Five values to remember in the fight against Islamophobia

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C7KNdqvza4w/WQf0S4GlS6I/AAAAAAAAGxE/v6QG2fSv5GwBwTBESPgoOyEB-3yTWixMgCLcB/s1600/phobia-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C7KNdqvza4w/WQf0S4GlS6I/AAAAAAAAGxE/v6QG2fSv5GwBwTBESPgoOyEB-3yTWixMgCLcB/s640/phobia-11.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Islamophobia is here and it is real. There is a deep-seated current of anti-Muslim prejudice in American society today. Survey after survey has quantified this. Meanwhile, many Muslims remain conflicted about challenging this intolerance. Some shrug off incidents of discrimination against them personally, thinking either they don’t matter or that nothing will change if they report them. Others dispute the use of the word “Islamophobia” in the first place, arguing there is no need for this description of the only acceptable racism left in our nation.<br /> <br /> While it is important to discuss how to fight this prejudice, it is also critical to keep in mind the underlying values necessary to challenge it.<br /> <br /> Here are five key values to keep in mind while fighting Islamophobia.<br /> <br /> <b>1. Don’t ignore Islamophobia, challenge it</b><br /> God has commanded Muslims to be firm in responding to injustice (Quran 42:39). Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, never advocated an approach that sought to hide or ignore problems. He was clear and forthright in challenging all kinds of injustice, be it racism, domestic violence, or killing innocent civilians in war. He discussed these issues in Khutbas, but also directly counseled and taught the Muslim community how to eradicate these ills from within.<br /> <br /> This is the same approach we need to take when it comes to Islamophobia. We cannot and should not ignore instances of prejudice and discrimination. Ignoring Islamophobia is like tolerating it. It is real. It kills. It hurts. It cannot be wished away.<br /> <br /> We also need to stop shying away from using the word “Islamophobia”. Amongst many Muslims, it has become the “problem with no name”, and it should not be. Like a disease, it is by naming the problem that we can isolate it and start seeking solutions, similar to how the words “racism” and “anti-Semitism” are today associated with specific types of prejudice.<br /> <br /> <b>2. Dialogue with the Champions</b><br /> Racism, prejudice, and intolerance in America are not new. Other communities, from Native Americans and African-Americans, to Jews and Catholics, have all tasted its bitterness. As Muslims, we need to start building connections with these communities if we already haven’t. We need to learn from their historical experience and struggle. Coalition building was a primary strategy of the Prophet in fighting torture, discrimination, and hostility to repel it with goodness and a common agenda.<br /> <br /> <b>3. Rebuild those neighborly relations</b><br /> Instead of a term of distance like “Non-Muslims” use a term of relationship like “neighbors” when referring to our neighbors. The Prophet said, "Jibril kept recommending treating neighbors with kindness until I thought he would assign a share of inheritance to the neighbors." (Bukhari and Muslim). Given this level of familiarity and closeness we should have with our neighbors, it is amazing the way we keep ignoring them, especially in neighborhoods with large, vibrant mosques and Islamic centers.<br /> <br /> But a Masjid in Joplin, Missouri is one of the few that seems to have taken this neighborly duty to heart. And this is in a state that has passed an anti-Sharia bill. When a deadly tornado struck in May 2011, it became a center of relief for the community. A year later, a suspicious fire burned the masjid down, and in response, the city’s non-Muslim residents banded together in support, offering space to pray, as well as helping to collect more than enough funds needed to rebuild the only mosque in Joplin.<br /> <br /> This is an excellent example of building neighborly relations from the Islamic perspective, and it is one more of us, individuals, families, communities, and institutions, need to take to heart.<br /> <br /> “Good and evil deeds are not alike. Requite evil with good, and he who is your enemy will become your dearest friend. But none will attain this save those who endure with fortitude and are greatly favored by God” (Quran 41: 34-35).<br /> <br /> <b>4. Be open to all people and avoid generalizing</b><br /> Our neighbors are fair-minded people. That is the reason 59% of them said immediately after 9/11 that they had a positive opinion of Islam and Muslims. It is the multi-million dollar public relations hate machine that keeps them confused. There are still 75 million Americans who, despite all of the Islamophobia in the media, think positively about Islam and Muslims.<br /> <br /> Also note that not all media or all non-Muslims support this type of insulting behavior. Many of our neighbors have been at the forefront of condemning torture, bombing, and occupation.<br /> <br /> It’s hard not to generalize when we’ve had repeated bad experiences with individuals from a particular ethnic, racial, political, or religious background. We often feel justified in these prejudices, even as we hate the Islamophobia we are targets of. However, this runs directly contrary to Islamic principles of fairness and respect for every individual. No, we can’t generalize, ever.<br /> <br /> Case in point: one of my son’s former co-workers, a Republican in his 50s, took the time out a few years ago to write a letter to the mayor of his Chicago suburb to support a Masjid that was in the process of being built, much to the chagrin of a number of loud, angry residents.  Nowadays, as many Republicans spout Islamophobia in the run-up to this year’s presidential elections, it’s easy to forget that not all members of this political party are racist and intolerant. We need to keep this in mind as we challenge Islamophobia.<br /> <br /> <b>5. Stay positive, full of positive Dua and hope</b><br /> Optimism is the way of the believer. It is the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet. It is understandable to feel the burden that Islamophobia places on victims, and even on those of us who are not. We may not have been discriminated against at work, but we routinely see or hear Islam and Muslims being used as cannon fodder for insulting jokes, intolerant laws, and other forms of prejudice. But this world is temporary, and things do change, often for the better more than for the worse. Compare the treatment of African-Americans and Jews 50 years ago today. The change is remarkable, even as challenges remain.<br /> <br /> Also, remember this example from the life of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him: it was a man born to the abusers of the city of Taif who, within 80 years, brought Islam to South Asia, which is now home to almost one-third of all Muslims in the world. The 17-year-old Muhammad bin Qasim was the son of the Thaqafi tribe of Taif, the same city where the Prophet was tortured, but was hopeful that if not they, then their children would find their way to God. These people sent their children to throw rocks at him when he came to invite them to Islam. Battered and bleeding, he prayed for them, and didn’t curse them, hoping for the best. Little did he know what an impact this act of optimism and positivity would have for the future of Islam and Muslims.<br /> <br /> Source: <b>by Abdul Malik Mujahid</b><br /> <a href="https://www.soundvision.com/article/five-values-to-remember-in-the-fight-against-islamophobia" target="_blank">https://www.soundvision.com/article/five-values-to-remember-in-the-fight-against-islamophobia</a><br /> <br /></div>

