My Firefighter Nation
Shareef Abdu Nur
Male
Cleveland, OH
United States
Profile Information:
- What State do you live in?
- OH
- Type of Organization
- Paid Fire Department
- Job Function
- Firefighter/Driver Operator
- Years in Fire/EMS:
- 17
- Primary Fire/EMS Department:
- Fire Department USA
- Years With Department/Agency
- 8
- My Training:
- FF I,II, Paramedic, Fire Instructor, Fire Officer I,II
- About Me:
- Yes, I am muslim and if there is anyone here who would like to know about Muslims in the Fire service and the truth about Islam please feel free to ask me anything. I am sure Islam is not what you think it is or what you have heard that it is, so please take this opportunity to ask me absolutely anything. Thank you.
- Day Job:
- Full time Firefighter/Paramedic
- Relationship Status:
- Married
- Why I Joined Fire/EMS
- I became a FF because of a desire to help others and the opportunity to sacrifice much of myself for the betterment of humanity.
- Why I Love Fire/EMS
- It is a noble and honorable profession that one can be proud of.
- Top Issues Facing Responders:
- manpower, budgets, building construction, training, and a lack of public education
Laura McGaffey
My day job is computer engineering. Fire service involvement has always been volunteer.
I have worked with many Muslims engineers but I'm not in contact with any right now. Moved away. So I appreciate the opportunity to ask you a few questions.
1. A fellow programmer once brought some home-made confections to work and passed them around. Our Muslim supervisor popped one in his mouth, smiled and said, "mmm, good What are they?" She said, "Rum balls." Hamid murmured "Rum?" with a horrified look on his face then ran from the room, spitting the goop into his hand. And I realized! I turned to the girl and said, "He's Muslim. They don't drink alcohol." Ever since then I've wondered - is the accidental ingestion of alcohol considered as big a "sin" as deliberately drinking?
2. What, if anything, does the Koran say about forcing non-Muslims to convert to Islam?
3. Does the Koran require Muslims to respect others practicing their religions?
4. What is dhimittude (sp?)?
5. When I was in college I met an Iranian Muslim in the computer lab (1974). He asked me out but I had work that night and when he asked I told him where I worked. So, he showed up at my job that night. Behind him, keeping about fifteen feet back and glaring daggers at me, was a girl who was dressed conservatively but not in any traditional looking dress. He didn't introduce me and when they left he just took off ignoring her. She followed him out while staying back several feet. Who the heck might she have been do you think? Sister, cousin, unrelated chaperone, wife # 1?
Thanks for being open to answering my questions.
Sep 8, 2010
Laura McGaffey
Sorry it's been so long since I've last been on the site.
I wasn't the one who brought in the rum balls, but I'm very relieved to read that the other programmer didn't inadvertently cause Hamid to do something against his faith.
I may have more questions in the future and appreciate having you out there willing to answer them.
Stay safe out there!
-- Laura
Oct 13, 2010
Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd
Mar 21, 2011