Living the Culture...

2:19 am

As I sit hear re-listening to Mos Def's Black on Both sides...I step outside of my own box (body) and realize how much I am subconsciously connecting with a New York City lifestyle.

I am literally submerging myself into this new/old culture. Its no new thing for me. I've been here for 2 years now but I can see myself struggling to connect with why people LOVE Brooklyn so much?? As cliche as it sounds, I went to watch the movie Notorious. I've been re-discovering Mos Def's first solo album which I kinda-sorta-am-shamed-to-say I passed over at a younger age. ( I guess I wasn't ready for it yet.) I mean this album is it. I was always looking for something to continue my thirst after Blackstar. This is it. I'll be good til another year or so.

But outside of the music genre, I notice that I almost ....almost love riding the NYC train. The experience that so many take lightly, and tourists over-exaggerate, I have grown to love in a curious-George kind of way. Crowded, dirty, dark, uninviting...but sooo New York.

Sooo New York. And thats what its all about.

I find myself (like the hadith) a traveler in this world. I don't want to be a New Yorker. (believe me I don't). But, you have to respect it. You have to study and respect the culture. And you can't just come and TAKE. You have to GIVE something as well. This is the essence of a travler. You can't come and take without giving something of yourself.

What I noticed about me, wherever I go....I love studying and learning about new cultures. Be it Cincinnati, Atlanta, DC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Bermuda, Jamaica... I love to submerge myself as much as religiously possible (when in Rome...). That is the only way to see Rome. You have to become a Roman. To really understand and respect a culture...you can't view it from the airplane ...and books will only take you so far....

YOU HAVE TO LIVE IT.

Ironically, I woke up this morning watching "The Proud Family". You know that Disney Channel show of the black family. This episode was called, "culture shock" and all the kids switched families with those of other cultures....Chinese, Puerto Rican, Black, Jamaican, one rich guy, and the highlight of the show: a Muslim Pakistani family.

They did a decent job of explaining about Islamic concepts like Ramadan and Hijab by showing the little girl's adjustment to the new family. (The Simpsons had a similiar episode where they addressed Islamophobia. )

The point being...culture has to be experienced and lived. This gives the best appreciation. ANd I think you gain a much broader view of the world when you gain that type of experience. It essentially makes you who you are.

Thank you world for shaping my development. Thank you NYC for the part that you play. I'll be giving back very soon now...

A note about today's (12/19) khutbah

The Following is an email exchange from a sister and I regarding last weeks Jummah Khutbah. The Khatib and Sister will remain anonymous.

Salaam Khalil,

InshaAllah you are doing well. Keep me posted about the Jummu'ah location inshaAllah. After the khutbah my friend and I discussed the khutbah and I wanted to share our points with you inshaAllah:

1. Women being 'flirtatious' - we both understand the authenticated hadith of our Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) about women being described as fitna, but it is important to note the responsibility of modesty and lowering the gaze falls on both men and women. We felt that its as if women are grouped into the temptations of men when he mentioned similarly alcohol and money, etc.

2. Men having trouble with sexual desire - it is a fact that men may have a more difficult time in this area, but it is important to also address the sisters in this and all matters of struggle.

That's basically it. :) The khutbah overall was well put, mashaAllah, we were just thrown off by his comments about women and their fitna status...Allah knows best.

JazakhaAllahkhayr,



My response:

Wa Alaikum assalaam,

Alhamdulillah, all is well with me. I'm sorry to say but I missed most of the Khutbah! The one day out the year that I'm late and I miss the controversial one ;-) J/k.

So, from what you tell me, I can probably guess exactly how his khutbah went and which hadith/ayah he probably cited (or would have cited). So, I'll give you my 2 cents within a few points:

1. As Muslims, we should always see the woman in an elevated status. There are numerous hadith that honor the role of the mother and the woman. When you begin to place your women in the light of "fitnah" and take hadith out of context (which I'm almost sure he didn't give the context or else you wouldn't have been offended)...then you are straying away from the message of Islam.

2. If it were not for women (wives of the Prophet) we would not have much of the hadith that we study. Hows that for your fitnah.

