Sharing her faith

Amy R. Spurgeon

NEWPORT BEACH -- Mona Bennani may be the only Muslim in her school, but

that didn’t stop the 7-year-old from sharing the end of Ramadan with her

Girl Scout troop.

The Newport Elementary second-grader talked about her religion and

Ramadan with more than 15 girl scouts as they sat in a circle in the Girl

Scout House on the Balboa Peninsula.

Ramadan, the holy month during which Muslims fast between sunrise and

sunset, ends Saturday. The act of fasting is viewed as a positive form of

self-control by Muslims, said Mona’s mother, Wafa Bennani. It also serves

as a reminder to Muslims to remember those less fortunate.

“We are fortunate that we have a mommy and daddy,” Bennani told the

group. “Some children, because of war, don’t have that.”

The girls feasted on cookies and milk during the one-hour meeting --

children are not required to fast. After their snack, they took turns

trying on traditional Moroccan gowns and scarves.

Many of the girls were thrilled to try on the long, exotic gowns that

hung past their ankles.

Cultural diversity and acceptance of others were the themes of Thursday’s

meeting. Bennani took time to explain to the girls how important it is to

be kind and accepting of those who look or dress differently than the

norm.

“We come from a different culture and want to share that with you,”

Bennani said. “If you see different people wearing different clothes,

that is OK.”

“I learned that if people are dressed differently and they come up to you

and say, ‘Can I play with you,’ you say ‘Yes,”’ said 8-year-old Newport

Beach resident Laura Catron. “That way they won’t feel sad.”

“I learned that some people don’t have homes and they don’t have food,”

added Brittany Hallworth, 8, of Newport Beach.

For Mona, who has large brown eyes and long dark hair, being Muslim is

important. She doesn’t feel sad that she is the only Muslim in her school

-- only sad that not everyone behaves the same.

“When people get mad, they say bad words, like ‘stupid,”’ said Mona.

Using bad language as well as anything harmful toward others is forbidden

in the Muslim sacred book, the Koran.

“Muslims are a peaceful people,” said Bennani. “I feel bad that what is

portrayed in the media is opposite of that.”

Bennani stressed that nothing in the Koran tells people to kill, though

she acknowledged that there are Muslim terrorists who, she said, don’t

understand their religion.

“I am showing how a Muslim really is,” said Bennani.