Spotlight: Saafir Rabb

The article on Saafir Rabb appears in Issue #19 of Islamica Magazine.

The 4400 block of Park Heights Avenue sits in a dreary corner of northwest Baltimore characterized by boarded up buildings, dollar stores, and liquor shops. In a city known for its long stretches of neglected housing and dilapidated storefronts, this neighborhood offers nothing out of the ordinary. But all of that is about to change.

Saafir Rabb is working diligently to revitalize the area. Driven by a desire to serve humanity, he makes due with limited resources by leveraging the creative energy of people around him to turn dreams into tangible realities.

One such reality is “I Can’t We Can,” (ICWC) a non-profit addiction rehabilitation program created by Saafir’s uncle, Israel Cason, in 1997. Cason, who overcame thirty years of drug addiction, applied lessons he learned at a rehab program in Philadelphia to help people in his home community who faced similar challenges.

With ICWC he offers addicts a year long, 24-hour-a-day regimen that remedies not only the physical impact of substance abuse, but also its psychological and social effects. A spiritual message that moves effortlessly between the language of the Qur’an and the Bible underlies the program’s philosophy, recognizing that a connection to G-d is essential to giving meaning to a life coming out of addiction.

On this Saafir cites the story of the Prophet Adam, who after taking from which he had no business taking, was provided with a spiritual path that would lead him back to Paradise.

Round-the-clock treatment does not come cheap. This is why Cason relies on Saafir to raise funds and design the administrative apparatus that has made ICWC a sustainable institution.

One unlikely source of funding has come through ICWC’s role as an incubator for local businesses that employ, and in some cases are owned, by graduates of the program. Saafir also tapped the public sector, convincing stewards of the five-plus billion dollars allocated each year for development in Baltimore that Park Heights is worthy of a second look.

Treading where few Muslim community developers have gone before, Saafir has concrete plans to acquire the hundreds of millions of dollars necessary to rebuild the entire neighborhood one block at a time.

ICWC’s annual budget has grown from hundreds of thousand dollars to several million. Its programs now include facilities for youth mentoring, workforce training, assisting recently released inmates, and there are now over seventy housing units reserved for recovering addicts. Park Heights now has a new adult health and education center, $8 million in funding to renovate 48 low income housing units is now secured and a new office park is also in the works.

For Saafir, ICWC’s motto of saving lives and winning souls reflects the essence of what it means to be Muslim. Drawing from the teachings of Imam W.D. Muhammad, for whom he serves as an advisor, Saafir believes that working to restore a people’s humanity through spirituality and good works is precisely the mission of the Prophet Muhammad. “Doing good for the world and for your self is a delicate balance,” he admits. Given his efforts thus far, it looks like Saafir found that balance.

The Muslim Community Social Network: YRAC

2:148  "To each is a goal to which Allah turns him; then strive together (as in a race) Towards all that is good. Wheresoever ye are, Allah will bring you Together. For Allah Hath power over all things."

YOU R A CREATOR! (Huh?) Yes, ....you!  Allah, The Most High, has given you the gift to develop and create new forms out of what you have been given.  Allah, who is The Creator, (The One who brings everything from non-existence to existence) has given you a special faculty, a special ability, to create and form a better environment for yourself here on this earth. You should be excited! 

Its like you've just been hired to construct the perfect building. You out of all people have been chosen to help build it.  Your boss (Lord) has given you all the right tools to work with, and even a set of architectural plans to go from.  (And he even gave you the example of the best person to have ever done it....oh say over 1400 years ago).

Ok. So the focus is Islamic Community Life (aka. our perfect building). So what's next? Planning. Communication. Organization. NETWORKING!

Where would we be able to see and participate in...

• Calendar of Events from around the world
• A map of believers across the world for networking
• A Radio Gadget to allow you to listen to countless hours of Islamic Music and YRAC musicians
• Sell or Buy-Shopping Mall of Muslim clothes, accessories, and resources
• Important news Concerning YOUR community.
• A List of All of your beautiful Brothers and Sisters
• Groups related to your heritage and Interests.
• Discussions on All of the Topics YOU need to talk about.
• Interesting Blogs of believers across the world.
• Open ChatRooms, Videos, Art, and More......????????????????????????????????

well...I think you know where this is going....

