The guidance of religion vs. personal whims

Islam is a faith that asserts itself, in very clear and strong language, to be a faith that is completely detailed [Qur'an 6:114]. The last verse revealed to the Prophet Muhammad himself, Sall-Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam, asserts that Islam has been chosen, perfected, and completed by God himself, in the time of his final Prophet [Q 5:3]. This completion becomes evident even in the midst of the existence of Muslim sects, in the sense that despite our [minor] differences, our essentials are identical, as well as having the same book, prayers, charity, pilgrimage, etc.

Since Islam was perfected in the time of the Final Prophet, essentially it means that if we really believe, then we have to accept as Halaal [lawful] what is given in clear terms as Halaal in the Qur'an and Prophetic example [Usawtun Hasana] and to avoid that which is clearly given as Haraam[unlawful] according to the Qur'an and Prophetic model.



In this regards, it is important to remember Allah's statements;

''And obey Allah, and the messenger, so that perhaps you will receive mercy." [Q 3:132]

Whosoever obeys the messenger [Muhammad], obeys Allah. Therefore, if any turn back, We [Allah] have not sent you as a watcher over them." [Q 4:80]

To call one's self a Muslim, one is to have confidence in all the contents of Divine revelation as useful, beneficial and blessed. To replace something that is clearly supported or endorsed by the Qur'an and the Prophet for a tradition or idea whose roots lie in another faith or thinking pattern is almost tantamount to rejecting Islam itself,as if to say that particular idea is superior to the contents of the Qur'an and Prophetic model! We seek God's protection from that!

Islam: a realistic faith


In a world where individuality is the name of the game, religion has been reduced, in many ways, to the following forms.[A] Ethnic or racial identifier. [B] A series of personal rituals and beliefs designed to bring about personal satisfaction, a contentment that is comparable to the euphoric feelings brought about by drug use.

In addition to this, we must mention "interpreting for one's self." Often this slogan, which has its roots in Western religious culture from the times the Bible was not allowed to be translated, so that when it became available people wanted to 'understand' for themselves, which in itself is not a problem at all. However, it does become a problem to interpret in such a way that clarity is replaced with ambiguity, leaving the doors open for all sorts of vices as well as incorporating foreign concepts into one's practice and understanding of Islam.

Take for example the Quranic allowance for physical fighting. Many verses from the Qur'an speak to this, but for the sake of space only one will be quoted here;

Fighting is ordered for you, and you dislike it. But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows, and you do not know .[ Q 2:216)

Other verses that speak to this reality, and the conditions for it, can be found in 22:39,40, 2:190,9:41,61:11-14 and many other references.

We fear that some Muslims are actually embarrassed by these verses, perhaps due to inferiority complexes, brought about by arguments of the Christian missionaries, who continually assert that Jesus Christ was passive, even in the face of great opposition, and that such a position is better in the sights of God[Ft.1]. Another reason for such a view is that contemporary figures who avoided a response by the hand have been touted in the Modern world as having made their particular causes successful. This argument is weak at best, as it can be argued that their successes are perceived and not real. The Dalai Lama comes to mind here.

If something as clear as fighting [when necessary]as given in the Qur'an can be rejected by interpretative gymnastics, where do we stop? Will the Qur'an be used to give legitimacy to the idea that Jesus is God? Will we have to hear, all of the sudden, that there are in fact many gods?

These examples are actually becoming real in our times! One example is that of Alcohol. The Qur'an calls it " a product of Satan's work"[ Q 5:90], that it has benefit, but "its sin outweighs its benefits."[ Q 2:219]. We are also told " so, abstain from it [alcohol and gambling] so that perhaps you will be successful." [latter part of Q 5:90]! Yet, believe it or not, many "Muslims" today actually assert that Alcoholic consumption is Halaal because the word Haraam is not used in the above referenced Qur'anic Ayaat!!!


Allah's Deen is serious business. It should not be interpreted by whims. Meaning, if a person drinks, well, that's a weakness that has to be addressed. But that does not require that one engage in dishonesty by claiming the text says "yes" when it clearly says "No".

