As' Salaamu Alaikum,

I can say that the greatest opponent that I face is myself. I say this because I control my thoughts and my behaviors when it comes to my interaction of this world. If I do something I cannot say that the other made me do it, but of course coersion is excluded here. In our Muslim communities around the world the phenonmenon of the lack of accountability still exist. In some of our endeavours we blame others for our problems even when we live thousands upon thousands of miles away from any Middle Eastern community we always blame the Jews. Of course, the situation in the Middle Easter revolves around multiple factors, Jews and Americans included. But our main focal point as a global community must be the continuous education of ourselves, especially our women and children.

I know for many of you, my defiance in Scholarship is annoying and evident but realistically I have a reason why I believe this and a valid point. You see, education is key and can be made much like the use of a gun. It can be used for defense of oneself or family or to harm or to manipulate. I believe there are those among us who are intelligent in the philosophical/theological principles of our religion, but some us this to manipulate the ignorant masses of people to premote their own sick ideology underscoring true Islamic scholarship. True Islamic Scholarship is dead or at least at the moment in the shadows of tyranny.

Thgere are those among us who are in fact scholars but if they open their mouth they are either shot dead or called a heretic. Before Averroes (Ibn Rushd) began to take off globally he was chastise by the same royal court that welcomed him and was banised because "others" didn't agree with his teachings. To the Muslim world globally he was nothing more than a heretic, but to those around him he was a genius of his time. Today he is remembered as one of the most profound thinkers of Islamic scholarship and Philosophy. But why does it take public harassment and many decades later to acheive such knowledge? Why can we not appreciate diversity of knowledge without chastising someone for what we would consider Bid'ah?

Another profound problem that has occured to me in our community is that we do not value educating our women. Yes we offer schools for women but we do so with a painful smile just to appease the world. But what I mean when I talk about educating our women I'm talking about the sciences as well as theology. Our communities over emphasize the study of theology rather than the physical sciences, and when we teach our women the physical sciences they are overwhelming taught with a theological basis. The study of secular academic courses does not take one away from God but makes one versitile in the knowledge of God. God even speaks of the world full of knowledge and that, everywhere we go we find the knowledge of God in it.

Another problem that I see is our outlook on potential mates and potential marriages. There is nothing in Islamic theology nor in the Qur'a nor in Islamic philosophy that states that we must marry our own. I find this type of thinking still pervasive in Muslim communities around the world. Of course, there are some progressive families that think beyond this, but this transformation doesn't happen until they come into a western civilization. Why is that? A similar historical account was the fall of souther Spain and how the Christians recaptured it. One of the problems that befell the Muslims of southern spain was that the Moors and the Almohads clashed and some note because of cultural differences. Although this may be open for debate as far as dates are concerned.

My point here is that it is logically incomprehensible to profess the wisdom of God in his design for diverse cultures yet in our personal homes do no appreciate this by inviting these different ethnic groups in our families. Allah proves that compatibility does not equal success as he himself did not design the world's particular's the same. Our global cultures are adifferent yes but that should not shun us away from interacting with each other on a personal basis. We must go beyond the thought of tolerance to acceptance; and going beyond acceptance to indulging ourselves in different cultures. Part of the tre knowledge of God resides in the knowledge of each other, not our families or ethnic groups but human groups. My thoughts are ideal but if we start critiquing ourselves we can get the cycle of change starting. I hope this is not offensive to anyone. This is just a theory. BY the way it is not a typo when I said "emuslim community" I mean to refer to the online community here....!

Bismillah and Salaams,

Brother, Many times suggestions have been made to the community here to DO things to help our situations.  Play basketball with the kids in your community.  Teach someone something valuable that you know.  Help a Muslim family out by developing a system of visiting checks on impoverished and marginalized Muslims here in America -and Canada and where else you guys are --

Grass roots start out with roots.  Where are the roots guys?  Ideas.  Then action.  Here some ideas.  What do you think?  I think take action!  Otherwise it's just blah, blah, blah, more talk.

herjihad wrote: Bismillah and Salaams, Brother, Many times suggestions have been made to the community here to DO things to help our situations.  Play basketball with the kids in your community.  Teach someone something valuable that you know.  Help a Muslim family out by developing a system of visiting checks on impoverished and marginalized Muslims here in America -and Canada and where else you guys are -- Grass roots start out with roots.  Where are the roots guys?  Ideas.  Then action.  Here some ideas.  What do you think?  I think take action!  Otherwise it's just blah, blah, blah, more talk.