YRAC is a Muslim community online / social network, started in 2008, that seeks to serve the needs of a Progressive Islamic Experience. Composed of Muslim young adults, the YRAC platform is designed to close the gaps between vision and fruition, people and resources, individual endeavors and community life. In other words, this is the place to be if you want to connect to make it happen: handing the world with what God has placed in your palm. At YRAC, stagnation is the disease to heal, progress is our continual aim. We're always moving forward; with arms outstretched to help one another. We are a family; recognizing that everyone has a significant role, and each puzzle piece must be present and in proper position to see and appreciate the full picture. We also recognize that this Movement is bigger than us...we strive--with utter humility and great pleasure--to be the fulfillment of our Creator's Will. Join us as we partake to create...

If you are on a social networking website like facebook or myspace, in my opinion you have no excuse not to be on this site that is designed to bring out the best spirit in you! And when you look at the site, you can see the difference. You are welcomed to the family upon your arrival.  Its like walking into a new Masjid!  Guess who's there to greet you at the door?! 

During the 2006 "Ramadan Session", 67 young adults gathered in a group to discuss our place in furthering the progress of our community. Many of us named different tasks that we would take on and complete. From my past experience managing other online communities & websites, I thought it would be great to create an "online community" where we could all come together as a collective to insure our future goals. Clear and efficient, imagine all of us in one place, one location… and it seems this is possible by way of online communication. Even though we have other community sites that we're all a part of, we thought it would be best to have one place where we know Every One will be. Please support this vision and lets be productive Muslims.

This is the vision!  Infusing the Islamic spirit into our complete life.  You R A Creator...come join me and others in building our communities.

American Muslims: Invisible no more???

I'm back! I have been on vacation but now I'm back! My wife and I went to my brother's wedding in Atlanta. It was great to see my family again and I'm so happy for my brother and his wife. (May Allah bless him with a happy and ever-lasting marriage.)

The wedding was very nice and did I mention that it was good seeing family again? Four days was just not enough. But, the wedding alone was worth missing the MANA conference. (Somebody give me an update as to how that went!)

We came back on Monday morning and went straight to work....with only 3 hours of sleep. After work, even though I was tired, I could not miss out on the lecture by Imam Zaid Shakir and Shaykh Faraz Rabbani at Columbia University.

I try to study our American (and Canadian) Scholars as much as possible, especially Imam Zaid. This brother is a true scholar and has devoted his life to promoting Islam in America. To me he carries the demeanor of Malcolm himself. Although I really didn't know Malcolm outside of my own historical investigation, he seems to have this aura of wisdom and scholarship that matches his own physical height.

Imam Zaid, like Imam Siraj, Dr. Jackson, (and others) is African-American but predominantly supported by a large Arab and East-Asian population. Now, this has nothing to do with anything...I just find it ironic that many African-American muslims can't come together to financially support our scholars the way other American Muslims can. Probably the reason why Imam Mohammed (may the mercy of Allah be upon him) is not as widely known (but thats another post). Yet, we thank Allah for Imam Mohammed's dedication to his community.

But back to the topic at hand...the lecture was entitled on the flyer: American Muslims: Invisible no more.

Faraz Rabbani began with Obama. He spoke on 4 concepts: Hope, Change, Success, and Attitude. To sum up his part of the lecture in one sentence...Muslims place our hope in Allah with clear goals, clear means, and avidness for benefit. The state of the Messenger of Allah was reliance on Allah and the way of the Messenger was taking the means.

Imam Zaid began with Obama as well, yet his perspective took a more societal approach. He said that Obama was a son of America and a son of Africa. His most profound statement was:

"This election was a referendum on Islam in America"

He gave 2 reasons:

1. The name Barack Hussein Obama reflects the Islamic enemy that we (America) have been fighting. Yet, we elected a president based upon his MERIT and not his name!

2. Forty million copies of a DVD called Obsession was distributed free of charge during the election time heavily in SWING states. Ironically, Obama WON all those swing states except Missouri (although there would have been a recount, but it was not needed).

This suggests that the people said NO to the suggestions that Obama was a Muslim and some challenged, "what if he was". The people judged Obama upon his merits, his character, and American identity.

Imam Zaid went on to criticize the Lecture title that he was sent: Invisible no more. He said that those "invisible" Muslims of America did not accept the visibility of "visible" Muslims already establishing Islamic roots in America. Those "invisible" Muslims now feel comfortable to be visible only at the expense of those Muslims who established Islam in America, way before it was popular to do so. Why is is so difficult to inherit the Muslim Identity of those who established Islam in America?

