Bohoniki keeper. However, he says, "Our original Tartar blood gets thinner and thinner." Yet the village mosques are still in operation, as Polish Muslims are not confined to these two villages, and they do not necessarily have to be Tartars, even though Tartars constitute the majority of Polish Muslims.

Most of the Polish Muslims, however, have been here for centuries. They can be considered a minority—not an ethnic, but a religious one. Their cultural and religious life is centered in Białystok and the surrounding region, as well as in Gdańsk. A small group of about 5000 people, they have maintained their cultural identity both under Communism and today.

"Islam is alien to Poles," says Abdulwahab Bouali. "People are still baffled when they see a Muslim woman on the bus. But a few more years and it will be like in France or Germany; normal, that is." Less misunderstanding and more respect is what Polish Muslims need—whether they have been here for centuries or just years.

And here is a photogallery of Polish Muslims during Bajram, Eid'al'Fitr:

http://www.photodocument.pl/i_bajram.html

[Djamila]

The Mosque in Bohoniki:

[wizanda]

Cool, Thank you I am Learning about my self from you, with these Pollish bits....I do know my granddad was very roman catholic as was allot of Polland...this was what started the war as the Jewish started claiming more and more land, which the Germans used to provoke the Pollish with.
Lithuzian (now Lithuania) was given to the Jewish and was their own state at one point, which is where the Yiddish (enlightened Jews) stemmed from.

Yet considering them bits and how much trouble Polland has been in, I wasn’t aware of Muslims also.
I sort of traced the Pollish from a tribe that travelled over Russia….which to me sort of looks like most of the Jewish nation trying to find a new home after the abomination of desolation.
So basically Poles are Jewish from a long time before.
Yet for me I will be glad when the books are one Again and the problems fixed that cause any such separation between peoples, who are all related and original one family.

[TashaN]

i'm disgusted with the kissing picture. It's not allowed in Islam to kiss like that in public, and it's inappropriate to post such a thing in the Islam forum. Just because some muslim do it so that doesn't make it cool.

[Djamila]

Originally Posted by The Truth

i'm disgusted with the kissing picture. It's not allowed in Islam to kiss like that in public, and it's inappropriate to post such a thing in the Islam forum. Just because some muslim do it so that doesn't make it cool.

That's part of the celebration of Bajram here - I'm sure it's the same in Poland. Men go to the Mosque, while women don't - and when they return, everyone kisses their fathers, and husbands, and sons.

You might find it disgusting, but for us it's one of the most important acts in the entire religious ceremony.

[Djamila]

(And, just so you know, with that kind of kiss on the cheek the man is probably her son - hehehe.)

[TashaN]

Kiss in the lips or Cheek, a wife, mother or a sister. I don't think it's a good idea to post such a photo in here Mila.

[Djamila]

Well, I wouldn't tell you not to post a picture of a man with his four wives lined up behind him - even though that aspect of Wahabbi culture offends me. So you shouldn't expect others to bend to your tastes - especially not when it comes to one of the most important acts of celebrating in Eid among Hanafi Muslims.

[TashaN]

So according to Hanafi school, spouses can kiss like that in public?

By the way, Allah made it lawefull to marry more than one wife "even four" but it's not somthing which whom you call Wahhabis invented.