I want to address something i inferred in Maverick’s comment- I understand what your saying but I think it is up to individuals to do what they feel comfortable with. True that prioritization is critical in how we engage in seeking out our rights as well as establishing Islam as a mainstream religion in the US. I give credit for the brothers to stand up and pursue this, because in honesty not many of our fellow Muslims will even bother to take the step beyond complaining. So I dont see the benefit of putting them down, and I am not implying you are but I feel that its on the verge of doing so.

But going back to priorities, I do concur with the general sentiment on what is and is not important, that is a discussion we can have but without the people involved to present their perspective it would be an infinite open ended discussion, and that serves no purpose at this point. But in a way it is an issue of importance and not a matter of trivializing the situation. It is a legimate question and discussion but without the key players it might not be to fruitful for us.

It is our business though, and thats why I do take issue with Um Layth when it is stated that its the Cabbies decision. No I take issue because i am a firm believer in that when the community of believers suffers its as if a part of my body is suffering- we can take that further when a part is doing well and succeeding i take pride in that as well. If we are a community of believers in the US and we think that each one of us lives in our diconnected world then we are doomed to not see the bigger picture.

Why is it that a war can rage in Iraq people get killed and kids in school here in diverse California are called rag-heads and terrorists? Its not because its the universe i live in and a bubble i function in.

I can go further and say why is that a tragedy happening in Virgina can bring together so many people? Its because we are connected and what happens in one place affects us in our day to day lives.

Going back to the cabbies, again i commend what they did and give them mad props for stepping up to the plate. However, its over and now we have to learn the lesson that came from it. First, go back to the statement by the Imam:

“We see this as a harsh penalty against fellow Americans only because they are practicing their faith,” the Muslim scholar said. “This does not reflect the American values of tolerance and accommodation.”

What is happened in the aftermath of this is that Americans who are know nothing about Islam and might be skeptical about right wing extremists rants see that their life style is being attacked by Muslims who want to practice their exotic brand of Islam, and this is further equated as Islam being something foriegn and alien, so Muslims being less American or being able to live in America, and that directly feeds into this idea of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment. Why are should we drive a nail into our own foot?

We as a community face the realities of this situation in its aftermath. We definently need to learn from this and try to move on, and this means being cognizant of the “bigger picture” and being able to provide insight if put in a situation in the future.

They are transporting a fare-paying passenger, that’s all. What personal possessions he/she may have on his/her person are not the business of the cab driver. That person could be carrying pork, weed, porn magazines, items of shirk such as a cross, etc etc.

Whoever heard of cab driver refusing to transport passengers carrying those items?

Do we have any examples from history? Any recorded examples that set legal or even fiqh precedent whereby (for example) the owner of a boat might refuse to transport a non-Muslim for carrying haraam personal items?

If the cabbie was being asked to help transport alcohol that was being used for re-sale and regular business, then I can understand the refusal. But it is expected non-Muslims may be carrying haraam items such as alcohol, and that’s their business.

How do the cab drivers find out? Are they going to ask each and every passenger if they are carrying alcohol? That’s ridiculous and goes against the principle of not asking too many questions.

People make Islam hard for themselves. The deen itself is not hard on the people.

Tell the cabbies to get a grip.

C’mon…now that is just trivializing the matter…

A brief comment: I assume the cab drivers don’t work for the airport but nevertheless operate under the MAC’s rules. If that’s true, owning their own cabs/cab companies wouldn’t release them from the airport commission’s regulations. Again, that’s an assumption on my part.

I go back to Shahzad’s previous comment about the many, many haram things Muslims in the US deal with on a daily basis. I’m curious to know if transporting women without hijab is an issue for the cabbies.

I posted a comment and it gave me an error. I also didn’t save, so here I go again, insha’Allaah.

Firstly, can you, without any hesitation (without any fear) say that driving around people carrying alcohol is 100% permissible in the Shari`ah? What happened to ‘do not cooperate in sin and transgression? Our Beloved Muhammad (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) told us to beware of the doubtful matters and at the very least this issue seems ‘somewhat’ doubtful.

Secondly, there are non-Muslims out there who believe just like these Muslims believe (and like a lot of non-cab driving Muslims believe) and would stand up for it as well but are afraid to. So it is praiseworthy that they tried. Now, they got their answer and their best way to go is what I said above, of owning their own business.

Thirdly, brother, these are just common muslims. They aren’t leaders etc… They are just people who are trying to support them and their families and who want to work a job in the best way they can. As a group they have stood by each other but they had to, but amongst the other problems that the Somali community may have, again this is their business and they chose to stand up for something that affects them. It’s just like Shahzad mentioned. We each have our own universe to worry about as well.

While i think it is in every persons right to do as they wish and to work with in a collective or outside one. There is a point where you look and evaluate and possibly think whether a fight is worth it or not.

I have no issue with the brothers standing up and doing what they did- more power to them, because in dealing with people I find Muslims more interested in running away with their back to the situation.

However, where do we stand with America. Is this situation being used to present Islam to people? Is this situation helping to better anyone’s understanding of Islam.

In the court of public opinion I stand up for these Muslims right to pursue this, but being a site where its largely a Muslim discussion I think we should reflect on this situation.

We have a situation where in a USA/Gullup poll, most of you i assume are aware of this, Americans:

Thirty-nine percent of respondents to the USA TODAY/Gallup Poll said they felt at least some prejudice against Muslims. The same percentage favored requiring Muslims, including U.S. citizens, to carry a special ID “as a means of preventing terrorist attacks in the United States.” About one-third said U.S. Muslims were sympathetic to al-Qaeda, and 22% said they wouldn’t want Muslims as neighbors.

How does this situation help ally the fears and ignorance of everday Americans. I do not advocate presenting Islam in a way contrary to what it is or changing it, no I am totally against that.

But from the Prophets seerah there were things he did and didnt do and he gave naseeah to us.

The idea of Muslim owning the cabs as advocated by Um’Layth, yes that is empowering Muslims as well as teh Muslim community because as owners you employ others and set industry standards. The brothers should focus on trying to get to place to own these cab companies but until then if there is no haram in what they are doing then why instigate a fight?

Just because they can? Or its a principled thing to do? I can sure tell you that working with the Somali Refugee community, the last thing to do is to pursue something of this nature because the community is faced with much larger challenges- especially the young Somali brothers and sisters.

Its a matter of prioritizing and that is the reason i asked the question I did. Again, I support the rights of all Muslims who are pursuing and working to understand how to make the system work for them. But an internal discussion is well worth it, and this idea of think globally, act locally, please elaborate because i fail to understand what you are referring to.

I would have to disagree with Affad and agree with Umm Layth. Ever heard of the phrase “think global but act local”?

How on earth is our community going to learn how to deal with the big stuff if we can’t effectively deal with the small stuff? Every person has a circle of influence, whether that be one’s family, one’s line of work or one’s community. And every Muslim is accountable with how effective he/she is within his/her universe.

I think what they stood up for is a great thing. May Allaah reward them immensely in this dunyaa and in the aakhirah, aameen

I would give them naseeha to open up their own business and taxi for themselves. My father in law can drive who he wants, when he wants because he owns his own taxi company and that is a ni`ama. No one is over you to tell you what to do and who you can pick up and can’t.

On the issue of making a bigger issue then they should… Well, I suppose this isn’t our business but their own because they are the ones involved in it and the ones that chose to stand up for it.