Five values to remember in the fight against Islamophobia

Islamophobia is here and it is real. There is a deep-seated current of anti-Muslim prejudice in American society today. Survey after sur...

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Muslims Launch #ActualMuslims Billboard Campaign

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxlIs3nBoUNudVhDznGY7lLW2YrCr2vFR7tpx2ISmS_krm_LFhw0Dhcwi3qjFsbPZ16p7sb58pG8M27v95C6oSjtOCGL3S2NFPMLFOQdiBa_Q2fdaYDOjxmxNyHbU63puTPBXL-pzpU7l/s1600/Billboard_Phoenix_Fox10_Aug2016-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxlIs3nBoUNudVhDznGY7lLW2YrCr2vFR7tpx2ISmS_krm_LFhw0Dhcwi3qjFsbPZ16p7sb58pG8M27v95C6oSjtOCGL3S2NFPMLFOQdiBa_Q2fdaYDOjxmxNyHbU63puTPBXL-pzpU7l/s640/Billboard_Phoenix_Fox10_Aug2016-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> The <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.soundvision.com/isis_sucks" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">#ActualMuslims billboard campaign</a></strong>, conceived by a group of young Chicago Muslim professionals, has so far been field tested in Chicago and Phoenix. And it had a strong positive effect on American Muslim public relations and engagement!</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Achievements of #ActualMuslims Campaign so far:</strong></div> <ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 1rem 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 32px;"> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">Produced 4 million impressions</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">Generated 25 positive mainstream media stories</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">Engaged thousands of neighbors in positive conversations</li> </ul> <div> <span style="color: #202028; font-family: Open Sans, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <h1 class="text-center" style="background-color: #eeeeee; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 36px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 20px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"> Take ISIS Sucks Billboard to Times Square</h1> </div> <div> <span style="color: #202028; font-family: Open Sans, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09kqscaVNyCG0g0W1h1uLUFMDNQgaipk0nPUjDof9mHAwodh1vo_PugkQ7pjXbBe18fyO6u7qqDtNaXwIiI_AlQgY9kp1DLFkmtbF71I3amggTYQ-ls5CyTDemmL8CNgjPSx5eB0EE0iY/s1600/TimesSquare3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09kqscaVNyCG0g0W1h1uLUFMDNQgaipk0nPUjDof9mHAwodh1vo_PugkQ7pjXbBe18fyO6u7qqDtNaXwIiI_AlQgY9kp1DLFkmtbF71I3amggTYQ-ls5CyTDemmL8CNgjPSx5eB0EE0iY/s640/TimesSquare3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div> <span style="color: #202028; font-family: Open Sans, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #202028; font-family: Open Sans, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif;">Let America and Media Know What #ActualMuslims Stand for! Sponsor the first 15 Days</span></div> <div> <span style="color: #202028; font-family: Open Sans, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #202028; font-family: Open Sans, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif;"><div> While almost all American Muslim organizations have condemned terrorism, we still hear the question “Why don’t Muslims condemn ISIS?" </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Remember, bad news has turned our neighbors against us. Only 17% Americans say they have a positive opinion of Muslims now. It hits where it hurts the most: </div> <div> our children are being bullied at school; </div> <div> and 18-28 year old Muslims are the least employed.</div> <div> To make American Muslim voice louder than ISIS, Sound Vision has launched an Anti-ISIS campaign, which involves placing "Hey ISIS, You Suck!" billboards in high-traffic locations across the country.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> More here ..</div> </span></div> <div> <span style="color: #202028; font-family: Open Sans, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.launchgood.com/project/bring_isis_sucks_billboard_to_times_square#/" target="_blank">https://www.launchgood.com/project/bring_isis_sucks_billboard_to_times_square#/ </a></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #202028; font-family: Open Sans, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #202028; font-family: Open Sans, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #202028; font-family: Open Sans, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> </div>

