11 Comments

1. 

   t

   August 18, 2010 at 8:27 AM

   the email addresses provided for keith olberman are incorrect. both emails were returned as failed messages. also the correct name of the “ground zero mosque” is the Park 51 Islamic Cultural Center. It think it important that we use the correct name in our messages.

   thank you for organizing. this is an excellent idea!

   salam

   Reply
   • 

     amad

     August 18, 2010 at 9:46 AM

     That’s why it is between quotation marks. Whether we like it or not, that’s the popular misnomer, and in the battle of “keywords” in online searches, we need to make sure posts have a chance to come out ahead.

     Reply
   • 

     Amad

     August 18, 2010 at 10:10 AM

     You are right that the email is bouncing, but the addresses are what are available. In fact, the countdown@msnbc email is on the show’s front-page. Maybe just an overload on server or something.

     I have added a twitter link for Olbermann.

     Reply
2. 

   someone

   August 18, 2010 at 9:28 AM

   Are we really that desperate that we need other people to defend our religion? Please give due respect to the religion of Islam that doesn’t need anyone to protect itself. If at all there is anyone to thank, it is Allah, not the creations of Allah. I think that is pretty much obvious if we know a little bit about Islam. Allah knows best.

   Reply
   • 

     amad

     August 18, 2010 at 9:50 AM

     Ultimately, Allah is responsible and owner of all things. Man proposes and Allah disposes.

     When we thank people for defending Islam, it is not because we need their help. It is because they spoke good about our deen, spoke the truth even with lies abound, and made positive “dawah” of sort, and we can thank then for it.

     Reply
   • 

     abez

     August 18, 2010 at 11:08 AM

     We encourage good and forbid evil, so I think positive reinforcement and recognition of non-Muslims who stand for justice is as important as the calling-out of people who stand for injustice.

     And Allah knows best. :)

     Reply
   • 

     Middle Ground

     August 18, 2010 at 2:31 PM

     Abu Talib?

     Reply
     • 

       Amad

       August 18, 2010 at 2:54 PM

       solid 2-word comeback!

       Reply
   • 

     MW_M

     August 18, 2010 at 4:06 PM

     If at all there is anyone to thank, it is Allah

     True that! In the spirit of thanking Allah and following the sunnah:

     “He who does not thank people, does not thank Allah”

     Reply
3. 

   Siraaj

   August 18, 2010 at 11:07 AM

   Salaam alaykum Someone,

   I see where you’re coming from – in many cases where political activists try to engage in “dialogue” or “interfaith discussion”, there’s a sense that the tone conveyed is one of someone in a lower position beckoning for acceptance and validation to the one in a higher position. For example, there’s a sense that we’re trying to prove our worth to secularists when we harp on the scientific / physical benefits of every act of worship or thing that we do.

   There’s a balance that has to be achieved, however, between maintaining our honor and dignity while at the same time acknowledging the good that we’ve been given from others. Yes, every beneficial thing we receive is from Allah, but remember that even in the seerah of the Prophet, he was the beneficiary of a great deal of help from nonMuslims within his own community, starting with his uncle, and moving to those who lifted the embargo against banu hashim.

   In particular, from those who ended the boycott, I want to point out mu’tim ibn adiyy, who not only helped end the boycott, but was crucial in the Prophet’s return to Makkah from at-Ta’if. As we know, that was his most difficult day, according to the hadeeth of ‘aisha, and he feared he would not survive a return to Makkah, and he sent a message to not one, but 3 nonMuslims for protection – Akhtas ibn Shariq, Suhayl ibn ‘Amr (who became muslim much later), and Mu’tim ibn Adiyy. It was Mu’tim who provided protection to the Prophet and declared to the community he was under Mu’tim’s protection and that of his sons.

   So we have to be careful in our discussion of taking help from nonMuslims, and being thankful. We want to strike a good balance between both being honorable and dignified in our approach while acknowledging the good they’ve done, and being thankful for their good will, particularly when polling shows the majority of people oppose what they’ve said – they’re essentially putting their own reputations on the line when they stand up for this.

   Siraaj

   Reply
4. 

   Sh

   August 18, 2010 at 3:29 PM

   um I just want to say that the link to the john stuart email has a really graphic pic of a show or some ad on the right side of it. is there any way you can provide an email instead? as it is the month of ramadan and we should be extra cautious as to what the eye sees. May allah forgive us. ameen.

   Reply