Articles of Interest 8/21/07
- Keith Ellison ends trip to Israel and talks about the nutters who would consider him to be a non-Muslim. The maniacs REALLY hate him and have called him all types of names on their crazy blogs and websites…
But what he doesn’t understand, Ellison said emphatically, were those - he called them “crazies” - who read the same Koran he did and came away with a license to murder.
“The murderers and the extremists are into something I don’t know about,” he said. “I don’t know how they read what they read and come out with what they do. They wouldn’t consider me a Muslim because I’m American, because I believe in the unity of people and that we are all on the planet to work together.”
“The people who did 9/11 are hostile to everyone, and in fact if you are not the type of Muslim they want you to be, they would be happy to kill you too,” Ellison said. “I am not a Muslim in their eyes because I am for tolerance and inclusion, and they don’t want an Islam that is inclusive.”
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- The face of Islam in America. Once again laying waste to the irrational medievalist stereotype.
Mattson’s Islam? “To glorify God through service to God’s creation.”
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- British Mosques teaching civics to combat nuttiness
In the long haul, the British government hopes that such civics classes, which use the Koran to answer questions about daily life, will replace the often tedious, and sometimes hard-core, religious lessons now taught in many mosques across the land. Often, those lessons emphasize rote learning of the Koran, and are taught by imams who were born in Pakistan, speak little English and have little contact with British society.
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- First a UK TV show tries to do Jesus in Islam, now this article takes a stab at Satan in Islam
Filed under: Muslim Isolation, Posts of no Benefit, Practical Solutions
Well I guess they are so embarrassed by SaveDarfur action, that they now need to go to basis. You see, it’s not first time they used the phrase Satan in Islam. It existed since the time of the Prophet(pbuh).
I somewhat agree with Mr. Ellison. We peaceful muslims cower in the presence of extremists sometimes and their agenda becomes our agenda. We need to have workshops to eliminate these Middle Age and Caliphate agendas.
Salam
I have a question that may be controversial. Why is that muslims of African descent have to be extremist muslims to be accepted by the larger muslim community? If we are moderate then we are either to western or animists and not real muslims.
It is like we have some litmus test to pass to be authentic.
Salaam
[I have a question that may be controversial. Why is that muslims of African descent have to be extremist muslims to be accepted by the larger muslim community? If we are moderate then we are either to western or animists and not real muslims.]
Ron, what africans are you refering too? Speaking as an african, i’ve never seen africans at large adopting an extremist attuide. If anything, most africans (atleast in the UK) have a moderate apporach to islam. We have by and large our own masjids because many desi run masjids are not inclusive to non desis. Theres no desire amongst the majority to fit or conform into the ways of the majority desi muslim population. Maybe you could be more specific
wa’salam
P.S im glad keith ellision won the senate seat in house of representatives, i proabably would have voted for him too if i was living on his state. Shame that a minority of muslims are attacking him. he’s already had enough issues with non muslim commentators attacking him (and he acted with dignity and class imo) and a few muslims have to add more on top.
Muslim Gal…you’re African. He said people of African “descent” - I believe meaning people whose ancestors were African.
Ron,
Good observation. However, I don’t think its an African-American (or Carribean, European,etc.) phenomenon. I’ve noticed the same tendency in converts of all races. I think that Islam has been presented in such culturalistic trappings that some converts from the west feel they must comb through their religion with a fine-toothed comb and split every hair. Many feel that unlike those from Muslim countries - who were sort of given Islam as a birthright - converts have to practice at this vigorous pace to “catch-up” with Arabs or whoever just to feel “authentic”.
Case in point - Arab chick who wears hijab when she wants (with tight jeans) or who never wears it is considered Muslim by default. No matter what. The community at large just accepts her as she is. She goes to the ‘Eid or to the picnic or fundraiser without it - no biggie - that’s just Zaynab being Zaynab (damn she fine too)
American Convert going to those same functions HAS to have on damn near everything they wear in Saudi in order for her reputation to remain intact. And if she is seen without hijab - “Is she still Muslim??”
This is because consciously or unconsciously, we have all associated being Muslim with a race or nationality. The Islam of an Arab girl is never in question (her taqwa might be - but not her tawheed). An African American girl who is known to be Muslim can be seen without it and people in the community began to question whether she has apostated.
Exactly!! When I go to the masjid, the vast majority of immigrant women don’t wear hijab full time, or the mom may have started covering but the daughters don’t. They are free to make a choice but we aren’t. I am actually having some issues with it myself and but the pressure from the community that will judge my Islam, I can’t even talk about it with anyone or maybe decide to not wear it.
I think that converts should be allowed to decide how they want to live Islam. I met a convert who was totally American, did not change her culture but yet she still believes in Tawheed and prays five times a day. It was refreshing to see that Islam can be practiced in a diversity of ways. When we get taught Islam we should be allowed to decide how we want to live it, not be pressured by gossip mongers at the masjid to take extreme rigid views that the majority of immigrants don’t even take.
Salaam
Thank G-d somebody else said it!
Ron, thanks for your questions.
This is exactly how I used to feel.
Now I’m filled with regret, apathy, and despondency.
I don’t care what others think anymore..
Muslim Gal -
I think we agree about the way Islam is practiced by people of African descent. I am very fond of the way it is practiced in West Africa. I know some people in Northern Nigeria seem to practice some extreme versions of Islam but I am talking about the whole West African region. Again, I consider muslims in West African as a whole to be moderate and not extremist.
Thanks - TheSaveRashadProject - for answering my question.
What can we do about this on a collective level?
Salaam
I have no idea other than to just stop caring what other people think and start sincerely doing things for Allah instead of other folk. I remember being involved with certain brothers in a community where it was just expected for the converts to be overtly “Islamic” as can be. You know, to sort of keep reinforcing the idea that we were Muslim. To combat feeling left out because of the language and culture barrier - we would try to out-Islam immigrants on a superficial level. American Converts were obsessed with each other’s beards, clothes, books, tapes, etc. Oh and did I mention MEAT? Oh my God - Allah help the poor brother who had his Burger King sack discovered? No, Americans had to basically do everything short of running around with a sign that said,”I’m Muslim - really I am!! Accept me, Love me!!”
American Converts would get chastised for the most trivial matters by other converts…and the easy going Arab guy with no beard, gold chain, Big Mac in one hand, cigarette in the other would just stroll on by and go worship his Lord with the rest of the Muslims. However, that was our chance to revel in how much more “on it” we were than them. Ahhh…that sure did soothe the ole’ inferiority complex.
I mean you were just expected to always be doing something overtly religious. Everytime you rode in a car with a convert, there was always a lecture or Qur’an playing - ALWAYS. Every discussion had to be directly related to religion. Life was narrowed down to about 4 or 5 topics. Anything outside of that was “of no benefit”.
So personally, nowadays, I don’t give a rat’s butt what people think. I do what I can. I try to stay true to who I am. I know my limits and my situation. I think the more we stop fearing “the community” or “the brothers/sisters” we wil be better off. We have given other people way too much power over us.