VOICE
OF GLOBAL UMMAH
Volume 235, July 7, 2013
Volume 235, July 7, 2013
Editors:
Mohamed & Rashida Ziauddin
In
the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful
(www.xeniagreekmuslimah.wordpress.com)
EDITORIAL:
When was the last time, we as Muslims have done a thorough introspection of ourselves as people who are the followers of Islam ? Are Muslims perfect ? Definitely not.
If not, then what are the areas of improvement that we as Muslims can identify as a community ? Specially to those Muslims who have settled in western countries, to what extent we as ambassadors of Islam have truly reflected the golden values of Islam ? To begin with, to what extent have we shown tolerance towards our own Muslim brothers and sisters who were different than us: may be in the way they dress, the way they express themselves or the divergent lifestyle they live ? Have some of us not only misinterpreted a hadith as it relates to correcting others but also excessively abused it to the point of viewing other Muslims exclusively through the lens of being JUDGMENTAL ? May we know since when certain Muslims have been given and by whom, the license to be moral policemen to enforce their personal interpretation of Islam over other Muslims. The right of any human being to express his or her free will (as long as it is not criminal or harmful in nature) is a God given sacred right. No religion, no value system and no constitution has any authority to deprive any human being of such a basic right to exercise one's FREE WILL.
Allah clearly states in the Holy Quran:
“Let there be no compulsion in religion.” (Quran 2:256)
Almighty Allah also says in the Holy Quran:
"If it had been your Lord’s will, all of the people on Earth would have believed. Would you then compel the people so to have them believe?” (Quran 10:99)
As with every other religion, Islam too has a broad spectrum of believers ranging from outright liberals to core fundamentalists. If Islam is truly a religion of tolerance, the manner in which Muslims practice it needs to be all inclusive, divergent and a melting pot of differences in its own concrete right.
Islam being a religion of tolerance, how have we translated it towards our interaction with our own sweetheart, children, relatives, colleagues at work & friends both Muslims and non-Muslims ? If we somehow believe that we have a right to call a non-Muslim female wearing a miniskirt a slut, do the non-Muslims have the right to call a Muslim female wearing niqab "ninja" ? Could we envision a pluralistic, multicultural and multi-faith society where the fundamental right of each and every adult human being is respected ? On the other hand, regardless of Muslim or non-Muslim, should we really judge a book exclusively by its cover ?
When can we learn to be more tolerant of differences ? When can we realize that each and every adult due to their own unique backgrounds and personal life experiences are growing in their own complex bio-psycho-social web of evolutionary stage of spiritual and/or religious development and that we have no business to force our idealistic expectations on the lives of other adults and disrupt their own unique natural stage of evolutionary spiritual development ?
Tolerance breeds tolerance and intolerance breeds intolerance. Each community regardless of their faith, nationality or culture has a finite amount of tolerance. Tolerance is a two way street.
Coming back to introspection of us as a Muslim community, could this be an area of improvement for certain type of Muslims to literally come out of their shell with increased confidence and faith to maintain their faith NO MATTER WHAT, while at the same time reach out to others including Muslims and non-Muslims who may not be what they would ideally expect or want them to be, but still respect them for who they are despite differences and work together with them for PEACE ? Since, Islam anyway stands for submission and peace, it does not hurt to work for Islam by working for peace.
Coming back to introspection of our own Muslim community specially those who live in the western world, what are the possible areas of improvement we could work towards ? For example, in the United States, should we as a seven million plus strong Muslim community in the US significantly increase our participation in July 4th Independence Day celebration ? On one hand some of us talk about being discriminated and believe that it is unfair because we are also Americans. But being Americans in what specific way ? Sure, being born in this country or having a paper certificate to show proof of naturalization / citizenship may meet the legal requirement. The question some of us need to ask is whether on a emotional and social level, are we truly American citizens ? There has never been a law nor would there ever be a law mandating all non-Muslims to either like Muslims or hate Muslims. The fact remains that the extent to which we are liked or hated partly depends on our own attitude and reaching out on a social level towards non-Muslims.
As we indicated in our previous E-Zines, a overwhelmingly majority of Muslims are peace loving Muslims, however the question still remains as to what extent have we reached out to non-Muslims? Part of reaching out is to be there with them in their times of happiness and celebrations such as Independence Day as well as to share their sorrow and reach out to help in tragic times including donating our blood to victims as needed, donating our money, items and time etc.
The date of this E-Zine is really a special date because our focus is two fold. First we wanted to highlight the past week including July 4th - the Independence Day celebration in the U.S and how Muslims in Florida took a very positive step to actively participate in the July 4th parade. In the photos below you can see the diversity of Muslim men both with & without beard and women including female CAIR participants who WERE wearing hijab, who were NOT wearing hijab and also females who were wearing shorts. This indeed is a good example and exercise in TOLERANCE within our own community.