We don't call for violence or extremism. Nay, we are calling for intellectual honesty. If Islam says such and such is legitimate, then that's the way it is. If Islam says that such and such is immoral, is wrong, well, that's what that is!

No one is perfect, all of us have faults and weaknesses. Why try to change the guidance of Allah, rather than looking at ourselves and changing in accordance with the guidance of Allah?

"And who is worse than one who has as a god his passions." Q 45:23.

Footnotes

#1= The following polemical article was composed by a Christian missionary, as a means to show their view that Islam is inherently violent, while Christianity is inherently peaceful. http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/Arlandson/sword.htm. In any case, while the Gospels portray Jesus as passive, it also portrays him as taking rather drastic actions, such as overturning the money changers tables in the temple [ Matthew 12:12-13] and asserting that he has "come with a sword" [Matthew 10:34].

Problems in your Masjid? thoughts on the Mosque in Islam and Western society

The Mosque in the West

It should be noted, first and foremost, that the role of the Masjid [Mosque] in the Western context is very different from that in the Muslim world. In the Muslim world, the mosque is simply a place of prayer.Some Mosques will have funeral services, and of course students may take it as a quiet refuge to study, but essentially it ends at that.


In the United states, the Mosque has these roles and much more. It serves as a symbol of Muslim presence and culture, as the picture above shows. It is of the Shah Jahan Masjid in Woking [Surrey], United Kingdom. Marriages are performed, as well as various social gatherings, dinners, counseling, community work, political organizing, and so much more.

In short, the role of the Mosque in the West is the same as that of the Church. The Imam gives advice, marriage counseling, plays a role in local politics, in the same manner as the Pastor of the local Church. It's not an issue of right or wrong, this is just a reality.


Problems in the Masjid

In the Muslim world, the Mosque is basically on every corner. Generally speaking, it is also maintained and controlled by Government ministries, so the 'average' person has no role or responsibility in the Mosque. He [and almost never 'she'] will attend Friday prayers, and perhaps some of the daily prayers, in Jama'ah at the local mosque, and leave it at that.


Sectarianism in Mosques does exist, however it's very limited and varies from nation to nation. In places such as Pakistan, where the Sunni/Shi'ah divide is multiplied by sub-divisions, political and personality issues, attending the Mosque can be actually dangerous, as repeated bombings of Mosques, prayer gatherings and funerals show.

In places such as the United states, sectarianism is further complicated by class and ethnic divisions, which is dealt with two broad solutions..

[A] In small towns, Muslims of all sects and ethnic backgrounds will worship in the same mosque.They will offer friday prayers at the most convenient location.

[B] Muslims of the same sect or group, such as Shi'ah, Salafi, upon having sufficient numbers, will form their own mosques. Now, while Muslims outside of these groups are welcome, it is understood that this particular mosque is dominated by one school or ethnic group.


What next?

In the two 'solutions' given above, at some point problems, both on an individual and communal level, develop. It is unavoidable. When people of various thinking patterns, understanding of religion, as well as having different personalities, are enclosed in small spaces, feelings get hurt. Resentments form. Sometimes there are power struggles. Such problems are almost unheard of in the Muslim world, but they are an unfortunate reality in the Western context. Such problems exist even among followers of the same sect or same ethnic group. All of us think 'our way' is the correct model of Islamic practice and theology!


At some point, it becomes necessary for us as individuals to figure out what is beneficial to us in terms of our Islamic practice and spirituality. If we go to places where we don't feel comfortable for reasons, such as those mentioned in this text, we can easily find another Mosque. Another solution can be to limit one's participation to friday prayers only [after all, Friday prayers are obligatory according to the Qur'an 62:9] and avoid the politics. Sometimes, our boards and Imams need some perspective. Give them advice.

Religion is sincere advice [or sincerity, Naseehah in Arabic], [for the cause of] Allah, to the messenger, to the leaders of the Muslims and to the general public. [Sahih Al-Bukhari, 2:42]

Remember that the entire Earth is a Mosque [Sahih Al-Bukhari,8:56], prayers can be conducted anywhere that is clean and reasonable. We living in the West, especially having children, use our Mosques not only for prayers, but as cultural hubs, as sanctuaries and the like. So, just leaving it is not easy. Deep contemplation is required, as well as knowing the situation of other Mosques, before making such decisions. Seek Allah's guidance, and he will give you direction.Consider all options.