3. Let's understand the definition of this word...Fitnah comes from the root word fa-ta-na which means to turn away from...and in harsher definitions it refers to oppression and torment. Allah says in the Qur'an:

"And fight against them until there is no more Fitnah and all worship is devoted to God alone..." (8:39)

Looking at the context of the word within this ayah we see that the "Fitnah" was something/someone who took the Believers away from the worship of G-d. This was early in the Prophet's (saw) mission and the Muslims were being persecuted for their beliefs. The reference to fitnah here is the actual oppression they received because of their way of life.

Now can a woman take a man away from his beliefs? Sure. But as you noted it goes both ways. But let me show you how this religion uplifts the women. Isn't it part of the biblical story that Adam (RA) was tempted in the Garden of Eden by EVE? But in Islam, we don't follow this logic...shaytan went directly to Adam.

It is also very important to note, understand, and accept that God included "women" from the very, very beginning and that the woman was not the result of a man finding himself lonely. Allah tells us in the qur'an to reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, His mate. And in this same ayah Allah commands us to reverence the wombs that bore you!

I'm sorry I could go on forever. But I would like to address one more thing. Allah says in the Qur'an (Yusuf Ali's Translation), "O ye who believe! Truly, among your wives and your children are (some that are) enemies to yourselves: so beware of them! But if ye forgive and overlook, and cover up (their faults), verily Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (64:14)

Don't be satisfied with the translation of the Holy Qur'an by Yusuf Ali. If I was a woman, I would have serious problems with what he translates, "O you who believe, among your wives are enemies to you." Enemies? Fa real? The Qur'an comes to elevate the whole of humanity, male and female alike. The translation of Qur'an has to be done on equal ground. You can't have language in Qur'an that (in translation) gives a hint of sexism, dualism, racism or sectarianism. So basically, "adwan" which he translates as enemies...he too harsh of a definition for our American English nor does it provide the correct understanding. In this context the "adwan" are those who are hostile...those who hinder or impede.

"There were men who embraced Islam in Makkah and wanted to migrate to Allah's Messenger . However, their wives and children refused to allow them. Later when they joined Allah's Messenger , they found that those who were with him (the Companions) have gained knowledge in the religion, so they were about to punish their wives and children. Allah the Exalted sent down this Ayah..." (straight from Tafsir.com).


With all that said...Sorry for the LONG reply...I feel bad because I didn't even address your 2nd point (men and their sexual desire) but I don't want to end up rambling like I did before. Surely, Allah knows best in all of this because any knowledge is from the Mercy of our Lord. I pray Allah increases us in beneficial knowledge AND UNDERSTANDING.

I'll leave you with this... (as you said ...it is important to address the sisters in this)

"For Muslim men and women,- for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in Charity, for men and women who fast (and deny themselves), for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah's praise,- for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward."


Peace,
Khalil




The sister's final response:

Salaam Khalil,

MashaAllah, thanks for clarifying. May Allah bless you for all that you do for the believers (men AND women) :-) Ameen. Its so tough sometimes because if a man has trials with his attraction to women, don't fault the women, lower your gaze! Or get married! What was funny is that the way he led up to his point about women being fitnah I really thought he was going to specifically point out nonbelieving women, lol... but oh well. Allah is the best of planners.

Yeah you can post it inshaAllah, and you can add this thought I forgot to mention that we talked about. How sisters can react or protect themselves from harassment from men Muslim! and non-Muslim when observing proper (meaning modest and not merely covering) hijab. Its so annoying when you're trying to deflect and you only attract...so annoying. :)

JazakhAllahkhayr

Profiling: how may I help you, sir?

Yea, the cartoon is a lil extreme but lets be real....I stay conscious of it.  I can't help it...it was the way I was raised.  It's not like I walk around asking myself how do people view me...but if someone reacts unusually to me ...then the light bulb goes off ...the red flag pops up and I hear the bells.  We have a Racial Profiler on the loose.

Now that I live in Manhattan, I'm extremely keen to it.  I'm sure most people see me for who I am.  Let me repeat that...I'm sure MOST people see me for who I am.  But let's face it...there are a select few who at first glance only see my skin color, my kufi, or my beard.  And probably after they get to know me...I'm just plain ol' ME.