Muslims like Hakim Olajuwon, Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Mos Def, Andre Carson, Keith Ellison, etc. These Muslims have been visible and whether you see them as your examples or not, they, and others, have boldly claimed their religion while in the spotlight. We as Muslim Americans have to understand and embrace the Islamic roots already here in America. Muslims have mediated gang wars, humanized prisoners, cleaned up drug-infested neighborhoods. Like OBAMA, Muslims in America have defined their own character and let their actions speak for them instead of letting their enemies define who they are.

Now to me, Imam Zaid did not explicitly say it but this title was offensive to the indigenous (predominantly black) community. A community that has worked hard to establish Islam here in America at a time when you were scared to come out of your homes and keep your Muslim names. Now you want to ride the wave of "Visibility" without embracing, let alone, acknowledging the work and COURAGE of those before you??? How can you say "invisible no more" when Muslims have been visible in America since (for arguments sake) the 1950's but waayyyy before then.

YOU were the only group "invisible". Embrace your ROOTS!!! Your Islamic roots are right here in America! Cast your bucket down where you stand dear brothers! I am ready to work, and I am ready to make progress like never before. I love you for the sake of Allah and I see no color nor ethnicity in a true believer! Let's work for the cause of Allah.

Imam Zaid left us with a quote from Abigail Adams:

"These are times in which a genius would wish to live. It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed. Would Cicero have shone so distinguished an orator if he had not been roused, kindled, and inflamed by the tyranny of Catiline, Verres, and Mark Anthony? The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties. All history will convince you of this, and that wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure. Great necessities call out great virtues. When a mind is raised and animated by scenes that engage the heart, then those qualities, which would otherwise lie dormant, wake into life and form the character of the hero and the statesman."

LET'S GO TO WORK. WE CANNOT STOP NOW!

CAIR-NY Rep Takes Part in Forum on Race, Religion and Politics

--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--

CAIR-NY Rep Takes Part in Forum on Race, Religion and Politics

(NEW YORK, NY, 8/15/08) "A representative of the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) yesterday participated in a panel discussion entitled "Race, Religion and Politics: The New Political Landscape" at New York University.

The panel discussion, which included CAIR-NY Community Affairs Director Faiza N. Ali, Shabazz Center Board Member Dr. Amir Al-Islam and President of the NY office of the NAACP Hazel Dukes, aimed to educate community members about the importance of grassroots activism and coalition-building for minority groups in the backdrop of the elections process.

“Since the onset of the presidential election, religion and race have been repeatedly used as a tool for political gain by candidates and their surrogates alike� said Community Affairs Director Faiza N. Ali. “Coalition-building will assure that our voices are politically relevant even after the ballots are casted.�

CAIR-NY and chapters nationwide continue to encourage political participation of American Muslims through voter registration drives, civic participation trainings and educational forums.

To volunteer in CAIR-NY’s political empowerment campaign, contact fali@cair.com.

CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

--END--

Is College a Waste of Time?

THIS ARTICLE from the WSJ seems to think so:

Imagine that America had no system of post-secondary education, and you were a member of a task force assigned to create one from scratch. One of your colleagues submits this proposal:

First, we will set up a single goal to represent educational success, which will take four years to achieve no matter what is being taught. We will attach an economic reward to it that seldom has anything to do with what has been learned. We will urge large numbers of people who do not possess adequate ability to try to achieve the goal, wait until they have spent a lot of time and money, and then deny it to them. We will stigmatize everyone who doesn't meet the goal. We will call the goal a "BA."

Personally, I don't believe the idea of higher education, in itself, is a waste. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad, prayers and peace be upon him, said, "Seeking ‘Ilm (knowledge) is incumbant on every Muslim."

I think that the American system of "College" is flawed, and the article seems to take an interesting perspective. It is unfortunate that college is such a "business" with many institutions charging students hundreds of thousands of dollars for 4 year educations. And for many lower to middle-class income families, college or the armed forces are the only measures of success. At least thats the way it seems to be for my extended (non-Muslim) family.

Although, I have friends, two brothers, who are successfully running a construction/real-estate management business with only a formal high school education. Both have been in and out of college, but have not viewed "college right out of high school" as necessary or key to the immediate operation of their business. However, both value education and recognize the importance of obtaining degrees within their respective fields. And obviously, college has not been a measure of their success.