Sister Herjihad, you have certainly "hit the nail on the head".  Indeed the cure to all the problems in our ummah lays not with whinning, complaining and pointing fingers but with ACTION.  There is far too much blah, blah, blah and way too little do, do do!

It must start at home, spread into the local community and from there it will spread everywhere.  The time for blah, blah, blah is long past (and becoming a rather annoying feature at this site); the time for each and every one of us to get up and DO SOMETHING is upon us - let's not miss the boat on this one folks!

As long as we are whinning, complaining and pointing fingers at one another we will never be a true community: cyber, local or global.  Wouldn't it be something if this site would be flooded with examples of positive things happening in the Muslim community?

Positive energy feeds positive energy ~ unfortunately the same applies with negative...........

Thanks for the wake up call to us all Sister!

Peace, ummziba.

Well, to you two ladies whatever I say maybe "blah blah blah" you both are in a priviledged position of acknowledgement, but to others some cannot see that the community needs some internal changes. It's quite easy to utilize your priviledge by saying that "WE MUST TAKE ACTION" and to stop whinning (yes I know I'm lumped in this column) but you must understand that for some, merely saying to take action when a person is not aware of the ills of our community is null. For instance when I mentioned that racism exist in the community some Muslims in turn say " The Muslim community is multi-racial, therefore racism does not exist." This line of is clearly troubling. Just because an instutition (in this case the religion) produces multi-ethnic groups means that the ideals of the instution universally appeals to these ethnic groups, but it does not mean that racism within this community is exempt.

My point here is that in order to take action we must systematically note the problems plaguing the community. Not only have I done my part in protecting my community (both Muslim and other communities alike) but also am starting some awareness groups. I think "piggy backing" the idea of sexual awareness and safe sex is a great idea. Of course in some Muslim communities the thought is taboo, but many older generation parent sdo not understand that their teenagers are indeed having premartial sex and some may not have the knowledge of doing safe sex. Some Muslims say, that, the idea promotes haram act by propagating "safe, pre-marital sex." Well I counter that, I'd rather promote "sinful, safe sex" then promote "unprotected, sinful safe sex" so pick your poison. The reality in this idea is that teenagers, at least in the Souther California area are having premarital sex more nowadays.

My idea here is to get the msaage across not just by words but of course by action but in order to act I must first get manifest the basic language that is capable of reaching multiple groups. I find it easy for some here to indeed say that we need to stop whinning and act more but there are people who are still ignorant of the problems inflicting the community.

Bismillah and Salaams,

Well, brother, there is a saying that too much analysis leads to paralysis.

I reiterate that right now there are kids in your community who could benefit from some non-controversial basketball.  Maybe a game of chess (Many muslims do that and many don't -- checkers for the don't group.)  How about someone to take a minute or two after their prayers and say salaams and listen to a kid and encourage him/her in his/her life?  Don't you guys have a homework help night for kids?  Mentor someone now people!

Israfil wrote: Yes there are programs such as D.A.R.E. and others but the point here is to in fact pin point those issues and tackle them. In your mind you'd love to void those issues and focus on kids playing basketball which is fine but I'd love to solve current crisis right now. You (as I have seen in your post) have no trouble in commenting on political issues but why when I speak, its a "paralyzing" thought because I'm analyzing the issue? I'm merely point out the problem that we must should be aware of. Awareness is key.

Assalaamu alaikum Brother Israfil,

Nice to see you again in the forum.

I do agree on you on many points. I invite any doubting members to read the latest copy of Islamic Horizons (official magazine of ISNA)and read the matrimonial ads and you will see what we mean. In this same magazine you also see articles denouncing Islamiphobia..hmm... to an American who is a non-Muslim this would seem hypocrytical..Why? Many leaders and prominent folk in the American Ummah promote the diversity of Islam..while these ads are a sword in their words.

Get a copy, read em, and you will see.

I am not trying to criticize or demean my fellow members of the Ummah, just make a point that they don't see. Thank you Brother Israfil for standing up to this issue. Sister Jenni has also remarked about the racism within the Ummah.If you are not arab, southeast asian, we seem to be out. hmmm,..I wonder why most of my friends are African, african american...I have overheard arab sisters state in the prayer room that they do not want to share space  with whites or blacks...maybe they should leave?

Doubt my words? I invite all to read a copy of the publication called Islam by choice, by Debra Dirks..