But its frustrating...and frankly I'm getting a little tired.  I know this in no way shape or form compares to what my parent generation went through but you'd like to think now that we have a Black President, American's would not be so quick to negatively judge people based upon their looks.  Not be so quick to assume your in the wrong place.  Not be so quick to ask, how may I help you? when you enter your own apartment building. "Man, I live here!"

It's often very suttle.  But the argument occurs when you ask, "Would this have happened if I were White...if I had no kufi....if I wore no beard?"

Tell me what you think:  (Now mind you...it's not alot of people who look like me walking around who aren't maintenance workers.)  I'm coming back from riding my bike (about 4pm ...its not dark) and I am returning it to the bike shed were I pay an annual fee to lock my bike.  I see a man with his bike in front of me, who actually is one of my Professor's and has given me several lectures.  He has already opened the gate to the shed with his ID card and held the gate open for ME to bring in my bike.  I said thanks and proceeded to lock up my bike as usual.

After the guy locks up his bike he walks over to me and asks, "Do you have and ID?"

I said with a confused face, "Yea..."

Then he says, "Well, can I see it because I always ask for an ID when I let people in..."

Baffled and alittle taken back, I show him my ID along with my highly disturbed facial expression...and he yells, "Oh! It's you, I know you.  I see you around all the time."

"Uh, yea..."  And that was that...he leaves me still confused, standing there with lock and ID in hand.

I think to myself:

1. Whoa...wait...what are you security??  If you were so concerned about an ID why didn't you ask me when you held the door open for me?

2. Why the hell would I NOT have an ID?  I'm locking up my BIKE.  How would I be able to get back in to retrieve my bike if I didn't have an ID?

3. Did I really look that suspicious bringing in my bike to lock up? (Probably...lol, I had a hoodie on because it was cold).

Maybe, I'm over-reacting but I've noticed one thing....It really all depends on how I'm dressed.  I get the how may I help you questions only when I'm wearing a hoodie or jeans.  If I'm in kaki's or slacks...I rarely get the are you lost looks or you must be visiting face.  The unfortunate part is that many of my classmates wear hoodies but I doubt if they get profiled.  Um...can I not get throan in a class of Hoodlem when I walk around my job?

Perspective: Voting for the American President

The following is from Imam Anwar al Awlaki regarding voting....I encourage you to check out the previous post which counters this position.

Voting for the American President

Posted: 31 Oct 2008 10:53 AM CDT

The Muslim community in the US is busy with the vote and are debating who the Muslims should pick as their president. The argument presented is we are choosing between the lesser of the two evils. In reality it is more about being American and part of the system than it is about benefiting the ummah because the fact of the matter is there is no benefit in either candidate whatsoever.

Democracy in an un-Islamic system and we as Muslims should have nothing to do with it. Whether one looks at the root and history of democracy or at the reality of democracy today one can realize that it is a system that is not only different than the Islamic system but is opposed to it. Can't you see that the West in its war against Islam is offering the democratic system as an alternative to Sharia? So if the West, which is the founder of democracy, sees democracy as an opposing system to Islam why are some Muslims still insisting on participating in it and adopting it as their political religion?

Democracy is a Western system that was founded and developed in the West and today the West, not the Muslims, have full authority and right to tell the world what democracy is and how it should be practiced and implemented. We have our own system of government and likewise it is the Muslims who are going to define it and will not allow non Muslims to meddle with our religion and teach us what is right from wrong.

Muslims should seek to avoid any forms of participation in Western democracy.
The promoters of participation in American elections argue that we are choosing the least of the two evils. This principle is correct but what they are missing is that in the process of choosing the lesser of the two evils they are committing an even greater evil .

The breaking down of the psychological barrier that should exist between Muslims and non-Muslims, the erosion of the aqeedah of wala and bara (loyalty to Allah and disavowal of the enemies of Allah,) and the risk of loosing one's religion are evils that outweigh any benefit that may come out of such participation.

Also the types of candidates that American politics has been spitting out is absolutely disgusting. I wonder how any Muslim with a grain of iman in his heart could walk up to a ballot box and cast his vote in endorsement of creatures such as Mcain or Obama?! How can a Muslim sleep with a clear conscience after he has chosen the likes of G.W. Bush? No matter how irrelevant your vote is, on the Day of Judgment you will be called to answer for it. You, under no coercion or duress, consciously chose to vote for the leader of a nation that is leading the war against Islam.