Ramadan Al-Mubaarak: thoughts on the fasting month

The above Arabic title stems from the traditional greeting "Blessed Ramadan" [Ramadan Mubaarak]. Certainly even the most non-observant Muslim finds the month of Ramadan to be one of great joy, laughter and family gatherings. Perhaps its cultural impact can be compared to the feelings Americans, even Non-Christians, have during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

We are always questioned by our colleagues on the type of fasting, the motivations behind it, and finally "How can you do it?". It is seen as an exercise in futility,unnecessary hardship and outright ridiculous by many people. It is my hope to share some useful information on this institution found in Islam.


Fasting

We abstain from food, drink and sexual contact during the daylight for a month-long period. This is an obligation on every Muslim, with exceptions for the ill, those who cannot survive without consuming something [such as diabetics], and a few others. The Qur'an gives the following command regarding the fast [called Siyaam in Arabic] as well as the reason behind its legislation;

O you who believe, fasting is ordained for you, as it was on those before you, so that perhaps you will become [more] God-respecting [La'allakoom Tattaqoon][2:183]

The focus is on Taqwaa, a word that is very hard to translate with just one or two English semi-equivalents. It is usually rendered as piety, however as a word, piety is very limiting. Taqwaa carries the meaning of respect, fear, duty, responsibilities, and caution.

Fasting is a very private form of worship, in the sense that a person can easily hide the fact he is not fasting, and just as equally hide the fact that he is fasting.

So, we see why the fasting has been ordained.


The traditional practices

In order to be able to function through the day, we are encouraged to have a meal before dawn, when the fasting officially starts. This breakfast is called Suhoor [Sehri in Urdu]. At sunset, when the fasting period ends, a snack of dates [or some other fruits and vegetables] precedes the dinner. Eating dates is not an obligation, but it has entered our practice on the basis of the Prophet Muhammad's manner of breaking the fast. The dinner itself is usually called Iftar.


As the Qur'an's first revelation to the Prophet [upon whom be peace] occurred in Ramadan , we also generally make it our business to read the entire Qur'an in the month. Besides that, people offer prayers more, and give more in charity.


Effect of fasting

One must understand that fasting in Ramadan is not for diet reasons, to follow some hype, rather the motivations are spiritual. Reading the Qur'an while fasting makes us re-examine our lives in light of what God instructs us. We are to avoid even those things we knowingly engage in, such as gossip, arguments, backbiting, immoral surroundings [that can be found in Television, Music etc..] lust and the like.

Fasting with consciousness makes the person a better human being. It also makes him spiritually stronger, which can influence the physical strength as well, even though the intake of food/drink has been limited. Muslim history is full of victories on the battlefield happening during that month.

That is what I want this year, to be able to gain from reading the Qur'an while fasting, to strengthen morals and get rid of any vices. To engage in an honest self-assessment. May Allah give us all the same. Ameen!

The words of Allah are inexhaustible

“Say: If the sea were ink for [writing] the words of my Lord, surely the sea would be depleted before the words of My Lord would be depleted, even if we brought [another sea] like it for its aid.” {Qur’an 18:109}

This verse, along with a similarly worded statement in 31:27, which speaks of seven oceans being depleted before Allah’s words would become exhausted, is among the most beautiful expressions found in the Qur’an. Certainly there are many lessons that can be taken from this text, but for the sake of this brief composition we hope to focus on this; everyone and everything in creation is a ‘word of Allah’!