See what these American born sisters have to say.

And then look around with a fresh perspective. True not all are like this, but there are too many for comfort.

ma salaama

Israfil wrote: Bismillah (In the name of God the infinitely good, and merciful may God have mercy on my soul Ameen). Thank You Maryah for adding another perspective to the issue but I wish to also address that race is not my central focal point here but an important one nonetheless. Maryah, I can say when going to school studying from different professors it always astounded me how the people in the times of Jesus, Noah and Muhammad reacted the way that they did, I mean those who were in denial of revelation. Since then it does not astound me now that since the revelation and the advent of our prophet has passed we still continue to do otherwise. I'm the first to say that I find "little" things that I still do now (which I'm trying to change) that I did before when I was in a state of Kufr (disbelief). I pray to God for more wisdom and guidance on many of my endeavours....Ameen. What I see in our brothers and sisters of other ethnic groups is that they still cling to old traditions and solidify this by pointing out reasons why they choose to remain isolated from other ethnic groups. I was definitely surprised that sister UmmAminata pointed out that in the book "The reliance of the traveler" the Sheik wrote that Arabs must not marry non-Arabs. I mean, its almost like behaving like the Quraysh all over again. you see, there appears to be a parallel in behavior from the quraysh in Muhammad's time and the people now in contemporary times. We have our elders clinging on to old marital traditions and teaching their children their ways, which,m is fine to me. But when it comes to making life decisions especially marriage one must not use ethnicity as the sole reason of choosing a mate. In my personal philosophy we all need to learn different cultures. If we choose to continue this endogamous philosophy we will never fully understand diversity and enjoy the traditons of others. More importantly, we go against what the Prophet said in his last sermon to the Muslims in his time. If there is anything I can do to end this is to mention it to other Muslims. Some choose to not look at this reality and some do but more importantly these issues definitely need to be addressed in the forums. I mean, if we are so easy to criticize other people's countries why are we so hard pressed to acknowledge the ills within our community? In the bible, Jesus made an analogy from this. "Why point out the needle in your brothers eye when you have a needle in your own eye? Of course imperfectly I quote Brother Jesus (Alayhi Salaam) but the point is we shouldn't be quick to criticize others when we have ills of our own. I think its important to definitely address these issues and practice their solutions in our own homes.

Salaams,

Soccer then?  Street hockey?  Homework help?

Yeah, my kids have that paper from DARE.  Are you a presenter with your job as a police officer?  Great.  Keep up the good work.

What good is the community if all that is offered is advice?  I'm talking about having a community center outlook form the mosque.  About not just listening and acknowledging problems, but reaching out our hands and doing the Islaamically preferrable thing and DOING something. Visit the sick:  the sick in heart, the sick in body, and the sick soul.  Visit the healthy:  the child without a big family in town, the man whose family lives in another town, the lonely, apparently well-off single guy who needs Islaamic companionship.

So much to do, so little time.

Asalaamu alaikum:

I do agree with sister Herji, We need to be more visible in our communities and participate in good activities. I spent yesterday spooning mashed potatoes onto plates and cleaning up after homeless people at a non denominational non religious organization sponsored meal yesterday with my grand daughters. actually, people asked me if I was cold due to the fact that i was wearing a head scarf and I got a kick out of that! They were surprised to find that I was Muslim! Evidently many Americans are not aware that charity is a very important part of our faith! Inshallah, we could break that stereotype by being more involved in our community activities and let people know that we are a part of their lives!

Confronting oneself is VERY difficult. When you learn about Islam, one should (ideally) be learning about oneself. If we KNOW that Allah is watching and knowing at all times, then we cannot hide. So if for instance we are prejudicial against people based upon superficial qualities (appearance, ethnicity, cultural group) then Allah knows this. We should strive to do better. If we strive to do better we improve not only ourselves but the Ummah as a whole.

Israfil, you raised a good point about how kids are growing up in the west often become like other kids in the west. Many parents are in a a state of denial about this. One of my parents had three kids here. Her niece, 15 got pregnant (unwed). She sent her kids back to Kenya. Where she could work here she did not like the moral values that her kids were being raised with. Said they can come back when they are adults.