We applaud and congratulate each and every participant of the July 4th parade in Florida. It is our ardent hope that in coming years, more and more Muslims from as many States as possible actively participate in such July 4th parade held within their State and be part of what AMERICA TRULY IS - A MULTICULTURAL & MULTI-FAITH SOCIETY.
The second reason this E-Zine is special for this year is because within few days, the holy month of Ramadan will begin and besides all the religious and respectfully ritual reasons that we start the holy month, we should also actively strive to reach out to other faiths. In this context, we have highlighted an article titled: "Ramadan sharing to unite US faiths" and other related articles of Ramadan.
The goal of Muslims in western countries should not be confined just to be LOYAL citizens but must go beyond it to be exemplary role model citizens. There is a myth in some circles that somehow if you are a citizen of a western country, your loyalty and exemplary citizenship cannot co-exist with your strong Islamic identity. We believe that you could very well be BEST OF BOTH.
Before you view the photos of the July 4th celebration in Florida, U.S organized by CAIR, we strongly urge you to read the below article by Imam Ahmed Saad titled: "It's Not Where You Live, It's How You Live" which although dated November 22, 2011 is in fact more relevant today for Muslims in the West then it was in 2011.
We are cognizant that not all Muslims agree to our perspective above and we believe in celebrating our different perspectives as part of our efforts to demonstrate what we really mean by "tolerance". All we are doing in this E-Zine contributing our two cent worth of ideas and in NO way, shape or form are we implying that our perspective is the only right perspective. So please join us to share your perspective through your feedback no matter how different it may be.
Part- I-a:
It's
Not Where You Live, It’s How You Live!
By Reading Islam
Staff
22 November 2011
Imam Ahmed Saad
Shaikh Ahmed Saad, Imam
of North London Central Mosque
One
of the topics that a lot of our brothers and sisters will discuss
these days is the issue of citizenship.
They think that to be a
citizen of a certain country it is as if telling you that you cannot
be a Muslim, as if being a Muslim is an opposite of being a citizen
of a country, not knowing that actually loving one’s nation and
country and feeling this connection to the land is actually part and
parcel of Islam.
Prophet Muhammad (peace
be upon him) tells us –and a lot of brothers will say but this was
a holy place- that when he was leaving Makkah he stood and looked
back at this blessed city and he said:
“By Allah you are the
most beloved place to me, and you are the most beloved place to
Allah, and had it not been that Allah has given these people the
permission, (these people have actually been given the permission by
the power of Allah the Almighty), these people have actually driven
me out of you, I wouldn’t have left you”.
This strong and genuine
love in the heart of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was to a
city which was inhabited mainly by non-Muslims; by polytheists,
people who used to worship idols. A lot of people would say “Yes,
but that was a holy place”. OK, fine, excellent, but when the
Prophet (peace be upon him) moved to Madinah, and he stayed there
for the rest of his life and he came back to Makkah in the 8th year
after he Hijrah in the reopening of Makkah, the Prophet (peace be
upon him) was offered the opportunity to live in his home city again.
But he is teaching us an important lesson in citizenship, that he
went back to Madinah and settled there. He went with the Ansar (His
companions in Madinah) and said: “Aren’t you satisfied if people
go with the sheep, the camels and cows, with these worldly things,
and you will gain a new citizen, that’s the Prophet (peace be upon
him)?
So
it’s him, the Prophet (peace be upon him), who is giving us the
best example of how can we move to another country, and live in that
country and enjoy and build in it. He built in Madinah, and a lot of
people would say “But it was a Muslim society”. In fact no, it
was a diverse society. The Madinah society was a society of diverse
communities.
It
was a society where we had the Jews of Bani Quraiza, Bani al-Nadhir,
Bani Qainuqa, living next to the al-Munafiqin (the Hypocrites),
living next to the polytheist Arabs, living next to al-Ansar (the
original indigenous Medinians), living next to al-Muhajiroon
(emigrants from Makah).
Even after the reopening
of Makkah in the 8th year after the Hijrah, a lot of the people who
were called al-Muhajiroon, the Sahaba (emigrants who migrated to
Madinah) they went back to Madinah. They did not settle in Makkah.
They did not stay in their homeland.
We have actually many
prophets and messengers who left their homelands and settled
somewhere else, and took the citizenship of that new country. Even
those countries were non-Muslim countries. We have the great prophet
Joseph (peace be upon him) who left his place and was sent to Egypt
by the permission of Allah the Almighty, and he took the citizenship
of that country. Actually he acted as the minister of Finance of
Egypt, under the leadership of a non-Muslim king, one of the pharaohs
or the Aziz of his time. He became the Minister of Finance, the
greatest leader after the king of the country, and he did not find a
shame in this.