Every ‘word’ has a unique set of characteristics, just as every single hand has finger patterns that cannot be found in another person [i.e. fingerprints]. In this sense, no single ‘word’ has superiority over another. All of them come together to express the power, existence, and grandeur of the Sustainer of the universe. Perhaps a better analogy would be that of a book, any document or position paper. Many people become intrigued with the number of times a single word or phrase appears therein, while overlooking the clear intent or message the author attempts to convey throughout the entire text. Such an approach does a bit of a disservice to the text as well as its composer.
In saying that all humans, prophets and non-prophets, Muslim and Non-Muslim, and that all things in the creation, the trees, the animals, the sun, the moon, are ‘words of Allah’, it becomes important to qualify this assertion. To accomplish this, we have to examine the context in which the Qur’anic text under discussion is given. Immediately after the verse under discussion, we read

“Say [O Prophet!]: I am a man similar to yourselves [the only real difference being] inspiration has come to me, that your object of worship is really [suppose to be] the one [and only deity] [Ilaahukum, ilaahun waahidun.]].[Q 18:110]

While the ‘words’ in the form of prophets and scripture has ceased ‘writing’ [as the Qur’an itself is the final scripture, and its recipient Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah is the final prophet], the ‘words’ in the form of personal spiritual strength, intuitive knowledge, teachers and the like will continue throughout time. After all, we ask Allah’s guidance every day in Salaah. We do not invoke him in a vacuum, nor is he absent from the word [Na’oodhoo Billaah!] If such was the case, prayers and supplications would be useless.

“Allah does not communicate with man, except by inspiration [wahy], or from behind a barrier [Hijaaban] or by sending a messenger, to convey to him what he [Allah] wills. Surely, he is the most high, the wise” [Q 42:51].

Thus, the communication from Allah is continuous, and comes in various ways. In the same vein, we come to understand the phrases “spirit” and “word” [4:171 etc...] in reference to Jesus Christ. Christians hold the view that he, upon whom be peace, was ‘the word of God’ in a sense that he was unique, leading to the supposition that he was Divine. It is true that the Qur’an has dealt with that idea repeatedly, but the use of the phrase “a word from him” shows us that Allah seeks to convey, in a polite and subtle manner, the fact that while he was indeed unique in many ways, he was still a creation of Allah, not sharing divinity. To put all one’s eggs in one basket, or in this case, one word, and then exaggerating the position of that word, is quite damaging spiritually. A person’s religion or spiritual life becomes dependent on an individual or a set of individuals, which can lead to exploitation, fraud, and even mental slavery! So, when dealing with the idea that Jesus [or anyone else] is Divine, remember that the position of Jesus in the sight of Allah is similar to that of Adam. He had no physical parents as far as we understand, but that does not make him divine! It makes him an object created by Allah.


The Qur’an is the word of Allah, having the final say on all theological and spiritual issues [Q 25:1]. Its very nature is such that reading it always provides some new insight or guidance, regardless of the number of times it has been read in the past. It is the ultimate scripture in many ways, not just because it is the final book. It is suitable for a guide for all people, at all times and situations. It is because of the Qur’an that we come to understand the position of ‘words’ in this world.

Such realizations give spiritual freedom, and allow us to be able to call a spade a spade. It creates a basis for making better decisions in all parts of life, to be just and fair not only to our selves, but indeed to all others as well, regardless of their religious label or skin color. May Allah make us able to read and understand his words correctly, and to translate those words into practical results! Ameen!

Are Muslims really collective ostrichs?

{ft.1}

Introduction

Thursday evening I received a telephone call from a Muslim brother in another location. He expressed indignation at the recent arrest of four Muslim men in the state of New York for an alleged plot to shoot down planes and attack a Jewish Synagogue.

His concerns were, in essence, two-fold. [A] Our Masaajid [Mosques] are not speaking about a rise in violent extremism among members of the Muslim community. In his words "we only talk about the Qur'an and the Sunnah?" [B] Islam is spreading among people who have issues with modern life, 'anti-american folks' as he termed it. In addressing point B, It is sufficient to note both from personal experience as well as statistics that Islam is being embraced, more and more, by a comfortable middle-class. One example of a stable person embracing Islam has already been discussed . Certainly, one does not need to have a bias towards America to embrace Islam.


Do we really ignore the rise of violence prone extremism?


The answer to this is a resounding NO! Blogs, webforums, books, position papers and lectures produced by Muslims are all full of various conclusions on this phenomenon.This writer has personally sat in the audience of many Friday Khateebs delivering the khutbah addressing this problem, usually from a religious viewpoint, all calling for an end to religiously inspired violence.