So what about the Islamic Perspective...Some Muslims would have a problem with the stress Americans place on degrees in various fields above a formal Islamic education. Is an American system of college key in the life of a Muslim? Should we place this above Islamic and Arabic educations and degrees? Would we better please our Lord by memorizing Qur'an or studying Consitutional Law?

My Islamic Perspective:

To put things simply, obtaining a degree in Engineering so that you can get a well paying job, with the intentions of providing for your family and establishing community life for Muslims, is not only Halal, it is exactly what you should be doing as a Muslim. Their must be a balance within the community. Certain individuals are talented in certain areas and should be pursuing higher education in those areas with the intention of bettering the life of others as well as themselves.

Islamic education is not just fiqh and hadith. Islam is universal and education in Islam means education as to how to establish community life. With clear intentions, pursuit of higher education in most fields is needed just as much as Hafiz and Imams. FIND YOUR BALANCE AND FIND YOUR PURPOSE.

Recipee for a Successful Community: PART I - Role of the Masjid

Role of the Masjid

IMAM W. D. Mohammed gave this talk: on the Role of the Masjid. The Imam points out that the two most important roles of the Masjid are:

1. To lift up the concept of Tawheed and let it ring out in America

2. To attend to the most serious needs of the community, whether those needs be economic, spiritual, moral, political, etc.

A Successful Community begins with a Successful Masjid

At the center of every successful American Muslim community is a successful Masjid (or Masaajid). Even in the broader sense of word "community" in which the community includes more than just the geographical neighborhood...there is a Masjid: The Earth.

We know Allah says in the Qur'an:

"…The Earth has been made a place of prayer (Masjid) for me, and pure. Therefore, any man from my community who is overtaken by the time of prayer, let him pray [wherever he may be]."

So, whenever we look at what it take to make a Muslim community successful we should start with making the Masjid successful [i.e., achieve the points mentioned above]. The Masjid will be the forefront and center for businesses, schools, restaurants, etc. This is what the Prophet (saw) did when he first arrived in Medina. He built a Masaajid upon Taqwa, and they became the center of Muslim life within Medina.

The Prophet stressed the role of building Masaajid with the Hadith:

"He who builds a Masjid for the sake of Allah, seeking the pleasure of Allah, Allah would reward him with a dwelling in Heaven."

The Masjid provides a center for Islamic development, a focus for leadership and energy within the community, and most importantly a place for congregational prayer. The successful Masjid unifies the community and unifies the believers. It provides a fertile soil for planting seeds of education, business, and leadership. Therefore, the role of the Masjid in the community is nearly indispensable. When we better understand the ROLE OF THE MASJID we can better serve the community!

Role of the Community Members

In one word: ACTIVE

The community members must be active. The Hadith says take advantage of five matters before five others: your youth, before your old age; and your health before you fall sick; and your wealth before you become poor; and your free time before you become busy; and your life before your death.

As Muslims we are obligated to be active community members. If you are not satisfied with the productivity of your Masjid and community do not blame the Leadership (though they may deserve some blame). Blame yourself. What are you doing to further the productivity of your own community? You can always do more.

Al-Humduillah!! A large Masjid (w/school) was built from the ground up within a 5 year period. When a coordinator was asked "How did your community accomplish this in so little time?" His reply "First, by the grace and mercy of Allah (SWA)". He added ~ "Secondly, 85% of all the key leadership positions in the Masjid, are held by our YOUTH (ages 19 - 40). The elders are only consultants to the young leaders...." Youth represents zeal, vigor, and energy. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR YOUTH BEFORE YOUR OLD AGE.

Recipee for a Successful Community?

What are the most important ingredients needed to ensure growth in our Islamic communities?


Taqwa, Leadership, Education???

Schools, family life, business development???

How about active community members?



InshAllah, the next several posts will discuss what I believe to be essential ingredients for growth of our Islamic communities. In America, we face a challenge to establish the appropriate Islamic life in a society that may not always share our interests and necessities as Muslims.

At the very least we seek things like Masaajid to pray in, halaal meats and restaurants to enjoy, and good ol fashioned Egyptian Musk to wear on Fridays. In order to ensure that we have the life that G-d wants for us as human beings we should take the initiative to establish it since it may not already be present. And even if we do have access to such an Islamic life...there is always room for progress.



So I ask....

What are the most important ingredients needed to ensure growth in our Islamic communities?