Peace is the absence of violence. In order to make peace with others, one must first have peace within themselves.

Domestic violence is an affliction disruptive to the peaceful co-existence of husband and wife. Such disruptive states infringe not only on the immediate family, but also the Islamic family community at large.

Domestic violence does exist within the Muslim community. One may consider this existence an imperfection within a perfect way of life, or a paradox in which imperfect humans behave imperfectly. However it is viewed, it’s presence cannot be denied.

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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead

Dear Senator Obama,

Please allow me to congratulate you on winning the nomination for the Democratic Party in this year’s Presidential Race. As a long time supporter of your campaign and your causes, I and many Americans, were deeply disappointed and taken aback by your comments made this month at the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) convention.

A Missed Chance to Stand for Change

If there ever was a chance for you to prove the validity of your words, it was last week when speaking in front of AIPAC. There was your opportunity to restore the legitimacy of international law in a country that for the past eight years has disregarded it. But instead of doing that, you insisted on Israel’s right to use whatever means necessary to protect itself and furthermore promised to stand up for Israel in the face of UN resolutions and decrees. Who is Israel protecting itself from? Those pesky Arabs who dared challenge Israel’s legitimacy and presence? The Arabs who refuse to be shelled, bombed, poisoned, and shot down for their defiance and struggle for freedom and sovereignty? Any Arab who persists on speaking up for their fellow brothers, or any human being who insists on speaking up for freedom and justice?

The laws made by the UN you promised to defend Israel from were not made to arbitrarily bully Israel around. Rather, they were made to stop Israel from bullying others around. Israel’s illegal possession of nuclear weaponry violates UN resolutions, Israel’s refusal to abide by ceasefire laws are in violation of UN resolutions, Israel’s expansion and demolition into Palestinian lands violates UN resolutions, Israel’s detention and indefinite imprisonment of Palestinian citizens without trial violates the Geneva Convention. Israel’s presence in Lebanon spurred not only the creation of Hezbollah but also violated several UN resolutions. The UN called for Palestinian right of return which Israel denied and continues to deny for millions of still displaced Palestinians and their families around the world.

Israel’s war crimes are (more…)

Beautiful words by Br. Ismail Royer, sent to MM by his wife. Br. Royer is incarcerated at Terre Haute (address provided below; please try to drop him a line). Inshallah, we will send the comments/thoughts to Br. Ismail on this article. So, you are not only talking to MM readers, you have the opportunity to talk to Br. Ismail too

CLIPPED WINGS
Ismail Royer
6/14/08

A student of philosophy laments that I am a religious person. He tells me that my “wings are clipped,” that my belief prevents me from soaring in the heights of thought and wisdom. Rather, the right example is that of a tree. It requires for its health that its dead and stray branches be trimmed. The more skillfully this is done, the more fruitful the tree will be.

“Have you not considered how God presents as a parable a good word as a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches stretch forth to the sky. It produces its fruit all the time, by the permission of its Lord…And the example of a bad word is like a bad tree, uprooted from the surface of the earth, not having any stability.”

The wisest and most insightful man, relying only on himself or other men, will find the truth sometimes, and (more…)

By Irum Sarfaraz

What is the legacy of Pakistan? Pakistan is in the throes of severe and aberrant conflict and the center of world attention at the moment. Stuck in a precarious geographical location with the medal of being a nuclear state around its neck, it has put the US and its allies on edge with its internal strife, its supposed harboring of terrorists and an overall political situation that refuses to be abided. But assessing the situation analytically even if this past decade was taken out of the life of the country, there is still little in its history to prove that things have ever been what could be deemed peaceful or even conducive to the social, economic or political advancements of any country. Education, basic civic amenities, clean water and health is a continuing woe for the vast majority of the 165 million. Why has Pakistan never been able to settle down?

Perhaps this predicament can be put in context with the following hadith: Umar al-Khattab narrates that the Prophet (saw) said, ‘Deeds are [a result] only of the intentions [of the actor] and an individual is rewarded only according to that which he intends. Therefore, whosoever has emigrated for the sake of Allah and His messenger, then his emigration was for Allah and His messenger. Whosoever emigrated for the sake of wordly gain , or a woman [whom he desires] to marry, then his emigration is for the sake of that which [moved him] to emigrates’. In the case of Pakistan, it suffers because the key person responsible for its acquisition, Jinnah never had a Muslim state in mind in the true sense of the word. No doubt he wanted a separate land for the Muslims but according to many historians exploited Islam as the means to gain the end. The niyaat was political gain not religious autonomy; the weapon was religion. Since Islam and Muslims were outwardly proclaimed as the sole reason, though it was not the case, the end result of the act has been jeopardized. In other words Pakistan suffers as a direct fallout of this discrepancy in niyaat.

Jinnah was a modern Muslim and a secularist by every definition that one uses to define the word.