I told the brother that perhaps at his Masjid the issue is not discussed because the Imams there do not see it as relevant to the needs of their particular audience. Moreover, an audience does not want to hear about negative issues every Friday at the Masjid from the Imam or Khateeb. It can be argued that the Friday Jumu'ah Khutbah should keep these sort of issues, if discussed at all, to a very limited few minutes, leaving the issue to be discussed in a more appropriate setting.{Ft.2}

So, Yes we are discussing this problem. The level of discourse will of course vary from one group to another, and the proposes solutions will also vary. Most of us always assert that the solution is a "return to the Qur'an and Sunnah", some say we have to become 'modern', but nonetheless the problem of religiously-inspired violence is on the radar.

Just what is the solution?

In the context of the broader Muslim world, if we want events such as suicide bombings to end, more justice and opportunities must be forthcoming from the elites. Poverty and oppression is the daily experience of many people, especially in Palestine. Such circumstance will naturally produce reactions. Just attacking the symptoms will not due, the causes must be addressed, with an interest in fair play. Occupation of many Muslim lands by foreign armies, such as in Iraq and Afghanistan, must also end, and allow for a truly independent government to be formed, one which will address the heightened tensions in their society.

It is worth noting that there will always be "crazies" out there, but in terms of addressing the root causes, they will have to be marginalized while the root causes are examined and addressed.


The latest plot

Returning to the Bronx arrests, I have to express my doubts as to exactly how serious was the threat. After all, we all know the expression about the boy who cried wolf. Take, for instance, the following paragraph from Friday's newspaper.

According to a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday night, federal officials had been aware of the plot for almost a year and had an informant working with the crew. The FBI arranged for the alleged plotters to receive a non-functioning missile and bogus C-4 explosives. [USA Today, 5/22/09, page 3A '4 held without bail in chilling plot']

Does it really take one year for an attack on a place of worship? For the government to 'arrange' for them to take possession of these items seems a bit like entrapment. Moreover, the Imam of a Mosque attended by some of the alleged plotters occasionally was quoted in the same article as asserting that they were "poor and needy". Do poor and needy people have the time, interest, money or training to acquire, store and use these devices? Moreover, what benefit would they have gained for such an insane and immoral attack?

Certainly we don't know all the facts, but nonetheless I think these are legitimate concerns. Fear is a motivator, and on the surface, this appears to be one of those occasions. Perhaps it is conceivable that one or two individuals among them spoke of their frustrations [they were all convicted of crimes in the past] which led to their entrapment. Below is another article explaining a similar view.

Yet Another Bogus ‘Terror’ Plot
by Robert Dreyfuss

By now it's maddeningly familiar. A scary terrorist plot is announced. Then it's revealed that the suspects are a hapless bunch of ne'er-do-wells or run-of-the-mill thugs without the slightest connection to any terrorists at all, never mind to Al Qaeda. And finally, the last piece of the puzzle: The entire plot is revealed to have been cooked up by a scummy government agent-provocateur.

I've seen this movie before.

In this case, the alleged perps -- Onta Williams, James Cromitie, David Williams, and Laguerre Payen -- were losers, ex-cons, drug addicts. Al Qaeda they're not. Without the assistance of the agent who entrapped them, they would never have dreamed of committing political violence, nor would they have had the slightest idea about where to acquire plastic explosives or a Stinger missile. That didn't stop prosecutors from acting as if they'd captured Osama bin Laden himself. Noted the Los Angeles Times:

Prosecutors called it the latest in a string of homegrown terrorism plots hatched after Sept. 11. "It's hard to envision a more chilling plot," Assistant U.S. Atty. Eric Snyder said in court Thursday. He described all four suspects as "eager to bring death to Jews."

Actually, it's hard to imagine a stupider, less competent, and less important plot. The four losers were ensnared by a creepy FBI agent who hung around the mosque in upstate New York until he found what he was looking for. Here's the New York Times account:

Salahuddin Mustafa Muhammad, the imam at the mosque where the authorities say the confidential informant first encountered the men, said none of the men were active in the mosque. ...

Mr. Cromitie was there last June, and he met a stranger.