Muslims Launch #ActualMuslims Billboard Campaign

The  #ActualMuslims billboard campaign , conceived by a group of young Chicago Muslim professionals, has so far been field tested in C...

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What Masjids Can Do To Fight Islamophobia?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1m25IyXIQhz5FEHaORG5KvRfal3n1lTLwLTLO0WNq23c7XYE3_IjtChTqiPSgUC_S8JoyK9GTP_Xgzq1LlMkUycEnfqEvSFuoaoIc4kLIuLfCFTV7CJXvEi_QFojLmAWaM56mtf8vvHYy/s1600/islamophobia-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1m25IyXIQhz5FEHaORG5KvRfal3n1lTLwLTLO0WNq23c7XYE3_IjtChTqiPSgUC_S8JoyK9GTP_Xgzq1LlMkUycEnfqEvSFuoaoIc4kLIuLfCFTV7CJXvEi_QFojLmAWaM56mtf8vvHYy/s640/islamophobia-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> The Masjid is where the action is. Muslims and their resources are connected with Masjids. Rethinking how to use those resources will help the Ummah greatly.<br /> <br /> <b>1. Make “Islamophobia” a new menu tab:</b><br /> Please develop a new menu item for Masjid website called “Islamophobia.” If you need content for it, Sound Vision can provide that.<br /> <br /> <b>2. Adopt a MSA:</b><br /> Students have tremendous power to make change, but require guidance and funding. Some Masjids in America adopt MSAs to help them. Jewish Federations throughout the country fund Hillel on college campuses, since funding through students’ unions is limited.<br /> <br /> <b>3. Set goals for interfaith:</b><br /> Interfaith work needs to have set goals. One is how to combat hate and Islamophobia. See our sheet on what interfaith partners can do to help. Let Muslim women speak: Muslim women can more effectively answer the top objections to Islam: violence and women’s status. The Masjid can provide training opportunities for this task.<br /> <br /> <b>4. Oppose war-terrorism-Islamophobia as a set:</b><br /> War, terrorism, and Islamophobia feed off of each other. Muslims routinely condemn terrorism, but it will be considered more legitimate by the peace and justice movement when we condemn the whole set. Organize presentations on Islamophobia: Our neighbors want to hear about real issues. Sound Vision can provide a list of 20 such presentations for neighbors and interfaith partners.<br /> <br /> <b>5. Buy books in bulk:</b><br /> There are now a number of books which can be given out as gifts to our neighbors of other faiths, not just about Islam but also on the issues facing American Muslims. Many Masjids distribute such books. If you need a bibliography, please let Sound Vision know.<br /> <br /> <b>6. Reorganize your budget:</b><br /> Finally, let us revisit our budget. If you agree that we are facing serious challenges, we need to think, plan, and allocate funds to meet those challenges.<br /> <br /> <b>7. Develop partnerships with other Masjids at the regional level:</b><br /> Chicago has the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, Michigan has the Michigan Muslim Community Council. These are regional partnerships between Masjids and Islamic organizations that pool resources, build unity, and strengthen our ability to speak with one voice.<br /> <br /> Source: <b>by Abdul Malik Mujahid</b><br /> <a href="https://www.soundvision.com/article/what-masjids-can-do-to-fight-islamophobia" target="_blank">https://www.soundvision.com/article/what-masjids-can-do-to-fight-islamophobia</a><br /> <br /></div>

What Masjids Can Do To Fight Islamophobia?

The Masjid is where the action is. Muslims and their resources are connected with Masjids. Rethinking how to use those resources will he...