I too agree wit Herj and Maryah, we need to make small efforts to improve the world. For some it is cooking meals for some, for others it is working with youth, for others it is the elderly (a growing crisis in the west) or for others it is helping to improve the environment.  If we all do what we can, we will make a difference.

aus wrote: So when in essence you have to discipline your child here in Kenya using a cane,its a crime in America or Canada...how do u expect to achieve anything when you cant discipline a child???...a child should be directed when its still young,thats when it grasps the basics with zeal and the right grasping mind,even though at a younger age they might not like it..but as a parent,one has to use some little physical punishment to instill discpline in the kids..so..its hard raising kids in such a society where kufr prevails.

First I am NOT against disciplining kids and I do see some kids and teenagers out of control and no manners. I'm not going to go into it but I believe there are other ways of discipling without using such force. Using such force kids learn to associate that with a particular tasks or just learning and it becomes a negative issue & burden were it should not be!. Kids grow up with and then they use it when they're parents and the cycle keeps going on and on until someone puts a stop to it, it is like kids going up in war areas and that is all they get to know and then they use it as adults and wars continue.

That's all, this is another topic.  

aus wrote: .....one has to use some little physical punishment to instill discpline in the kids..... Peace to all, Angel..emphasis is on LITTLE force! Peace Aus

How much 'little' should be the force? I think as long as it does not cause permanent damage or disablility, its alright.

aus wrote: How much 'little' should be the force? I think as long as it does not cause permanent damage or disablility, its alright. peace to all My point exactly!!!! peace Aus

Bismillah and Salaams,

Ideally a little force would be to hit them with a small toothstick (miswak) for egregious behavior, right?

Maryah wrote: Asalaamu alaikum: I do agree with sister Herji, We need to be more visible in our communities and participate in good activities. I spent yesterday spooning mashed potatoes onto plates and cleaning up after homeless people at a non denominational non religious organization sponsored meal yesterday with my grand daughters. actually, people asked me if I was cold due to the fact that i was wearing a head scarf and I got a kick out of that! They were surprised to find that I was Muslim! Evidently many Americans are not aware that charity is a very important part of our faith! Inshallah, we could break that stereotype by being more involved in our community activities and let people know that we are a part of their lives!

Bismillah and Salaams,

Ma' Shah Allah!

I know some would 'argue' that me giving advice doesn't help the situation but at the same time I can honestly say that I'm doing my part everyday. In essence, I feel deeply that I have the right to stand and say "this is not right!" I've had my nose in the grind and have worked very hard. I know its easy for some here to sit behind a computer and say "we need to change this and that" but none really do anything. I feel personally that because of my profession I'm at an advantage where I can make a direct impact upon all people and that is what I'm striving to do.

I know for some here me bringing up the race issue is becoming redundant but I feel that its an important one nonetheless. I sense that the Muslim community has become blinded by culture rather than reason. We put our cultural issues before our religious ones and to me our 'credibility' if there was one, is slowly going down from within. I mean, I remember discussing with an Imam that in Khutba he should discuss premarital sex. He tells me "Premarital sex is not a popular situation like it is in America" In my head of course I was screaming Bull****

I mean, I personally know guys from my old MSA that have premarital sex and of course when the intellectuals criticize some of the actions within the Muslim community we have scholarly elders say "We are not as bad as the West." In addition to my prior suggestion, we need to stop using the West as a litmus test to contrast how our community is. We also need to get out of the habit of denying what we think is not going on in our community. I mean for God sake's. I also think we need to accept the fact that there are gays in our community and we as individuals need to accept them. We in our private homes may believe what they do is a sin but its a choice nonetheless.

I know when the issue of homosexuality came up here earlier I understand that many of you are definitely homophobic. Realize that this is a choice which for some who are homosexual it is an inherent feeling, much like when a young boy is raised and develops a like for women. In brief I'm merely saying we need to be aware and accept this reality. I'm sorry that for some of you that you see me as talk, talk, talk about the ills in our community. Honestly I'd rather focus on what we can improve rather than going back to the 14th Century and focus on what we did. Honestly in the 21st Century we have not done anything as far as the advancement of the human race.

I'm hoping to change this but first changing us from within. This includes myself! Because I see Muslims as a community when I critique I'm basically using my motivation in hopes to changing our community. To some of the isters you obviously have no idea how many Muslims deny  some of the stuff I bring up. In order to change things in our community we need to have some sort of universal realization going around because there are too many Muslims in denial. My effort is no just about the kids but about everyone.

I cannot sit and say that I'll just work with kids because they all go back home to a family that does not share the same ideas that I'm trying to actualize. In my idea when making change it should be inclusive for all people not just children.