He had no way of knowing that the stranger's path to the mosque began in 2002, when he was arrested on federal charges of identity theft. He was sentenced to five years' probation, and became a confidential informant for the F.B.I. He began showing up at the mosque in Newburgh around 2007, Mr. Muhammad said.

The stranger's behavior aroused the imam's suspicions. He invited other worshipers to meals, and spoke of violence and jihad, so the imam said he steered clear of him.

"There was just something fishy about him," Mr. Muhammad said. Members "believed he was a government agent."

Mr. Muhammad said members of his congregation told him the man he believed was the informant offered at least one of them a substantial amount of money to join his "team."

So a creepy thug buttonholes people at a mosque foaming at the mouth about violence and jihad? This is law enforcement? Just imagine if someone did this at a local church, or some synagogue. And the imam says the people "believed he was a government agent."

Preying on these losers -- none of whom were apparently actual Muslims -- the "confidential informant" orchestrated the acquisition of a disabled Stinger missile to shoot down military planes and cooked up a wild scheme about attacking a Jewish center in the Bronx.

But according to a Los Angeles Times report, it is even more pathetic:

The only one of the four suspects who appears to have aroused any suspicion was Payen, a Haitian native who attended the Newburgh mosque. Assistant imam Hamid Rashada said his dishevelment and odd behavior disturbed some members, said the assistant imam, Hamid Rashada.

When Payen appeared in court, defense attorney Marilyn Reader described him as "intellectually challenged" and on medication for schizophrenia. The Associated Press said that when he was asked if he understood the proceedings, Payen replied: "Sort of."

Despite the pompous statements from New York Mayor Bloomberg and other politicians, including Representative Peter King, the whole story is bogus.

The four losers may have been inclined to violence, and they may have harbored a virulent strain of anti-Semitism. But it seems that the informant whipped up their violent tendencies and their hatred of Jews, cooked up the plot, incited them, arranged their purchase of weapons, and then had them busted. To ensure that it made headlines, the creepy informant claimed to be representing a Pakistani extremist group, Jaish-e Muhammad, a bona fide terrorist organization. He wasn't, of course.

It is disgusting and outrageous that the FBI is sending provocateurs into mosques.
The headlines reinforce the very fear that Dick Cheney is trying to stir up. The story strengthens the narrative that the "homeland" is under attack. It's not. As I've written repeatedly, since 9/11 not a single American has even been punched in the nose by an angry Muslim, as far as I can tell.

Plot after plot -- the destruction of the Brooklyn Bridge! bombing the New York Subways! taking down the Sears Tower! bombing the Prudential building in Newark! -- proved to be utter nonsense.


Robert Dreyfuss is a contributing editor to The Nation magazine, and the author of Devil's Game: How the United States Helped Unleash Fundamentalist Islam (Metropolitan).

Copyright © 2009 The Nation -- distributed by Agence Global

In any case, I hope this case will be watched carefully.

Footnotes

[1] One word for Ostrich in Arabic is Dhaaleem. The Ostrich bird puts his head in the sand, as shown above, so the name Dhaaleem implies a self-oppression or self-delusion.

[2] The Friday prayer's main purpose, according to the Qur'an, is "the remembrance of Allah" [Q 62:9]. Some argue that we should keep to a religious theme in the khutbah and avoid politics and the like all together. However, this position seems at variance with the practice of both the Prophet and early Khulafaa', who had no problems using it as an opportunity to share non-religious information of societal consequence. Many scholars say this is precisely why we traditionally divide the Khutbah into two parts, the latter part being used to discuss societal or communal concerns.

Label wars: the image of Muslims

Although an on-going issue, the recent developments in Swat valley in NorthWest Pakistan, in which there is a state of actual war between the government and the "Taleban" [an issue far beyond the scope of this particular post] has once again brought into focus a more subtle conflict; the assumptions automatically made when certain labels are used when it comes to anything relating to Islam or Muslims.

Take for instance Miss Irshad Manji. An open lesbian of Indian backround, she is tauted as a "Muslim reformer" or "liberal". In her book The trouble with Islam, she expresses her feelings that parts of the Qur'an are not really from God, that the Prophet Muhammad [Peace be upon him] was a violent warlord, she has said publically that she does not observe daily prayers, yet she is tauted as "modern" "forward looking" in additon to "Muslim"! It is as if this is the image many would like to adopt as the acceptable Muslim!