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10 Things You can do for Yourself, for Islam, and for America in 2017

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjype089bq-WpKcKSvZ2P-MeJYA_Y7QG4pdd-eIScpt5QM9_hEy3KZ0YW6KEfte7AZlpW7NMvTmvLdNFrlV-DOHLqJfaLNCe44k-sWnmAqLVwHOwIelnyLZXxJF2tuL1EEiAs1a2jhvrGpf/s1600/time-money.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjype089bq-WpKcKSvZ2P-MeJYA_Y7QG4pdd-eIScpt5QM9_hEy3KZ0YW6KEfte7AZlpW7NMvTmvLdNFrlV-DOHLqJfaLNCe44k-sWnmAqLVwHOwIelnyLZXxJF2tuL1EEiAs1a2jhvrGpf/s640/time-money.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> In 2017, fighting the Muslim registration program will define our community.</div> <br /> Don’t be fooled by the fact that President Barack Obama dismantled the registration mechanism. President-elect Donald Trump, as promised, can reinstitute that program in a minute.<br /> <br /> However, it is not the registration of those Muslims visiting the United States that is the major threat, but the registration of American Muslims which is the more serious one. The President-elect has appointed people who are preparing for it. Any major terrorist attack will kick that program into high gear.<br /> <br /> As Muslims, we must pray for the best but prepare for the worst - with full and complete trust in God.<br /> <br /> Each one of you needs to personally tweet, write to, and meet with your congressperson. Then,  you must bring together delegation after delegation, write memo after memo for Masjid delegations and your community allies. All of them should focus on one thing for your Congressperson to sign on a “Dear Congressman/Congresswoman” letter asking to sponsor a non-partisan bill which puts a permanent end to the registration of American Muslims.<br /> <br /> If you do nothing else from this list, do this one thing for Islam in 2017 at least.<br /> <br /> As for the other things you can do for Islam in the coming year, please see this:<br /> <br /> <b>1. Become a better Muslim, a better neighbor, and an excellent American citizen</b><br /> Muslims are sometimes asked, “Are you a Muslim or an American first?” This is meant to test - and to question - our loyalty. The fact is, that we aspire to be first-rate Muslims and a first-class American citizens, as well as excellent neighbors.<br /> <br /> In 2017, we must strive to be all three, as they are interconnected. A Muslim who takes his or her faith seriously can never neglect the rights of neighbors, nor weaken and disparage the nation s/he belongs to - all while speaking the truth with wisdom and fear of no one but God Almighty. A Muslim who knows and is committed to the faith shows his or her sincere commitment to justice for all, and a desire to bring out the best of the nation.<br /> <br /> Let us become first-class American Muslims in every sense of the term in 2017.<br /> <br /> But these things may not go beyond a New Year resolution unless we develop a personal plan. So take this evaluation and these planning guides seriously to assess yourself. Where do you stand today? How do you plan to be a better Muslim, a better neighbor, and a better citizen in 2017?<br /> <br /> You can also download this planning tip sheet for your masjid noticeboard.<br /> <b><br /></b> <b>2. Strengthen the family fort</b><br /> As challenges mount, especially for Muslim youth and Muslim women, the family fort needs to become stronger, more connected, more intentional, and more productive.<br /> <br /> Each family is different. So we believe nothing will strengthen a family more than thoughtful listening and thinking session together. We recommend each family run on a Shura model.<br /> <br /> In your immediate family, sit down with your spouse and run a “marriage inventory” of the past year; do a “family inventory” with your kids. Reconnect with the family. Prayer brings love. Pray for a parent, sibling or relative you’ve been neglecting for the last few months or years. Seek forgiveness and forgive. Strong individuals and strong families are what strengthen the Muslim community and empower us to face our ongoing challenges and difficulties.<br /> <br /> If our homes have become hotels with spouses, parents, and children rarely spending time talking, praying, discussing, and eating together, this has to stop. Make this the year all of you truly connect as part of your higher commitment to Allah and the Muslim community.<br /> <br /> If you love your family, you must invest in that relationship, especially with your time.<br /> <br /> <b>3. Watch out for and tackle bullying head on</b><br /> Bullying of minority children has reached a crisis point in America, thanks to the 2016 presidential campaign. And bullying of Muslim children has gone up by 660%, according to Crisis Text Line.<br /> <br /> I met a Muslim third grader who told me that everyone in his class knows all Muslims and all Latinos must leave the country. In 2017, it is imperative that we carefully monitor and support young Muslims through this painful reality.<br /> <br /> In specific, we must not only reconnect on a personal level with our children by being listening parents, but it is imperative that we look out for signs of bullying, depression, and anger. We must also be on guard for suicidal behavior, as well as possible radicalization by extremists, who capitalize on Muslim disenchantment to recruit to their criminal ranks.<br /> <br /> In addition, it is critical that we invest time in meeting with the principals, teachers, PTAs, and boards of our children’s schools to ensure a safe, respectful, and positive learning environment for all. Please note that 20% of those bullying children are teachers.<br /> <br /> Bullying is not just something kids experience in real life. The online world is the new bastion of this plague, and we must keep an eye out for this on our children’s social media accounts and in their texts.