spare me the sermon

This was forwarded to me by Rebecca.  It’s an excellent piece by an excellent american muslim author Mohja Kahf.  If you haven’t read her “The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf,” get it and read it asap.

This new piece in the Washington Post eloquently expresses what I’ve been trying to get across for ages.  I love Allah (swt).  I love my religion.  I love my Prophet (saws).  And I love my hot pink hijab.  I don’t need saving.  We don’t need saving.  Alhamdulilah I’m a muslim.

Yes, the article is fluffy.  But I think that was purposeful - so often we’re faced with doom and gloom, OMG you’re so oppressed!!11!!!1! that a little glibness is needed.

It irks me that I even have to say this: Being a Muslim woman is a joyful thing.

…

As beautiful as veils are, they are not the best part of being a Muslim woman — and many Muslim women in Islamic countries don’t veil. The central blessing of Islam to women is that it affirms their spiritual equality with men, a principle stated over and over in the Quran, on a plane believers hold to be untouched by the social or legalistic “women in Islam” concerns raised by other parts of the Scripture, in verses parsed endlessly by patriarchal interpreters as well as Muslim feminists and used by Islamophobes to “prove” Islam’s sexism. This is how most believing Muslim women experience God: as the Friend who is beyond gender, not as the Father, not as the Son, not inhabiting a male form, or any form.

…

Yet even all that gorgeous history pales when I open my closet door for the evening’s pick: teal georgette, pink-and-beige plaid, creamy fringed wool or ice-blue organza? God, why would anyone assume I would want to give up such beauty? I love being a Muslim woman. And I’m always looking for my next great polka-dot scarf.

dogs

Dear muslim lady on the bus:

I don’t mean to be rude, but this is America.  I know dogs are not held in high regard in your country and culture.  However, in this country, there are dogs. Granted, most dogs don’t belong on the bus but we do make exceptions.  One of those exceptions are guide dogs that help the blind and physically disabled.  These dogs have been trained almost since birth to provide assistance and greater access for their owners.  These dogs will not bite.  They do not bark.  They are very well behaved. 

Please stop freaking out.  There is no need to scream, cry and knock people down as you push your way through a very crowded bus to get away from the dog as he helps his owner move out of the way for the wheelchair that’s getting on the bus. 

The dog is not going to hurt you.  He is doing his job.  The Prophet (saws) specifically allowed people to keep dogs that served a purpose.

There is no need to be afraid of these dogs.  If they happen to touch you, what is the worst that will happen?  You’ll have to wash your clothes if they get impurities on you.  That’s not too bad is it?

Now I have to explain your actions to all the people on the bus.  They wonder why you reacted the way you did, and are all muslims that strange?

While I fully embrace the idea of multiculturalism, tolerance is a two way street.  We can’t expect people to accept our strange customs of covering our head and stopping to pray 5 times a day if we don’t try to accept certain aspects of american life that may seem strange to us.

We’re not going anywhere, and neither are the guide dogs.  Chances are, we’ll all run into one some day.  How we react to this animal will be a reflection of Islam.  Will it be a positive one, or a negative one?

Sincerely,

your sister in islam

oh my twin cities ummah

Fear, questions after Augsburg student ambushed

Ali was the third Somali man from Minneapolis killed since April. Nobody has been arrested in any of the cases, and Huffman said it’s too early to determine if the killings are related.

Ali’s death stunned the Augsburg campus, where more than 700 students, friends and faculty joined for a gathering at Foss Chapel on Tuesday morning. Ali, who was studying political science and international relations, had played on the college’s soccer team and helped start the campus’ Muslim student association.

To come so far, fleeing war and violence, only to meet that end on your doorstep.  inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’oon.  To God we belong and to Him is our return.

Apparently there is a growing gang problem among the somali youth here in the twin cities.  And it looks like they’re targeting those who are trying to make something of themselves.  Ya Allah!

(amrikan) futbol!

As much as it pains me to write something positive about the Buckeyes (On Wisconsin!), the Columbus Dispatch did an interview with Nader Abdallah, their defensive tackle, to which I tip my cheesehead, er scarf.

Via Get Religion:

Q As the team’s only Muslim, do you enjoy educating your teammates about your faith?

A Over the offseason, coach (Jim) Tressel asked me to bring Muslim Hadiths (written traditions of the prophet Muhammad) and quotes from the Quran to put in his Winners Manual (book). He wanted me to enlighten the team about my spirituality, and it was great, because a lot of guys got to learn different things. I had guys coming up to me all the time asking me, “Hey, can you bring more stuff in? I would love to learn about this.” I’m happy I was able to open the horizons of some of these guys.

From GR’s commentary:

What is also interesting about Abdallah is that he was known as a “good character” recruit for the school’s football program in the sense that he wasn’t going to be the party-all-night, [3] type of players that sports fans hear more and more about these days.

MashaAllah. 

Don’t Worry, We’re Going to Do Something

Thought provoking post by Umm Zaid.

 I’ve sported the American Muslims Against Terrorism banner on the web probably since    Shaikr first made it.  But, what does that really mean?  I certainly don’t agree   with the actions of those who intentionally target the lives of non combatants.    Is it enough to talk the talk if you don’t walk the walk?

  I’ve had my brush with terrorism.  The husband worked at a hospital in   Sharm el Sheikh in 2004 and 2005.  He considered applying for an accounting   position at the Ghazala Gardens hotel, but instead left Sharm in May 2005.    Two months later, two bombs ripped through Sharm- one at the Old Market, and one at the Ghazala Gardens hotel.  Depending on who’s account you believe, 64 or 88 people lost their lives.