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Article by Rami Mahmoud Elsawah
Photo by Think Tank

Islamic matrimonial services….

Auntie networks…

Friends who can’t even get married themselves…

The average Muslim waits two to three years to get married from the time he or she begins searching, according to a friend of mine in the matrimonial business. I did not believe him until two years ago, when I began actively searching for a spouse myself. I thought the process would be easy as pie. After all, I can cook very well, am kind to my mother, religiously conservative, and have been told I have good character. Yet now, single and frustrated, I have come to take aim at the disdainful state of the social networks available for Muslims to get married. You would think after all, that the cooking factor alone would have had the sisters lining up out the door with applications in hand.

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‘We will show them our signs in the furthest regions (of the earth) and in their souls, until it becomes clear to them that this is the truth’. [41:53]

I read the story of the earth’s humming on Yahoo this morning and could only say ‘Subhan Allah! Look at the signs Allah presents to the non-believer and yet they choose to take the scientific path. What else could this humming be but the sound of the entire Universe engaged in the constant hamd and sana of the Creator?

‘The sun and the moon both follow courses (exactly) computed; and the plants and the trees both (alike) bow in adoration and submission to Allah (their creator)’. [55:5-6]

According to the news the earth gives off a continuous hum of countless notes that are though imperceptible to the human ear but are actually akin to a giant exceptionally quiet symphony. But to the scientists who discovered this, the origin of the sound remains a mystery. And it will continue to be a mystery until their mind is willing to break off its subservience to worldly knowledge and start to recognize the real truth behind the creation of everyone and everything. There is a constant rumble emanated by the earth which is far below the limits of human ear and this was first discovered a decade ago by the use of the seismometers. This sound has been called Earth’s humming. If nothing else, they could not have named it more perfectly. Imagine a room full of people engaged in reciting Quran quietly….the sound is a hum.

There is a purpose behind every single one of Allah’s creation. ‘Not without purpose did We create heaven and earth and all between’. [38:27]

Science is of course leading the research on the topic round and round in the same circle as investigators are suspecting that this hum or murmur is an origination from the churning ocean, or maybe the roiling atmosphere. Don’t you just want to go and knock on the doors of their labs and says, ‘Ahem, excuse me for barging in but the answer has already been provided for this ‘great’ mystery….’

‘The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, proclaim His glory; there is not a thing but celebrates His praises, except that you understand it not’. [17:44]

With technology getting more refined the only thing that has perhaps changed in the entire investigation of the earth’s-hum-mystery is the shape of the humming sound. The oscillations that were initially discovered were ‘spheroidal’ and supposedly involved patches of rock moving up and down. But the new investigation says that these oscillations are shaped roughly like rings. But ‘spheroidal’ or ring shaped they are both equally powerful and not something that the scientific community is willing to disregard as being wholly insignificant. And there is no way that it can be disregarded as insignificant for indeed Allah has said:

‘And to Him belongs all beings in the heavens and the earth and all subservient to His commands’. [30:26]

We’ll wait for them to solve this mystery…

By Irum Sarfaraz

It would be an understatement to say that the escalating wave of suicide bombings in Pakistan is an acute threat to peace and a critical concern to the authorities. This aberrant social attitude towards death, destruction and opposition to authority can be very contagious among the mass and mimetic illiterate of a country who will start to believe that the only way of out unrest, anarchy and dissatisfaction with the administration is to create more chaos. The latest weapon in hand is suicide bombings and they are growing at an alarming rate.

So where did the cabal of suicide bombers start and why do these human bombs think like they do? The first answer that would come to mind, and one with a lot of weight, is that suicide bombings have their roots in Palestine. William Safire in his column in the New York Times wrote back in 2001, ‘the pride and joy of Arafat’s arsenal is a weapon of mass terror that has no known defense: the human missile’. But one might wonder why the bombers in Pakistan are destroying their own country? The standard answer to this is often ‘it is outside elements that are doing this’ and ‘it is the helplessness of the masses that propels them to throw away their life like this’ or ‘extremist religious views are behind this’. But when the psychology of the bomber is studied it brings to light a far dangerous mentality. A mentality that can be programmed to go on killing even when there is no helplessness and even if there is peace and even if this destruction is to be unleashed against one’s own country. These bombers are less ‘outside elements’ and more of an army raised at home.

It is easy to put a religious label on these individuals but (more…)

Today, we are living in times in which particular segments of our country are mired in a barrage of moral and social decay: spiraling crime, an onslaught of high-school drop outs, out of wedlock pregnancies, deadbeat dads, single mothers, infidelity, unhealthy eating, obesity, diabetes, and so much more. In 2007, 46.8% of twelfth-graders and 35.6% of tenth-graders admitted to taking illegal drugs. In 2006, 20.9% of eighth-graders admitted to taking an illegal drug in their lifetime.

