Spies like … THEM!!!!
I had a friend to pass through town last night, and he was telling me about the obsession some Blackamerican Muslims - in a certain small community in the South - have with the idea that I absolutely must be a spy that is assigned to implement a plot against Islam from the inside - and they are trying to convince all that will listen in that community that this is the case.
It’s saddening that there are some who still don’t see the point in Muslims being concerned about social problems in this society and still believe that we should have a siege mentality and forget about everything. Or if you don’t buy into their wacky conspiracy theories you must be - in their minds - a spy.
This is one of the remnants of “Black Religion” that has made its way into Blackamerican Sunni Islam
Dr Sherman Jackson said about it:
They remain wedded to a self-defeating, separatist impulse, which, while most often justified in terms of avoiding un-Islamic influences, tends to manifest itself in the curious desire to separate from white non-Muslims, but not from black ones, even when this means remaining in crime ridden, crack infested neighborhoods with failing schools and depleted infrastructures. Even the term “kafir,” which would mean “non-Muslim,” is commonly used as a veiled reference to “the white man”
All these tendencies are indebted to Black Religion’s siege mentality or “will in opposition” which aims primarily at resisting or removing evil from the world rather than contributing good to it.
It is this tendency that causes a Blackamerican Muslim to think that a white convert or even a black one that thinks outside of the box of “Black religion” must be a spy. (The strange thing is that many of them turn themselves into flunkies for immigrants)
As the rest of the Muslim community has a synthesis, many of the Blackamerican Muslims are clinging to the idea of self segregation and this is why they are beginning to lose relevance in the Muslim community. Going even further, in smaller communities, the only time Blackamericans are discussed is when it is time to distribute zakaah.
This leaves a Blackamerican Muslim who rejects this seige mentality with very few choices
Filed under: Black American Muslims
This is crazy, but I am used to this type of thing myself. For the first two years at the place I work I think most of the Muslims/Arabs thought I was a spy. How else would a white guy know Arabic and the political subjects so well.
I think this only dispelled when a few of the brothers ran into my wife and I with the kids at the mall. I guess they didnt figure the CIA/FBI would make people have kids to keep their cover going.
Tariq, keep up the good fight. I reckon the only people who think this way are those who feel that they are part of the problem that you keep on talking about. It is easier to attack the messenger than to take a look at yourself.
I knew you was dangerous from the first time I saw you, man!
You know this is just another necessary part of solving the puzzle here.
Man…, you do look dangerous!
wth?
you can’t be serious ahki, I mean really….
This is sad
LOL : )
I’m not the least bit suprised!!
Good luck brother!
: )
I know all too well about the general Muslim mentality throughout the South. With the exception of Florida and some parts of Atlanta, there ARE indeed those who hold the idea that if a Muslim addresses the faults of Muslims openly and honestly, that Muslim cannot possibly be authentic.
I know of one particular community that has made this ridiculous claim part of the faith, so mush so that in daily and weekly online forums the conversations revolve around “how to pick your Muslim friends” and “recognizing the enemies of Allaah”. (Yes the spelling was an intentional hint) When I confronted the group over their blind support of a shaykh in Saudia Arabia they questioned my sincerity even though the shaykh in question approved, and still does approve of slavery (ownership of human beings) and all the while they fuss and stomp on peoples’ yards over the display of the Confederate flag! It is my humble opinion that we need to have serious intrafaith talks because this and other ideas are just ridiculous.
Dang, I had a good entry that I happened to erase on accident. Here is my lame attempt at re-writing it:
HA! Character assissination is so rampant in our community. If you don’t agree with some crazy extremist position, then you must be part of some Zionist conspiracy.
Abu Sinan,
I can relate to what you have said because so many communities are paranoid and distrustful of outsiders. I experienced that when I moved from my predominately immigrant community in Cali to a Black community on the East Coast. I was one of those sisters who wore a big triangle scarf and talked all snooty (all because I had a Cali accent). I was an Arab wannabe, a sell out, didn’t know who I was, etc., etc….. I was intruding on their myopic vision of Islam.
