Today, I’m thankful for “creeping sharia,” the slow, clandestine spread of Islam throughout this great country. I know that may be frightening to some, but don’t worry: despite it’s spread, Islam and Muslims still form only a tiny fraction of American society (3% or less) and so-called “sharia law” of the type practiced in some oil-producing and war-torn nations halfway around the world is not in any way encroaching on the Constitution or the rule of law here in the U.S.
Islam is here, though, and Muslims are establishing themselves all over the land. Allahu Akbar!
Last week, my darling, adorable wife and I took our annual August holiday. This year, we drove a sort of trapezoid around central and south Texas, and thanks to “creeping sharia,” we were able to find established masajid (plural of “masjid”) to pray in with relative ease.
Now, as narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said
وَجُعِلَتْ لِيَ الأَرْضُ مَسْجِدًا وَطَهُورًا، فَأَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَدْرَكَتْهُ الصَّلاَةُ فَلْيُصَلِّ،
…The earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for praying and a thing to perform Tayammum, therefore anyone of my followers can pray wherever the time of a prayer is due….
So, really, we could’ve prayed anywhere, but visiting different mosques is something of a pastime for Hana and me, and we both enjoy finding new little places to worship.
For example, the on the way to San Antonio, we stopped to pray Dhuhr and Asr at a small masjid in San Marcos, TX.
Yes, you read that right, there’s a mosque in San Marcos, Texas… It’s just off the campus of the Texas State University, next to a greek house, and a little bit reminiscent of the Nueces Masjid in Austin, but with better parking.
The house is a classic, small town house, well constructed, with beautiful details and and nice built-ins. I think it’s mostly student-run, with some occasional visits from travelling muslims.
They have some great signs posted to help remind and encourage visitors.
I really like small masajid like this. One day, maybe we’ll live near one. The big, mega mosques are nice, and offer services that small centers can’t, but little places like this have a character and feel, an intimacy that giant structures can’t match.
May Allah bless the founders and those who keep up the San Marcos masjid, and keep it safe. I hope to visit there again one day, and look forward to finding more small masajid in different parts of the US during future road trips.
Over the next few days, I’ll dribble out some photographs from the vacation, so look forward to that.