There is also a strange belief among some that if we participate in the elections of the disbelievers we will bring good to ourselves, while if we have trust in Allah and avoid the disbelievers, as He wants from us, we will be missing out on some good and would draw harm to ourselves. They are so weak they believe we can only survive in today's word if we seek support from the enemies of Allah. But for the believers Allah is sufficient for them and they do not need to seek assistance from the leaders or the governments of the disbelievers.

The is no benefit for the ummah in voting for the new American Pharoah.

Perspective: Muslim Americans Disobey Allah When They Don't Vote

The following is an email sent by Imam Faheem Shuaibe (emphasis and highlights are of my own):

Date: Sunday, November 2, 2008, 1:38 AM

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In his blog yesterday a Sheikh said, "Democracy is an un-Islamic system and we as Muslims should have nothing to do with it."

I am not an apologists for whatever is being passed off as "Democracy" in America today. Never the less the semblance still offers opportunities and obligations to American Muslims who live in and intend continue to live in this country and one of them is to "VOTE".

One definition of Democracy is as follows; "government by the people ; especially : rule of the majority b: a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections."

It is more correct to say that the current system in America known as "Democracy" is a Non-Islamic system that shares some values with Al-Islam.

For Muslims to have a "government by the people" without reference to the supremacy of Allah and His Prophet (pbuh) is not the Islamic Ideal for government. But the Islamic Ideal for government does include respect and responsibility on the part of people for the government.

As Allah says in the Qur'an--

4: 58. Allah doth command you to render back your trusts (AMAANAA-T: Governmental duties) to those to whom they are due; and when ye judge between man and man that ye judge with justice: verily how excellent is the teaching which He giveth you! for Allah is He who heareth and seeth all things."

In this verse Allah is "commanding" us to use our judgment and decide who we want to give the governmental responsibilities to. This is what the system of electoral politics gives us an opportunity to do. So rendering our decision as to who should bear the governmental responsibility is a part of obedience to Allah and to willfully not do so is a "sin of omission".

Furthermore Allah says--

42: 38. Those who hearken to their Lord and establish regular prayer; who (conduct) their affairs by mutual Consultation (Shuraa Baynahum); who spend out of what We bestow on them for Sustenance;

What is Shuraa Baynahum? Is it not an obligation upon Muslims, in matters unregulated explicitly by Allah and the Prophet (pbuh) to decide what is the best course? Is there not voting involved?

So even though "Democracy" or the current system is not an Islamic system, Al-Islam embraces some of the values of Democracy. And two of them are (1)Deliberations amongst the people to (2) decide who should be given the governmental duties.

And on the issue of the lesser of two evils (which also applies equally to the better of two good things) - This was the Sunnah of the Prophet and, when properly understood, this is also the Qur'an and it cannot be simply dismissed by an unsupported opinion such as the one expressed by the Sheikh. Namely, "there is no benefit in either candidate whatsoever."

Yet the Sheikh spoke of Aqeedah. Doesn't Aqeedah include the beliefs of Al-Islam? One of those beliefs is the "Qadr" which is stated as "The measure of potential benefit and potential harm is with Allah, the Most High?" The truth is that nothing is Absolute except Allah. For everything else there is a measure of potential benefit and a measure of potential harm. So based on our Islamic beliefs (Aqeedah) there is some potential benefit and some potential harm in both of the candidates but "only Allah knows how much".

So if that belief (Qadr) is true then the potential benefit of one will outweigh the potential benefit of the other. Also the potential harm in one will outweigh the potential harm in the other. So, in accordance with the verse of the Trust (4:58) we have an obligation to discover which is more beneficial or more harmful than the other. Only then can we comply with the Qur'an and the Sunnah in the matter ordered in verse 148 of the 2nd Chapter
Which states, "To each is a goal to which Allah turns him; then strive together toward all that is good. (Fa stabiquu khayrat: Strive for what is most useful under the circumstances)

."