<br /> <br /> Seeking professional mental health support is necessary in cases where clinical depression and suicidal tendencies are found. But making the home a place of refuge, safety, love, and security also help young Muslims handle bullying better.<br /> <br /> Finally, do not hesitate to report threats to police if the school is not handling the situation appropriately. Bullying has had life and death consequences. Physical and sexual assault must be reported.<br /> <br /> Sound Vision is working with a number of agencies to bring their crisis hotline services to Muslim youth. If you are interested in volunteering for or funding this project, please fill out this form.<br /> <br /> <b>4. Invest in politics!</b><br /> It is politics which raised hate, fear and, anger in America. But we hardly have any investment in this area. While there are thousands of Muslims working full-time for relief organizations, Masjids, and schools, we barely have any full- time staff working to empower the Muslim community through politics.<br /> <br /> Islamophobia is a product of the political weakness and relative isolation of our community. As we empower ourselves with a higher level of civic engagement, we will be able to challenge it successfully insha Allah.<br /> <br /> If the 2016 presidential elections taught us one thing about political involvement, it is that participation at the national level is not enough. Muslims must become more involved in local politics, starting with school boards and their neighborhoods. These offer the chance to get involved at a grassroots level, which is the true source of building a better America.<br /> <br /> If you want to run for office but don’t know how to run, or how to organize your campaign, we can connect you with those who can train you. Please sign up here.<br /> <br /> All surveys show that people who know a Muslim have a better opinion of Islam and Muslims. Civic engagement is a great way to meet, network, and develop a relationship with others.<br /> <br /> <b>5. Reorganize your time and donations</b><br /> We are in a serious crisis, and we request all Muslims to reconsider their time and money commitment for 2017.  It cannot be business as usual. We need to fight for our rights, stand with those who stand with us, take care of our neighbors, as well as our youth. This will require us to rethink where we put our time and our money.<br /> <br /> Muslims have always been a generous community. However, 90% of our money and volunteer time we estimate goes to Masjids and disaster relief. But we are facing a disaster right here. Will we remain first-class citizen of the United States as it struggles with fear, hate and anger?<br /> <br /> We must also invest in our allies. It has been African-American congresspersons who countered and silenced Peter King which he started McCarthy-style hearings against Muslims a few years ago. How much do we invest in that relationship? The NAACP has been one such historic organization. Latinos, like Muslims, are on the chopping blocks. What is our investment in developing a relationship with the community when they are in need. LULAC, and NCLR are two such organizations Muslims can volunteer for and help support financially. The labor movement fights for workers’ rights. Muslims need to develop relationships there as well. ARISE Chicago and Interfaith Worker Justice are two such groups in this area.<br /> <br /> Instead of just donating, we recommend meeting with each group, understanding their plans and priorities, and then collecting funds from friends, family or the Masjid to donate together on the regular basis.<br /> <br /> The Muslim Legal Fund of America can be funded better to fight cases which are criminal cases but with civil rights implications.<br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7PvH4KRWBFc/WQfxNUB_N_I/AAAAAAAAGw8/wvtv5QOGLnQQOwT1vHBCpEnwigH8sG7SACEw/s1600/time-money.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7PvH4KRWBFc/WQfxNUB_N_I/AAAAAAAAGw8/wvtv5QOGLnQQOwT1vHBCpEnwigH8sG7SACEw/s640/time-money.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> <b>6. Adopt a media outlet</b><br /> Muslims, like all Americans, love to hate the media.<br /> <br /> Americans' trust in mass media "to report the news fully, accurately and fairly" has dropped to its lowest level, at 32%, in Gallup polling history.<br /> <br /> But the media’s work has real consequences for Muslims. According to the last survey available, the approval rating of Muslims stands at 17%. When the survey asked Americans why they have <br /> <br /> a low opinion of Muslims, they pointed to the media.<br /> <br /> And although Americans don’t trust the media, television, radio, and newspaper publications (both print and online) are still major sources of news, with 57% saying television is their main source of news.<br /> <br /> Each Muslim needs to take personal charge of this work, and each Masjid needs to focus on at least one media outlet.<br /> <br /> Always remember that the media is made up of humans, and relationships matter a great deal. You can influence them. Reporters appreciate it when you get to know who they are and what they care about.<br /> <br /> Regularly tweet, call, text, and email when something is misreported. But also make sure to praise correct and good reporting. Both are needed to make journalists and editors understand that responsible citizens are keeping their eyes on them, and to ensure that we maintain responsible media coverage.<br /> <br /> Here are some tips on how to adopt a media outlet and influence them.<br /> <br /> If you would like to be a part of our media adoption team and would like to stay in touch, please connect with us here.<br /> <br /> 7. Alleviate your neighbors’ fears about Islam and Muslims<br /> Forgive me if this sounds crass, but our neighbors don’t want to learn about the five pillars of Islam. They want reassurance that Muslims will not kill them.