Charles,
Why do you think this type of character assassination is worse in the South than it is in larger Muslim communities? You think it the small numbers that partially lead to a seige mentality?
[...] Must be a spy! Jump to Comments Tariq Nelson has an interesting conversation going on about the ridiculous tendency of African-American Muslims -especially in small Southern [...]
It’s not only in the South and it’s not only among African Americans. If you lived in the Middle East like me they would call you Mossad. LOL! After all, who would ever believe a Muslim would have the ability to think critically — and moreso, put that ability to work in resolving our own problems? uffffffff!
Salaam Alaikum,
PM
That’s true. So many people in the Middle East think any American, Muslim or not, is a spy. Come on, I want to spy on your crappy little village. Like the government cares about their lame gossip. LIkewise, those myopic communitiesin America aren’t doing anything important for agents to really care about. They act like they are going to lead the revolution, “Spook Who Sat by the Door” style and usher in a new age. Whatever, maybe it is a way for them to feel self important.
@ PeacefulMuslimah
No it’s not ONLY in the South, but it is worse there for some reason
There is less going on in the way of Islamic programs in the South, the numbers are smaller and everyone tends to know each other and there is more sense of urgency to seperate from the wider community. This leads to the brothers having more active imaginations and when someone comes along and breaks the mold (a white person just by showing up) it is way out of bounds
To Yusuf:
Is it a matter of small communities in the South? I wouldn’t say a small community is a direct correlation in every case but it does hold some weight in isolated instances. What we have found however, is this: many of the Blackamerican Muslims in the South left the churchs in the south for something they truly felt was quite different and liberating in Islam. However, most often what occurred tended to people back into the same methodology they thought they were escaping. Myself and other educators came across Shaykhs and Imams that blatantly took advantage of the community’s adherence to religious principles. For example, a former Christian who saw no problems with using the words ‘backsliding’ had no problem attributing ‘faasiq’ or ‘leaving the deen’ to someone seen as weaker in iman. Keep in mind that what I write here is not only an issue in the South but because that was the focus of the article my attention will focus on the South. Also, parallelling the Christian communities in the South, we found that Muslims applied a “Who are you, where are you from, who are your people” logic to establishing a person’s authenticity in the area and then overlapped it inside the mosque. In addition, we also found a few circumstances where people were very endeared to the shaykh or imam, where, had the same imam been the leader of a community in an industrialized area, his practices would not have been tolerated. Speaking for the Lesser Developed areas of the South, meaning less industrialized areas, because most people remain connected to the church either in pratice, theory, or heredity there is a strong desire to seperate from some of the church-mentality which they consider backward. It is not to say they believe all of the mentality is backward but that they make it a point to oppose openly, what they see as contradictory to the Islamic way. I think part of the siege mentality has alot to do with desiring to be different and complete. For example, many Muslims we interviewed in the South had no issues with an Imam who “fit the typical” description but had reservations with an Imam who “had no beard” and “wore a suit and tie in the khutba”. Again, Muslims in other areas of the country have some of the same reservations but I am merely addressing what we found in the South.
Assalamu alaykum,
Enjoy the fresh insights. When I go to a new Masjid, the immigrant brothers give me that once over “is he a plant” look. I laught it off, though, because they literally live in a James Bond kind of world: international intrigue, sometimes illegal economic activity, shady deals, secret cultural lingo, etc… For a long time I’ve felt the traditional Muslim world, the one in which Islam was absolutely broken by the British, French, Russians and Dutch, was too lost to be saved, in terms of Islam in the classical progressive sense. Our spiritual forebears really did have something special for a long time. I see Islam reborn among a new people who bring no illusions with them, just as the Sahabah entered Islam with a sober outlook and common sense. It’s kind of interesting in a way. There’s not enough white converts yet to have factions and conspiracies and “outings” and such. Strangely enough, I’d like to see enough white converts to start such a cauldron of vitality.