Therefore, contrary to what the Sheikh implied with his threat - "you will have to answer (real meaning "be punished") for your vote on the Judgment Day",. Allah has commanded all Muslims (North East West and South) to seek what is best under their circumstance (socially, culturally, economically, politically, etc.). Again this also means that to do so is a part of obedience to Allah because he has "command it" (2: 148) and to not do so is a "sin of omission".

Once we have exerted ourselves to the best of our abilities to discern - under our circumstances - which is better (more Khayr) than the other and which one is worse (more sharr) then we practice the Sunnah by choosing the khayr. (i.e. "the lesser of two evils" or "the better of the two" )

Voting for American Muslims is crucial because by definition, "The Law is the embodiment of the interest of the people in the form of legislation". Legislators write laws to embody the interests of the people they represent. Pessimism aside, if American Muslims don't demonstrate electoral power then they will have no leverage to have their interests enacted, defended or represented in America.

Clearly, it is not in the best interest of American Muslim not to vote because (like it or not as defective as the system is) elections will decide who will have the (Amaanaa-t ) "governmental duties" and those persons will write laws that will effect the lives of American Muslim Families whether they voted or not. Failing to do so not only will Muslims be disobeying Allah (4: 58; 2: 148) they will have no one to blame but themselves when legislators pay no regard to their interests in their legislation.

The claim that the Sheikh makes that, "Participation in any form of western democracy will lead to the erosion of the aqeedah of wala and bara (loyalty to Allah and disavowal of the enemies of Allah) and the loss of one's religion" is false on the face of it. Many converts/reverts to Islam in America were able to do so because of the "first amendment" protections. The first of them being "Freedom of Religion". If those who thought otherwise at the founding of this nation had prevailed there would only have been Catholicism or only Protestantism practiced in American and Muslims would never have been allowed to teach non-Muslims Al-Islam and many who are Muslims today may not be. So it is a false and unsupportable claim that "participation in the "Democratic" system could cause a Muslim to lose their religion". Furthermore, Al-Islam (by this I mean the religious practice not just by birth as in statistically Muslim countries) is growing faster
in "the West" than in any other hemisphere. And it is because of "democratic freedoms".

So any American Muslim that has interests to be protected in this country should become a full participant in moving America towards the ideals of Al-Islam by utilizing all legitimate means and methods to do so. And one of them is to "VOTE".

Allah knows best

faheem shuaibe

Islamic Perspective: Ascension & Dimension

Do you know what this is? Its called a tesseract. It exists in 4th dimension.

"In physics and mathematics, a sequence of n numbers can be understood as a location in an n-dimensional space. When n=4, the set of all such locations is called 4-dimensional space, or, colloquially, the fourth dimension.

Such a space differs from the familiar 3-dimensional space that we live in, in that it has an extra dimension, an extra degree of freedom. This extra dimension may be interpreted either as time, or as a literal fourth dimension of space, a fourth spatial dimension."

It is actually studied in Geometry and Astronomy. To get a better grasp of this "4th Dimension", I will allow Carl Sagan to explain it to you (lol, no really). Now if your Muslim, or familiar with Islamic concepts....tell me what the topics in this video remind you of???





This video reminded me of Mi' raj (the ascension) of the Prophet (saw). It sounds just like the ability of Allah's angels. I mean can't you imagine the design of beings (the unseen) being explained by this concept of the 4th dimention!? I don't mean to cross any religious sensitivities because, surely Allah knows best.

11:123 To Allah do belong the unseen (secrets) of the heavens and the earth, and to Him goeth back every affair (for decision)...

But, I just find it amazing how we are so limited in our thinking and knowledge of things. We should never come to a point in our search of knowledge where we feel we have mastered a particular subject or particular field. Even one with a Master's degree or Ph.D. has to be humbled at the fact that he or she cannot find the ceiling of knowledge within their field.