<br /> <br /> Most Americans do not personally know a Muslim and the majority get their information about us from news that mentions Muslims almost exclusively in relation to terrorism on Western targets.<br /> <br /> When you connect with your neighbor it provides them an opportunity to know that you dislike terrorists more than they dislike them.<br /> <br /> Reaching out to neighbors in this context has never been more important. And this goes beyond exchanging greetings and pleasantries. Practicing the level of respect and love that Islam enjoins on us toward neighbors has never been as important. This isn’t about image control. It’s about doing what we should have been doing for years. In 2017, let us make this an urgent priority.<br /> <br /> Check out Sound Vision’s brochures, which are available free for you to distribute to your neighbors, at your school, or a nearby church.<br /> <br /> Once you and your family sit down to develop plans for the next year, think of every neighbor, house by house, and think of how to relate with them.<br /> <br /> <b>8. Uphold the Constitution</b><br /> Khizr Khan became a media sensation when he pulled out his pocket U.S. Constitution last July during a speech at the Democratic National Convention. But this was not an act of artifice for emphasis. This is something dear to him, as he routinely gives out America’s most important legal document. The Gold Star father is on to something that all American Muslims should heed in 2017: Uphold our Constitution.<br /> <br /> For Muslims, the Constitution’s First Amendment guarantees our right to freedom of religion. In the coming year, expect more legal and cultural challenges to this right under the new government. We must resist this not only for ourselves and coming generations of American Muslims, but for all Americans.<br /> <br /> In specific, it is imperative that we invest in organizations that will support our constitutional rights individually and as a community. Muslims are a primary target of the incoming government, and we cannot face this challenge alone. We must give more generously than ever for the protection of the very basic rights we have taken for granted as a community: Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly. All three of these are in jeopardy.<br /> <br /> Some practical things we can do include becoming a member of the American Civil Liberties Union, as well as speaking up when we see bigotry and hate directed at religious groups, whether that is denying permits to houses of worship, or challenging media coverage that incites hate crimes.<br /> <br /> <b>9. Report hate crimes</b><br /> Too many Muslims feel embarrassed about being targeted by hate crimes. This embarrassment translates into not doing anything about it, more specifically, not reporting it. This in turn feeds into Islamophobes’ lie that Islamophobia is a myth. In 2017, make sure to report every hate crime you or your loved ones experience.<br /> <br /> Reporting Islamophobia has two benefits. The first is a recognition that the problem exists. The<br /> <br /> second is that legally and culturally, we can take effective action against it once it is recognized. We cannot do the latter until the former takes place.<br /> <br /> CAIR needs to develop a better system for recording complaints by Muslims. We need to specifically fund their incident report collection system along with their civil rights division.<br /> <br /> <b>10. Liberate yourself from cynicism and conspiracy theories</b><br /> Last but not the least, nothing paralyzes a person more than cynicism and conspiracy theories. We must rely on God with Sabr (patience) and Tawakkul (trust) as we do our job hoping and praying for change. But there are ideologies and groups which take advantage of this difficult time, diverting attention away from action to conspiracy theories and skepticism towards political empowerment. Watch out for these.<br /> <br /> Resist the urge to fall into cynicism, negativity, and pessimism. This is not befitting of the believer, who maintains optimism and hope in Allah’s Mercy, Love, Compassion, and Wisdom in all circumstances - even post-election America.<br /> <br /> It is also more important than ever to commit to truth and relying on correct information. There is a crisis of “fake news” in America today. Be careful about reading, absorbing, and sharing information from the right sources. Reject conspiracy theories and half-correct information that confirms your viewpoint.<br /> <br /> Islam needs forward-thinking and solution-oriented believers committed to truth-telling and honesty. Pessimism leads to paralysis. We cannot move forward in 2017 unless we maintain hope - as we must.<br /> <br /> <b>Conclusion</b><br /> God has made each one of us a responsible being. We simply cannot leave what is critical to someone else. By adopting these and other action items, while also motivating the rest of your family and relatives to join in, you can become an engine of change yourself.<br /> <br /> Don’t’ despair. Muslims are moving forward Alhamdu lillah. Never in the history of American  elections have Hijabis been used as a symbol of diversity. And the candidate who did that is the same one who refused to accept Muslim funding when she was running for Senate a few years ago. Muslims are moving forward in different fields. We have doubled the number of our mosques. We have quadrupled the number of our schools. We donate billions of dollars every years to good causes. We are moving forward.<br /> <br /> All we need to do is to rethink our priorities and plan to meet the new challenges.<br /> <br /> May Allah be with us all.<br /> <br /> Source: <b>by Abdul Malik Mujahid - Sound Vision</b><br /> <a href="https://www.soundvision.com/article/10-things-you-can-do-for-yourself-for-islam-and-for-america-in-2017" target="_blank">https://www.soundvision.com/article/10-things-you-can-do-for-yourself-for-islam-and-for-america-in-2017</a> </div>