As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wabarakatu:
I wanted to address this issue SPIES LIKE THEM
SPIES LIKE WHO…….
As muslims we must be reminded that we have to be cautious in whom we take our information from. For example these individuals are they credible, reliable, sane, honest, trustworthy and known to have a reputation to relate that which is true/correct. And even a person like this can fall into or get caught up in carrying a tale or lie. SO I REMIND MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS (INCLUDING MYSELF) to be careful with your TONGUE. Your tongue can be used in that which is beneficial or the opposite. And where do you find benefit in backbiting or slandering your Muslim brother?
In Islam there are 3 things that are sacred to your brother/sister and they are
1. their wealth
2. their honor
3. their blood
So to defame your brother’s honor is a sin. Do we not have anything else beneficial to do in our daily lives. Shouldn’t it be enough that you should focus in worshipping Allah (swt) as He (swt) has ordered us, taking care of your family and your own personal weakness “that only you know of”. I’ll remind you of a statement from our Noble Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) …”How amazing is the affair of the beleiver, all of his affairs are good, if afflicted with adversity, he is patient and if given some good, he is patient and all of this is good for him.”
Insha Allah, Brother Tariq will continue to pose articles that will bring about social awareness and uplift some of the ignorant mentalities that exist today amongst the people (which has nothing to do with the Deen). I challenge Tariq as well as the readers to begin to suggest solutions on how we can aid our community in a manner that is pleasing to Allah (swt). And I feel this is a useful tool in spreading dawah and that it is extremely important for all who view this blog to understand a few key points:
1. Allah (swt) has ordered all of mankind to single out Allah in worhsip alone with no partners. Meaning “There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah”
2. That the problems that exist today are not a result of Islam but rather it is a dircet result of the people who are trying to practice Islam. Our culture, traditions, ignorance, sins and desires. (Just like every other individual practicing their religion - no one is perfect). So if you are going to question anything question the statements and actions of the people.
3. We don’t want to pose a problem and just leave it with talks and comments as if there is no help or no way to fix it. We don’t want any viewer to feel that “there is no answer to this problem”. YES ther is an answer. ALLAH (SWT) HAS GIVEN US ALL THE TOOLS WE NEED IN THE QURAN AND THE SUNNAH OF THE PROPHET BASED ON THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PIOUS PREDECESSORS AND WE CAN ACTIVELY SEEK THE ADVICE OF THE ULEMAH.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS START TO UTILIZE THE TOOLS. You dig me?
Ummie of 2: Well said, jazakallahu khayr. The problem IMO is that most of the problems Tariq presents are twofold: 1. Problems in the Muslim world, which takes us as an ummah to rectify (you know returning to Islam, getting rid of sins, judging by Book of Allah and sunnah, etc) and 2. Problems convert Muslims face, with emphasis on AA problems, which we can come up with possible solutions for the problems but unfortunately it takes the individual to change this, thus the feelings of despair when we see the condition of ‘our people’.
I know people will make attempts to be deemed intellectuals at the expense of defaming AfricanAmericans. This seems like another “RACE PIMP” to garner popular sentiment. AfricanAmerican Muslims do not isolate themselves from anyone based upon race, class or nationality. If you were to see walk down the street you would not know that I was a muslim. Most people do not even know who is a muslim or not when it comes to AfricanAmericans. I go to church and the temple and support the right of Israel to exist and defend itself against radical muslims bent on destruction. Most AfricanAmerican muslims I know are educated and progressive. The majority AfricanAmerican muslims converts are college educated.
We do not worry about spies and that sort because everything is de-centralized and we are proud Americans who have nothing to hide. We are builders not destroyers.
You will not find many AfricanAmerican muslims as terrorist or even listening to such rubbish.
Now if you want Black Muslims to leave Black neighborhoods that will not happen. You can blame Malcolm X for that one.