Yesterday, I went to a halaqah (Islamic study group) that discussed primarily the future of Islam in America. There was a brother there who kept arguing that Saudi, Yemen, Syria, etc. will always be the source of the highest levels of Islamic knowledge. Even in the future, we could only reach a certain level of Islamic knowledge or scholarship by studying in the states. Now, this topic is a whole 'nother post in itself, but just to point out one thing:

I could not help but think of Imam W. D. Mohammed. (the brother actually mentioned him and his program to send his students to Syria for study.) Imam Mohammed was not taught by any scholar and whether you choose to recognize him as one the most learned individuals or not (which many Saudi Sheikhs have), he brings a NEW insight and a NEW tafsir to the Qur'an and life of the Prophet (saw).

America may or may not become the hub of Islamic knowledge in the future. Honestly, to me, it doesn't matter. What I envision (and surely Allah knows best) is a NEW perspective that will be born out of Islamic studies in the states. A perspective that will be a direct result of Muslims experiences, environment, and demand for Islamic life. I can't say that this will be a New Fiqh, a New Mathhab, etc. but I see Muslims coming to America, in the near future, to study an Islamic Science that is unique to the perspective and experience of Muslims in America. And I think it will be spawned by Imam W. D. Mohammed's community!

I will leave you with the Imam's commentary on the Night Journey (Mi' raj), a NEW perspective born out of America. Imam has said that the ascension represents the 7 elevations of Prophet Mohammed's soul from Adam to Abraham. The Imam said the ascension is also connected to the Night of Power (see last comment).


Imam Mohammed after mentioning the Prophets at the various levels of ascension stated the following:
"So it was an ascent. That's vertical isn't it? He went straight up from where? He went straight from the Kabah, from the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca into the heavens. So the vertical mustaqeem is the path of uprightness. The development of the soul in virtues, purity and high principles, etc., that is the ascent. Then he travels. That's horizontal. Now you tell me that isn't a cross? If the ascent is vertical and the travel is horizontal you have a cross. So see how the mysteries are addressed in so many ways to educate the blessed ones? Praise be to Allah.

So the horizontal is the important relationships that man has with man, families have with families, industry has with industry, communities have with communities. That's the horizontal. So he was taken to the place that was the symbol of the glorious time for the Jews, to Jerusalem where there was the kingdom of Solomon and the ruins are still there. When they go to the Wailing Wall they are weeping on what is left of that great kingdom. What are they weeping for? "We lost this, enemies conquered us"; not the Muslims. Before the Muslims it was the Romans. Really the Muslims did not want to conquer them. The Muslims never wanted to conquer them. The Muslims just wanted to have their rights like they wanted to have their rights.

Madinah established after the Ascent and night travel

Allah took him to the great peak for excellence in the life of those people symbolized as the government under Solomon, the wise, upon him be peace. And you know what happened. Later, almost right away, he decided to go to Madinah to answer the invitation of the people of Madinah. And with the experience and knowledge that Allah gave him in that ascent and that travel, night visit, he was prepared to go and establish the first Muslim world in Madinah. It was a world he was to establish. So he went to Madinah. We say government but it was a world. It was a new world. He went there to Madinah and he became the leader for the establishment of the ummah, the new world of Islam."
-IWDM 2006

Remebering 9/11

I don't have much a story about the day this happened.  I was in High school (yes, i'm young).  I remember someone walking through the halls saying a plane hit the towers.  I'm thinking what towers?  But as I entered the classroom, they already had a TV set up and everyone was watching the news.  Then we realized that this was a major event and many lives were being affected.

Would anyone like to tell their story?  I know some people were much more directly affected by this tragic event than I...or at least what you were doing and where you were when it happened.  I'd like to hear YOUR story.

This is EXACTLY what we need to do...

**thelegacymaker rolls his eyes**

I can't believe this lady would SAY THIS...

To beat extremism we must dissolve religious groups

I mean really, come on. Minette Marrin, the author of this piece in the TIMESONLINE article, claims that more than just a tiny minority of Muslims in the UK hold extreme fundamentalist opinions, contrary to popular belief. She also argues that

"Religion should not be allowed a public space or public representation."

I follow the logic of Imam W. D. Mohammed, "And Satan has been successful; he has discredited religion and brought religion to be a ridiculous thing in the minds of many decent and intelligent people."

What does it mean to be Black in America?