10 Things You can do for Yourself, for Islam, and for America in 2017

In 2017, fighting the Muslim registration program will define our community. Don’t be fooled by the fact that President Barack Oba...

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Prophet Muhammad Honored By the U.S. Supreme Court As One Of The Greatest Lawgivers Of The World In 1935

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QotAopgUZps/WQf4bU38uII/AAAAAAAAGxg/7_taTq96XgECjP4raaZ9hXtY5sT6yCvpACLcB/s1600/SupremeCourtUSA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QotAopgUZps/WQf4bU38uII/AAAAAAAAGxg/7_taTq96XgECjP4raaZ9hXtY5sT6yCvpACLcB/s640/SupremeCourtUSA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> As the United States Supreme Court judges sit in their chamber, to their right, front, and the left sides are friezes depicting the 18 greatest lawgivers of the world. </div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> The second frieze to the right features a person holding a copy of the Quran, the Islamic holy book. It is intended to recognize Prophet Muhammad as one of the greatest lawgivers in the world, along with Moses, Solomon, Confucius, and Hammurabi, among others.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> Here is what the Supreme Court’s website says about this frieze:</div> <blockquote style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 1.4rem; line-height: 33.6px; margin: auto; padding: 10px 45px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-shadow: rgb(200, 200, 207) 2px 2px 3px; width: 511.453px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> Muhammad (c. 570 - 632) The Prophet of Islam. He is depicted holding the Qur’an. The Qur’an provides the primary source of Islamic Law. Prophet Muhammad’s teachings explain and implement Qur’anic principles. The figure above is a well-intentioned attempt by the sculptor, Adolph Weinman, to honor Muhammad, and it bears no resemblance to Muhammad. Muslims generally have a strong aversion to sculptured or pictured representations of their Prophet.</div> </blockquote> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> In the year in which the frieze of Prophet Muhammad was erected, Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, and Charles Evans Hughes was the Chief Justice. It is not known how the court deliberated on this architectural contribution. No one at that time thought it inappropriate to include Prophet Muhammad as one of the greatest lawgivers of the world at the chambers of the United States Supreme Court. This was despite the fact that American society at that time was not as diverse as it is today. Women had just acquired the right to vote, and Japanese-Americans were about to be sent to concentration camps.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> While the learned people in our country knew of the contribution of Prophet Muhammad, our neighbors today are given regular doses of misinformation about the Prophet and Sharia, the path of the Prophet, more commonly described as Islamic law.</div> <h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4e5454; font-family: "Bebas Neue", "Arial Narrow", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.157rem; font-weight: normal; line-height: 55.5632px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"> Prophet Muhammad’s Peace And Justice Movement</h1> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> Prophet Muhammad envisioned a just and peaceful society. With a mass peace movement, he achieved this goal during his life. He hated war and always preferred a peace treaty with his opponents, even if it was not favorable to his and his followers’ interests. He established his first peace sanctuary in the city of Madinah without any war whatsoever. While he did fight to defend that peace sanctuary, it is critical to note that the total time of actual fighting defending his people was not more than six days in his life of 63 years. He struggled to secure a peace that ensured justice and liberation for all people, especially for those most marginalized and oppressed.</div> <h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4e5454; font-family: "Bebas Neue", "Arial Narrow", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.157rem; font-weight: normal; line-height: 55.5632px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"> Here are some of the Prophet’s notable contributions</h1> <ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 1rem 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 32px;"> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">He taught that there is one God for all mankind.</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">He taught Muslims to believe in all of the prophets and all divinely revealed scriptures, especially Biblical ones.</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">As the Prophet established a peace sanctuary called Madinah after his migration from Makkah, he negotiated treaties with the Jews and the pagans of Madinah. Muslims consider these treaties to be the first written surviving constitution in the world. The constitution guaranteed freedom of religion, self-governance, and legal autonomy in all matters. It called for the common defense of Madinah, and declared the Jews, pagans, and Muslims of that treaty to be one nation, or “one Ummah.”</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">He prohibited hunting and the cutting of trees in the peace sanctuary of Madinah.</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">He declared killing non-combatants to be illegal, placed severe restrictions on how warfare could be conducted, and even paid compensation for the killing of some dogs by one of his commanders.</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">The Prophet’s teachings and the Quran are the two major sources of Sharia. Some of his precepts include the following:<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 32px;"> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">Moral behavior: personal cleanliness; emphasis on preservation and nourishment of all life forms, including plants and animals; rituals and spirituality of prayers; fasting and charity; righteous conduct and good deeds; and rights of parents, children, spouses, and neighbors.</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">Interpersonal relations: teaching to enhance human relations and to avoid breaking relationships; encouraging mutual consultation in all affairs; prohibiting bigotry and racism; and emphasizing kindness and hospitality toward others, especially the weak and the poor.</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">Financial guidelines: encouraging charity, rights of the poor, respect for workers, and rejection of exploitation; and circulation of wealth among all classes.