Sunday Open Thread – Further Establishing Islam in America | Rally for Muslim Holidays in NYC Schools

Muslims have, alhamdulilah, a long history in America. InshaAllah, too, they will have a long and prosperous future in this country. Crucial to Muslim advancement, I believe, is institutional establishment.

Fundamentally, this means building the masjids, schools and civic centers that will teach, guide and socialize this segment of the ummah. Just as important, however, is continuing our integration into broader American institutions. Unfortunately, there have been several recent campaigns seeking to halt Muslim progress on both these fronts.

So far this year, several efforts to build new masjids across America have met pretty intense opposition. Plans for an Islamic center in lower Manhattan near Ground Zero have elicited national coverage and local protest. It’s tempting to think that such resistance is owed more to the venue than anything else, but events up the bay evidence different motives. In Staten Island, too, an MAS initiative is meeting similar hostility. Both these protests, however, seemingly pale in comparison to the virulently racist clashes in Tennessee over a proposed “mega-mosque.”

Still, even as Muslims organizations push for a space of their own in New York, they continue efforts for broader inclusion society. The campaign to formally recognize Muslim holidays in New York City public schools clearly illustrates how Muslims aren’t turning in on themselves and seek genuine interaction with the community around them – with the honest expectation of reciprocity. Even though this measure has passed a council vote, obstacles still remain.

Mayor Bloomberg has expressed his opposition to the council’s resolution, and so The Coalition of Muslim School Holidays, the organizational body that’s headed this campaign, is holding a rally at City Hall this Wednesday, June 30 to put added pressure on the mayor. One member of the Coalition spoke at the masjid I attended for jumua prayer and he called on the members of the community to come support this effort for, to paraphrase, last time something like this was held, there were more Jews and Christians than Muslims. On the one hand, I understand him using this point to encourage more Muslim involvement. On the other hand, though, the fact that this campaign (and, to be fair, other campaigns including the ones mentioned above) is getting widespread non-Muslim support bodes well for the future of Islam in America.

What: Muslim Holidays Rally & Press Conference

When: Wednesday, June 30th at 11am

Where: Steps of City Hall

Take the 4, 5, 6 to City Hall/ Brookyln Bridge or 2, 3 Park Place or A, C, to Chambers or R, W trains to City Hall

Contact: For more information, contact fali@cair.com or meligyxxi@yahoo.com.

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Parenting Workshop & Magic/Evil-Eye Workshop @ Houston CLIC Th/Fri:

By MM Specialist Umm Reem

For those in the Houston area, here are some events you may be interested in:

Parenting Workshop: “Get to know your Teenagers”
Thursday: 1-3 PM

“Magic/Evil Eye: Are you Protected”
Friday evening

Both at the Clear Lake Islamic Center (CLIC)