I never truly realized that some people really don't know... I mean lets look at this...what is the IMAGE of Black America? In my post entitled: The Correct Perspective: Part II - How do people view Islam?, I pointed out how people view Islam (for example) is based upon how people view Muslims. People view a religion, a country, a race, (and sometimes an ideal) by the people that represent it. This follows the definition of symbolism.

So, Who represents Black America?

Well, in any case, I do. You do. We all do. All those that claim to be Black, and some who don't. But who is it that most people see? As pointed out by Soledad O'Brien in the video below, Black America is unfairly embodied by crime, rap, and the Hollywood and political stars (the stellar people). She notes that the problem is for young black kids...they believe that what they have been shown is all that is open to them.




The Role Model

Kids deserve to know what is out there for them to achieve. They deserve the opportunity to achieve it. And they deserve to see people like them already achieving it.

And on the other side of the coin...People deserve to see the diversity of Black America. Black America is more than just crime, poverty, and rappers. We need more documentarys like 'Black in America'. We need more poets like Jon Goode, Basheer Jones, and Amir Sulaiman. We need more expression of the diverse Black America. We need more talk about our issues.

We need more Role Models. We need more black (male) teachers, doctors, lawyers. But we also need more software developers, physical therapists, consultants, and social workers. Those successful careers that aren't thought of right away, but lack real Black representation and publicity.

We need more religion and religious leaders. We need a new generation with a new mindset. We need productive leadership. And as my brother so humbly put it....We need a collective spirit. What happened to our collective spirit?

The Correct Perspective: Part II - How do people view Islam?

In my very first post entitled THE CORRECT PERSPECTIVE, I outlined the purpose of creation, the purpose of Man. I also pointed out that the correct perspective is the first step towards man's purpose as a servant of G-d. This is why we follow the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)... he had the correct perspective on life, obtained directly from G-d.

So, as Muslims we understand this...our purpose in life and essentially our way of Life, which is ISLAM. But, what about others?

How do others around us view Islam? What is there perspective on this beautiful religion?

Well...

I think the general populations view of Islam follows the view of the Muslims. People see Islam the same way they see the Muslims who live Islam. What do I mean? Muslims strive (or should strive) to uphold the values of this beautiful religion and way of life but sometimes we fall short. People view Islam by the people that represent it.

When articles like THIS appear in our media, I wonder how good of a job are we doing to represent our religion? How successful are we at following the true example of the Prophet (saw)?


We have a job to do. YOU AND I have a job to do, especially in America. We must, and i repeat....WE MUST represent our religion, our way of life, to the world. Whether its displayed in your character or your dress, in your thoughts or in your actions, YOU are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah.

The Correct Perspective

With Allah's Name, The Merciful Benefactor, The Merciful Redeemer

THE GOAL

“I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve (worship) Me.” (Holy Qur'an, 51:56)

The Arabic word for "worship" is ibaadah, and it applies only to God. This is why in Islam we say that Allah is the only one that deserves worship. So, our purpose in this life is to worship our Lord. Period. But much more than in the sense of praying five times a day. Ibaadah implies doing those things that are pleasing to your Lord; good deeds.

Those things done with the intention of obeying the commands of Allah and his Last Prophet (prayers and peace be upon him) are forms of Ibaadah... from washing your body for prayer to getting a good education so that you can provide for your family and community. Anything outside of this intention may fall into the category of customs or practices. But it is important to understand that every good life or good living is Ibaadah, and we have the best example of that life in the last Prophet, Muhammad (saw).

With that said, our ulitmate goal should be to please our Lord, i.e. worship Allah and obey his commands. As a result we will be rewarded with Paradise. (Yay!!)


PERSPECTIVE

"Satan makes them promises, and creates in them false desires; but satan's promises are nothing but deception." (Holy Qur'an, 4:120)


Life is about perspective. When you have the correct perspective of things, i.e. the perspective that G-d wants for you as a righteous human being, then you are well on your way to pleasing your Lord and if G-d wills, gaining the Paradise. You have a clear view of the direction needed to travel and you understand the do's and don'ts of life.

If you don't have correct perception, follow someone who has. The Best Example is Prophet Muhammad (saw). Study those leaders who follow his example and find your direction!

AND remember, the next step involves action. It is not enough to have the correct perspective or the correct insight into a situation. One must act accordingly.