A lot of the companions
of the Prophet (peace be upon him) have told us that they have left
Madinah and Makkah and went to live in completely different places.
Even ladies didn’t lose this opportunity to teach us a lesson. Um
Hiram bint Milham, one of the female companions of the Prophet (peace
be upon him), died in Cyprus, where she went and settled there. A lot
of the companions such as Abu al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with
him) is buried in the Egyptian city of Alexandria. Many other
companions are buried in Egypt, others are buried in Iraq, and
others are buried in Syria which was a part of the Roman empire.
This
teaches us that there is no blame for people - actually it’s
encouraged - to go and settle and give your whole heart and love to
the new land you are in to build in that land. Why?
Because
Islam teaches us that this is the land of Allah and we should go and
live in it and build in it because this is the main purpose of our
creation. Allah says in the Quran “It is He who has created you
from this land and established you there so that you can man the
earth and construct it and make it a better place to live”. Had it
not been for this, we wouldn’t have been the khulafaa (the
vicegerents) the inheritors of the grace of Allah Almighty).
May Allah the Almighty
make us good followers of His teachings, and enable us to achieve
His pleasures in this life and His Paradise in the next. And may
peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad.
Part I-b:
CAIR-FL (Council of American Islamic Relations - Florida) Float in 4th of July Parade
(All photos below from www.cair.com)
NDAA House vote: Ask Congress to end indefinite detention and shut down the prison at Guantanamo!
(www.cair.com/action-alerts/11951-take-action-701.html)
Part II:
Ramadan
Sharing to Unite US Faiths
(www.cair.com)
(www.cair.com)
CAIRO – As the clock ticks towards the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, a US advocacy group has called on Muslim communities nationwide to enhance interfaith relations by sharing iftars with their neighbors of all beliefs and backgrounds.
"The
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said Ramadan 'is the month of
sharing with others,'" Ibrahim Hooper, National Communications
Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), said in
a statement obtained by OnIslam.net.
"All
our research has shown that prejudice and stereotyping decrease when
people of other faiths know more about Islam and interact with
ordinary Muslims."
Ramadan
is the holiest month in Islamic calendar.
In
Ramadan, adult Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex
between dawn and sunset.
The
sick and those traveling are exempt from fasting especially if it
poses health risks.
Fasting
is meant to teach Muslims patience, self-control and spirituality,
and time during the holy month is dedicated for getting closer to
Allah though prayers, reading the Noble Qur’an and good deeds.
Using
the holy month to bring US faiths closer, the Washington-based group
issued a "Sharing Ramadan Resource Guide 2013" that offers
step-by-step advice on hosting an interfaith iftar.
The
guide includes instructions on forming a "Sharing Ramadan"
committee, a sample media advisory for an iftar and advice on
reaching out to local media.
It
also offers an advertisement for the event, text for a "Welcome
to Our Ramadan Fast-Breaking" brochure, frequently-asked
questions about Ramadan, and a sample event program and newspaper
advertisement.
“Sharing
Ramadan is an annual campaign started by CAIR to encourage local
communities to host iftar dinner receptions and open houses for our
neighbors of other traditions,” Nihad Awad said in the “Sharing
Ramadan” guide.
“Since
sharing and appreciation are essential components of Ramadan, we hope
local mosques, community centers and Muslim schools will take this
opportunity to invite their neighbors to join them for an iftar
meal.”
According
to astronomical calculations, the holy fasting month of Ramadan will
start on Tuesday, July 9.
Although
there are no official figures, the United States is believed to be
home to between 6-8 million Muslims.
A
US survey had revealed that the majority of Americans know very
little about Muslims and their faith.
Part III:
YOUTH:
(ED NOTE:
Below is a wonderful model program through opening a club to encourage young Muslim girls in the practice of Islam specially during the month of Ramadan. We hope that many more Islamic Centers across the country develop a similar program.)
Introducing…… The Taraweeh
Club!
(Tampa, Florida)
What: A fun and encouraging club for
young girls during the month of Ramadan that has the following goals:
- To instill the
love of Allah, Ramadan, and Salah in the hearts of young Muslimahs.
- To develop
positive experiences of Taraweeh prayer from a young age.
- To train young
girls on the etiquette of the masjid.
Ages: 7-10 year old girls.
Where: ISTABA Masjid during Taraweeh
What
will we do? Every
night of Ramadan, Taraweeh Club Members will get together in the Masjid and
pray Taraweeh. Girls will get points for praying and doing other forms of
worship. There will be rewards for gaining certain amounts of points. There will
also be Islamic reminders and age appropriate conversations to develop further
love and understanding of Islam as well as build a bond between the girls!