The perfect cultural custodian to clean up this social mess is the Muslim community.

I believe that our community is the great hope of our country and is positioned like no other to influence and begin to re-shape the American culture – that is, if we decide to step back into the community and do our jobs. This is especially true, since the United States is probably the most change-oriented society in the world.

I believe that the call to the American Muslims is to influence and change the culture of the community around us as past Muslims have done. Part of our challenge is to become a vital part of our neighborhoods by convening and encouraging formation of future culture that serves the common good. We must become connoisseurs of an alternative way, recognizing and celebrating the good, true and beautiful way of Islam in our communities as an example to all others. Nowhere else does this potential for synergy exist except with the Muslims of America.

Sadly, we strayed away from our massive potential influence when large numbers of people (myself including) came into Islam inspired by the Malcolm X cultural craze of the 1990’s. Instead, we have become just another subculture. The result has been that we have stood on the sidelines while have tolerating the destruction the future of a generation of young people in our country. So today, rather than tuning out the important discussions around us and founding our own little Muslim bubbles, we should not be afraid to become mainstream and learn to appeal to the public at large. This does not mean that we should discard our Islamic principles. However it does mean that more of us should stop thinking we’re above getting into the trenches of mainstream culture. Here are some things that I feel that each of us can do to re-establish this initiative.

- Learn your religion

Educate ourselves in Islam and about the world around us. If we are educated in our religion this will insha Allah bring clarity to our responsibility to our communities. We do not need to simply condemn and be suspicious of the world around us.

- Inspire

Inspire the people within our circles to get involved and pursue excellence in all fields. Help them cultivate and create culture that serves the common good. Your interest in serving them will go along way in building their confidence in the Muslim Community’s understanding of their opportunity for influence while reminding them of God’s provision.

- Connect with your local neighborhood

Ask yourself, “If your local masjid were removed from the community today, would anyone even notice?” …Would you, as an individual, be missed if you left today? What are you contributing?

As an integral piece of your local culture, integrate a duty-bound approach to the needs of your community. We should add value to the culture, support local businesses, and schools and serve the community with volunteers for good events that are redemptive in nature. Be an advocate for goodness and beauty throughout your environment.

- Search for Good

Instead of being offended when confronted with deviant behavior and darkness – and there is plenty - be motivated to get involved to make a constructive change. Challenge yourself to find something good in all things and identify the redemptive nature of your neighbors and your place in shaping a healthier world.

Initiate conversations about the values of your community. Host them at your local Islamic Center or any other location and drive the intellectual conversation instead of simply responding to it. Raise issues of concern and propose solutions. Be the first to praise the good culture being created in your community and inspire imagination around opportunities that support the common good, elevate beauty, and align with truth.

Numbers aren’t the important thing, but sustainable commitment, dedication and Iman are. If a few dedicated Muslims throughout our communities embraced a holistic view of Islamic influence, we could see the tide turn on the social ills plaguing the social fabric. If we do these things Islam and the Muslims can once again be the powerful culture-shaping influence they have been in the past. We must recapture the historical Islamic message that calls us to redeem entire cultures, not just individuals. Yes, individuals are important – don’t get me wrong - but those who seek the common good of the social whole, tap the opportunity to vitalize the hearts and minds of individuals in the masses.

We must recapture the historical Islamic message that calls us to redeem and reform entire cultures, not just individuals. Yes, individuals are important – don’t get me wrong - but those who seek the common good of the culture, have an increased opportunity for the hearts and minds of individuals.

I’ve gotten a lot of serious flak for my views on this subject, so I’ll end with two reminders from our Prophet (Peace and Blessing be upon him) that back up my point:

The Messenger of Allah said :
“The believer who mixes with the people and has patience in spite of their annoyances is better that he that doesn’t mix with them and doesn’t have patience in spite of their annoyances.” Narrated by Ahmad and Ibn Majah

He also said:
“The believer is cordial; there is no good in one who is neither cordial nor sociable.” Narrated by Ahmad.

With all of this in mind, some of us have begun to challenge our local community to begin a new conversation that will begin the process of transforming our community in a positive way

Network Solutions pulled the site that was supposed to be hosting the film. Techcrunch is worried that Google might experience a “Muslim backlash”. Live Leak, who originally hosted the film, have now pulled it down because of “credible threats”. The Singaporean government has condemned it. The UAE government has condemned it. The Council of Europe has spoken out against it. Afghanistan has expressed concern. Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir has said Malay Muslims are annoyed by it and is calling for a worldwide boycott of Dutch products. Indonesia has condemned it. The OIC naturally condemns it too.

That’s a lot of government and official condemnation for a 17 minute film on Youtube. However, rather than the riots and rivers of blood that the pre-release marketing led us to believe would be the natural consequence of Wilder’s little film, the response from actual Muslims has been, well, not much of a response at all.

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