</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">Personal rules and laws regarding privacy, gender relations, marriage, divorce, and inheritance.</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">Criminal laws implementing the many of the Ten Commandments. (The only one of the Ten Commandments not having a parallel statement in the Quran is the one having to do with keeping the Sabbath.) Less than two percent of Quranic verses deal with the criminal law of Islam, which is a part of the Sharia but not the totality of it.</li> </ul> </li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">The Prophet asked his judges to make things easy for people, not difficult.</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">He declared all sins forgivable as long as a person asks God’s forgiveness and that of the one who has been wronged.</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;">The Prophet gave special emphasis to honoring treaties, standing up for justice, and opposing oppression.</li> </ul> <h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4e5454; font-family: "Bebas Neue", "Arial Narrow", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.157rem; font-weight: normal; line-height: 55.5632px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"> Why Muslims Often Demand Sharia In The Muslim World</h1> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> In the Muslim world, many Muslims are sick and tired of their corrupt leaders. As such, they demand Sharia, envisioning a return to a just and peaceful system like the time when a caliph would submit himself without any immunity to a judge on an equal footing with his accuser. The United Nations gives all nations the right to self-determination. That is how even in the U.S.-brokered constitutions of Afghanistan and Iraq there is importance given to Sharia principles.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> Unfortunately, the brutal and often biased implementation of criminal law in some Muslim countries has given Sharia a bad name. The Prophet would be horrified to see this merciless brutality in the name of Islam by some Muslims.</div> <h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4e5454; font-family: "Bebas Neue", "Arial Narrow", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.157rem; font-weight: normal; line-height: 55.5632px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"> It Is Against Sharia To Impose Sharia On Anyone!</h1> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> Almost all the Sharia with which Muslim Americans deal relates to personal religious life, ethics, morality, and human relationships. Practicing Muslims live Sharia every day as they pray, fast, eat Halal (permissible in Islam) food, practice charity, raise families, and serve communities. Sharia is like Halacha, which is practiced by Jews in America. Jews in America even operate Jewish courts in the U.S., called Beth Din. Muslim Americans do not operate any such courts.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> Muslim Americans are subject to U.S. laws, just like any other citizens. No Muslim has called for the replacement of the U.S. Constitution with Sharia. Sharia is neither a constitution nor is it all law. It is actually against Sharia to impose Sharia on anyone. Further, Sharia only applies to Muslims, not to non-Muslims.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> Muslims have been demanding equal protection under the U.S. Constitution since their rights are regularly violated in the current Islamophobic environment in which we are living, where Muslims are continuously targeted and subjected to bigotry and prejudice.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> America’s Founding Fathers were wise people. Today’s Islamophobes can learn a great deal from them. In the Treaty of Peace and Friendship (1796) between the United States and Tripoli they stated:</div> <blockquote style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 1.4rem; line-height: 33.6px; margin: auto; padding: 10px 45px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-shadow: rgb(200, 200, 207) 2px 2px 3px; width: 511.453px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> “As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen (Muslims)…”</div> </blockquote> <h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4e5454; font-family: "Bebas Neue", "Arial Narrow", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.157rem; font-weight: normal; line-height: 55.5632px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"> Further Reading</h1> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> For more Muslim perspectives about Sharia please visit <a href="http://sharia101.org/" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(190, 218, 66); box-sizing: border-box; color: black; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sharia101.org</a>.<br /> Please also read Rose Wilder Lane’s <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Discovery of Freedom</em>. She is the daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder, of <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Little House on the Prairie</em> fame. She considered Prophet Muhammad, Prophet Abraham, and the American Revolution to be the three major sources of freedom in the world.<br /> Muhammad: A Prophet For Our Time, by Karen Armstrong, published by HarperCollins<br /> <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources</em>, by Martin Lings, published by Inner Traditions</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B29ZlG_1jSGwR3hvbnl4ZXVCVW8/view" target="_blank">[See/Download Brochure]</a></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202028; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: small;">Source: </span><b style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">by Abdul Malik Mujahid</b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> <span style="color: #202028; font-family: "open sans" , "tahoma" , "dejavu sans" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.soundvision.com/article/prophet-muhammad-honored-by-the-us-supreme-court-as-one-of-the-greatest-lawgivers-of-the" target="_blank">https://www.soundvision.com/article/prophet-muhammad-honored-by-the-us-supreme-court-as-one-of-the-greatest-lawgivers-of-the</a></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> <span style="color: #202028; font-family: "open sans" , "tahoma" , "dejavu sans" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> </div>

Prophet Muhammad Honored By the U.S. Supreme Court As One Of The Greatest Lawgivers Of The World In 1935

As the United States Supreme Court judges sit in their chamber, to their right, front, and the left sides are friezes depicting the 18...

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