Cost: $10
Registration
will close after the first 5 days of Ramadan
To
register your child, email Sr. Ezdehar at emsultan@mail.usf.edu
There will be a
meeting on Monday after Maghirb (9:00) for the participants and parents,
InshAllah!
I look forward
to a blessed joyful Ramadan for our children, InshAllah!
Note: Please
do not confuse this for babysitting! Rather this is spiritual development.
Only members who are able to abide by the rules will remain in the club!
Thank you
Wassalamu Alaikum,
Ezdehar
Sultan
PART IV:
Wednesday,
03 July 2013
London,
Wednesday, 24 Shaaban 1434/ 03 July 2013 (IINA) – A popular British
television channel says it hopes to provoke viewers by broadcasting
the Muslim call to prayer during Ramadan, in what is said to be a
first for a mainstream UK station.
Channel
4 says it will broadcast the call, known as the “adhan” in
Arabic, during the 30 days of the holy month of fasting, which starts
next week, Al Arabiya reported. In a statement to the British press,
Channel 4’s head of factual programming Ralph Lee said the channel
would act as a “nationwide tannoy system” for Britain’s 2.8
million Muslims during Ramadan. He said it would be a “deliberate
‘provocation’ to all our viewers”, including some whom might
associate Islam with extremism. Lee said there was a need to give a
platform to the moderate majority of British Muslims, especially in
the wake of the bloody killing of British soldier Lee Rigby on the
streets of Woolwich in London, which was linked to Islamic extremism.
“It makes sense,” Nick Grande, Managing Director of the
Dubai-based TV consultancy ChannelSculptor, told Al Arabiya English
on Tuesday.
“There’s
a massive Muslim population in the country and so it’s a practical
move for a mainstream free-to-air channel to air the call to prayer.
“It’s a surprise it hasn’t been done sooner. This demonstrates
Channel 4’s diversity,” Grande added.
Muslims
around the world fast between sunrise and sunset during Ramadan, the
ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Channel 4 plans to broadcast the
three-minute call to prayer daily at about 3am during the entire
month of Ramadan. It will also include the sunrise and sunset prayer
times during its weather reports. On the first day of the holy month,
which is likely to fall on July 9, it plans to interrupt programing
to mark all five calls to prayer. The adhan broadcast will accompany
a two-to-three minute short film called “Ramadan Reflections,” as
well as launching a season “4Ramadan” programs during the month.
The broadcaster said it had consulted Muslim clerics about the series
and was unavailable for further comment when contacted by Al Arabiya
English on Tuesday.
Channel
4 has built a reputation of being home to controversial programing.
In 2008, the channel asked Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to
deliver its “Alternative Christmas Message,” a yearly message
which counters the Queen’s annual speech. “Channel 4 has made its
name by being a public institution that is run like a private
business,” says Grande. "Its mandate appeals to a wider
demographic in an edgy way. The question is – will this increase or
confuse its audience?” The broadcaster is expecting criticism after
announcing the move, Lee said. “No doubt Channel 4 will be
criticized for focusing attention on a “minority” religion but
that’s what we’re here to do - provide space for the alternative
and a voice to the under-represented.”
While
Channel 4’s move was praised by the Muslim Council of Britain,
critics have already begun questioning whether it is a publicity
stunt, while others have hit out at the decision. Terry Sanderson,
president of the National Secular Society, said in comments reported
by the Daily Mail: “It seems reasonable that there should be some
acknowledgment on TV of the needs of the growing Muslim population in
Britain, although one can’t help wondering whether this is just
another of Channel 4’s publicity-seeking stunts. “Given that the
BBC devotes hundreds of hours a year to Christianity, with two or
three church services every day on its radio stations, and hardly any
mention of minority religions, a few minutes devoted to Islam doesn’t
seem unreasonable.”
Meanwhile
on Twitter, a group called Britain First, which describes itself as a
‘patriotic political movement,’ posted: “Get ready for a
month’s worth of TV programs pandering to Islam courtesy of Channel
4.” The criticism demonstrates that the UK “is a democracy and
there will always be vocal minorities,” said Grande. The move does
not imply that Channel 4 is “an Islam-skewed channel,” he added.
“It’s made its name for being racy – I’m not sure whether
that fits with Muslim viewing but either way, it certainly won’t
change its programming roster to accommodate Muslim prayer times.”
HA/IINA
PART V:
AL FITRAH ACADEMY
(www.alfitrah.com)
Befriending Ramadan - Be Forgiven Not Forgotten
Part VI:
THE END