After seeing the the devastation, I flip through the photo album my husband had sent me.  There was a picture of him in front of the gates of the Old Market.  Now it lay in ruins, covered in the blood of innocents.  Egyptian, foreigner, worker, tourist, bombs are indiscriminate.

I can talk the talk, but can I walk the walk?  I don’t want to have to be a puppet, popping up to with the same old script, condemning the actions of yet another parade of idiots.  I won’t apologize for something I haven’t done.  But this is my community, perpetrating these awful crimes.  I won’t stand behind their actions, and my words clearly show that.  But what about my actions?  Doing nothing can’t help.

What is there to do?  I feel helpless.

Live Streaming of Imam Mohammed’s Janazah

Via Dawud Walid:

 Watch the janazah of Imam Mohammed at 1:30 pm central time today at the Muslim Journal website.

Imam WD Mohammad

I’ve heard that he passed away today.  There isn’t much to confirm this, aside from word of mouth and wikipedia.

*update at 4:00 pm*  The AP is confirming that he has passed away.  Inaa lillahi wa inna ilayhi rai’oon.

If this is true, inaa lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’oon.  To God we belong and to Him is our return.  Alhamdulilah this is a blessed month, when the shaytan are chained and Allah’s (swt) blessings and mercy are flowing.  May Allah (swt) make the grave comfortable for this towering figure of American Islam.

If you have not heard of this man, please take the time to read about his life and work today.  Keep him in your dua as your break your fast this evening.

• New Africa Radio
• Anointed Son
• This Far by Faith
• The Most Important Muslim You’ve Never Heard of
• Profile at Religion & Ethics

rnc

I’ve got my sign (peace and love dove) prepped, and my outfit all picked out (my fav FUNdamentalist shirt + my hot green scarf).  Now I’ve just got to steel my nerves.  The RNC is coming to town, and along with it, a massive bunch of protesters  and major trouble.

The police have been conducting raids, arresting potential rabble rousers.   My bus goes by the jail, which is starting to look more like the US Embassy in Cairo than anything one should find in US cities.  I write that because I wanted to post a picture of the fortifications, but couldn’t find any of the jail here.  I thought I could find some of the embassy, but alas, sheikh google has let me down.  Think giant concrete blocks, 10 foot high fences and a corral system, guarded by guys with very large guns.

My grandma asked me last week if I was going to volunteer.  I had to stiffle a snicker.  Sure Grandma, I’m going to be part of the welcoming committee.  I’ll throw on my black abaya, maybe a niqab for good measure and drive out to the airport with a big ol Welcome to Minnesota sign, in hopes that the delegates will take one look at me and turn right back around.

No, my grandma isn’t a republican, she’s just civic minded.  Her boss was the chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin back in the 50s, so she got dragged into it too.  One of my favorite stories that she tells is of a dinner she went to, where Joseph McCarthy was the guest of honor.  While everyone stood and applauded when he entered, she stayed seated and shot him an evil eye.  Go Grandma!

Monday is D day, potentially the first day of Ramadan, and the march on the RNC.  inshaAllah I’ll get pictures.  The husband will not be joining me.  He’s still a permanent resident, and doesn’t want to risk getting in trouble with the law.  I’m not planning on doing any civil disobedience, and as such, hope not to get arrested, but please make dua that I don’t.   If you see a girl in a neon green hijab being dragged away kicking and screaming, that’s yours truly.

minnesota muslim makes big impact abroad

Muslim Rep. Ellison preaches peace, democracy, here and abroad

Minnesota is home to a fair number of African immigrants, so Ellison’s work on Africa is local as well as international. This year, he hosted a forum in Minnesota on the Horn of Africa, with the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa subcommittee, New Jersey Democrat Donald Payne.

“We had these immigrant communities from Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Kenya voice how they felt about U.S. policy toward the Horn of Africa,” Ellison said. “It was a tough meeting, because everybody wanted to be heard. You had people with long-standing grievances, really just wanting to be heard by people who represent them.”

At one point, someone said he supported the Ethiopian presence in Somalia — “a minority view,” Ellison noted.

“And people began to shout him down. I then stood up and said, ‘Everyone gets to say what they think here, and we’ll listen.”‘

I was at the forum. He handled it very well.

Ellison accompanied local Muslims for Islamic prayers in Mauritania and Kenya, and in Saudi Arabia, the king invited him to go on the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

That’s one trip that Ellison plans to do as a private citizen — not as a guest of the king, but “on my own nickel.”

Ellison said he gets plenty of invitations to go on congressional trips, but as for the rest of this year, “The only place I really hope to go is Mecca.”

May Allah (swt) make the trip easy and accept his hajj, ameen.

radical islamist at the DNC convention !1!!111!!!11!

Oh no wait, it’s Ingrid Mattson.  It’s all I can do just to shake my head at the foolishness of the right wing blogosphere.  Seriously, really, she’s a radical islamist?  If she’s radical, who’s not?

Faith is what we live for

Another [standing ovation] was reserved for Mattson, who said she tells Islamic leaders abroad that Muslims in the United States still face discrimination constantly.

Despite the difficulties, Mattson said she remains convinced that the United States “is still the best place in the world to practice our faith.”

Democrats kick off convention with interfaith gathering

Among the most compelling remarks, however, were those from Ingrid Mattson, the president of the Islamic Society of North America. She said she had been asked in whispers by Muslims abroad about how Muslims have been treated in the United States since the 2001 terrorist attacks.

While there is prejudice, Mattson said, there is also tolerance. She recognized other religious leaders who have stood up for Muslims.

“This is still the best place in the world to practice our faith,” she said.

You can view the entire event here on the CSPAN website.  I haven’t looked through it yet, so I’m not sure where she speaks.