So, if someone like Ms. Manji is an acceptable Muslim, an example for all to follow, then it stands to reason that anything else, such as daily prayers, attempting to live according to the values and guidelines found in the Qur'an and Uswah Hasanah [goodly model] of the Prophet Muhammad, God's last prophet and universal messenger, are all examples of "radicalism" "extremist" and 'fundamentalist thinking. A person who does not frequent the bars on Friday night, abstains from alcohol and casinos is a potential terrorist, a radical whose behaviour must be observed carefully by law enforcement agencies. A woman who dresses in a modest fashion must be oppressed, another victim of Radical Islam. One Muslim sister was asked while at a barber shop if she 'Liked' Islam! As if she would never want to, out of sheer conviction, be an observant Muslim!


It is very strange that all that is antithetical to Islam is promoted by those with certain social, financial and political motivations as the ideal for Muslim progress, both societal and as individuals, and that we should, in essence, be cultural Muslims, whose only practices should be avoiding eating pork, attending 'Eid prayers only [and having a Budweiser afterwards! ] and politically apathetic.



The struggle

We have briefly outlined the broad details of the label wars. The battle is taking place on websites, newspapers, books and op-ed pages. The goal is the minds and hearts of the Muslims everywhere, of all sects, races and educational backrounds.

I agree that there is an internal struggle within the Muslim Ummah in terms of defining extremism. I agree that many people have differing views on what extent one practice takes place over another, and on how we should live and conduct ourselves in society. This blog post here http://ibnatalhidayah.blogspot.com/2009/05/balance.html is a very good perspective on how to be a Muslim while at the same time maintaining equilibrium.

But none of that means we should just ignore the basic values given in religion. Certainly, those who intentionally and unregrettably preach ideals and conduct themselves in terms that are clearly outside of Islamic teachings should not be imposed upon us as models for "progressive" "reformist" Islam.

The basic values are outlined in the Qur'an. It was not sent to sit on the shelves and decorate the walls of our houses. It is a guide, something that is to be read again and again [which is clearly implied in the name Al-Qur'an itself]. There is a difference between honest disagreements in terms of its understanding and application versus deliberate attempts to make Muslims ignorant of their religion, to turn us into cultural Muslims only, having little or no connection to its teachings, practices or values.

Don't be a victim in the label war. Be armed with faith, practice and knowledge. Arm one's self with the actual, practical values of Islam. That is the best approach in handling this. This is the advice to our Muslim readers.

To our non-Muslim readers, we would like to remind you that Muslims are humans as well, with different perspectives, mental and social abilities. We may or may not represent the best of what Islam teaches. Therefore, do not judge Islam on what you hear or see from Muslims in the news, or from what they want you to hear.Judge on the basis of the logic and teaching found in the text, mainly the Qur'an. Do not read isolated verses. Seriously read it, examine the context of whatever desired texts in order to have a better perspective on the message. At the very least, it is our hope that such reading will allow the reader to ignore the label war all together, to not be fooled by oversimplistic assertions.

Multifaith council of Northwest Ohio's dinner

Held at the Congregation B'nai Israel in neighboring Sylvania, about 300 guests attended, and included tables and presenters from the Muslim community, Christians of various sects, Sikhs, Jains, Hindus and a variety of other religious groups.

It was a very warm environment and enlightening experience, I learned much from discussions with the various leaders.

Now, describing the pictures a bit, from top left is myself giving comments and benediction, the sanctuary of the Synagogue, the flame at the top of the picture is symbolic of God speaking to Moses [ Musa 'Alayhis salaam]. Bottom left, with Miss Ann, one of the organizers, and at the bottom right, with our friends and activists Ahmed Kadri and wife Amirah.


The guest speaker was Peter Adriance, an NGO liason for the U.S.Bahais, who spoke on the relationship between religious communities and efforts for environmental causes.


There is more I could say, but don't know where to begin. Needless to say, these sort of events are good ways to learn about others, but also to share information about Islam. We show ourselves as humans, and not fanatical monsters. That goes a long way.

Peace.