Common Sense Scholarship

Below is a wonderfully sane discussion on Isa bin Maryum (Jesus Son of Mary), and religion in general, from a fine modern day scholar, Reza Aslan. I was fortunate enough to read his book on the Taliban before, September 11, 2001. Please note his comparisons to the prophets at the end of the interview segment.

Assalamu Alaikum AND Merry Christmas?

True Story: When I was a child, like most children, I embraced all things Christmas. All the songs, folklore, and enchantment of the season was of interest to me. I was a goner. In fact, the holiday season could not come fast enough. If you think Macy's is bad!...I would start thinking about Christmas time immediately following Indian Summer.

Somewhere along the years, however, the joy of the season gave way to competitive materialism among peers, and creeping anxiety in the family over what to buy and whom to buy for. As a young man, seeking knowledge, wisdom and understanding, I swore off falsehood and fantasy in pursuit of 'true knowledge of self.' That meant that Santa Claus would have to go the way of the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy and Sandman. Besides, those stories about Christ and were not lining up with history as I was slowing coming to learn it.


Later, when my adulthood morphed into a raging bachelorhood and all my siblings were grown, I opted out of traditional Christmas time activities. Later still, enters Islam, and there is no point in celebrating at all...Down came the trees and out went the cache of assorted bobbles, and holiday cards. I must admit, I still enjoyed the start of the season though; glad that others were celebrating it. The coming holiday always brought out the best in people -- if only for a little while. Besides, its more of a cultural festival than a profoundly religious exercise for most people anyway...Right?


Fast forward ten or twelve years later with more knowledge wisdom and understanding to draw upon, and stronger in my own faith, I am cool with Christmas time again. I prefer to take a global view of things. If Diwali and Ramadan demonstrate the goodwill and civility of Hindus and Muslims, then Christmas time should be equally received for its goodwill by Westerners. Those who believe, or just like to celebrate the season.

Happy Holidays!

Book Review

Michael Muhammad Knight chronicles his expansive tour of Muslim shrines, from North American to the Middle East, in his impressive anthropological book, Journey to the End of Islam. Knight writes as irreverently as he does intelligently when he muses about his experiences with people and places that span the scope and depth of Islamic culture. From urban Muslim griots to Sufi prophets to the most clinging Wahabists, Knight shows himself adept with the numerous schools of Islamic thought. And he, more than anyone I have read or heard lately, asks some of the most important and provocative questions about the faith. I recommend Journey for thoughtful, truth-seeking Muslims, and for anyone who wants to survey the vast diversity comprising the global Muslim community.

My Ramadan 2008

Ramadan Mubarak! (Blessed Ramadan)

Today is my 2nd full day of fasting in observance of the Muslim tradition. Observance of Ramadan [when Muslims are obligated to forego food and water for a full month (30 days) during the day light hours] is the one aspect of Islam's five tenants I maintain dutifully. I am drawn by the self discipline it requires, as well as the idea of being in communion with deprived people around the world.

In about an hour I will break my fast with a formal prayer; and eat some dates, yogurt and a heaping glass of water.

Today I want to share one of my most favored iyats (verses) from the Quran. It is from Surah (chapter) 14(v4), Ibrahim:

"We sent not a messenger except (to teach) in a language of his (own) people, in order to make (things) clear to them. So Allah leads astray those whom He pleases and guides whom He pleases and He is Exalted in power, Full of Wisdom."

(Transliteration from Yusuf Ali)

The Quran is full of wisdom, indeed. In coming editions, I hope to elaborate further on Quranic wisdom -- religious politics aside.

Inshallah!
(If God wills it)


September 11, 2008 - 11th day of Ramadan - Alhamdulailah!

Ramadan is going well. Praise be to Allah (God) for the blessing of clarity, inner peace and guidance that comes with the tradition of fasting. I am contemplating how I will make further relations with Muslims during this time, and how I will make a monetary contribution at the culmination of Ramadan later this month. I want to raise money for PlumpyNut -- a nutritious food -- that benefits third world children... More research will be done during this month. Haiti was recently devastated by a hurricane. I will make a contribution to a relief organization. And finally, I plan to attend the 2nd annual MANA convention in Phialdelphia next month.

Today I want to share one of my most favored iyats (verses) from the Quran. It is from Surah (chapter) 10 v108, Jonah:

"Say, O ye men! Now that truth has reached your from your Lord! Those, who receive guidance, do so for the good of their own souls; those who stray, do so to their own loss; and I am not (set)over you to arrange your affairs."

(Transliteration from Yusuf Ali)

I favor this iyat (verse) because it reinforces, for me, the principle that their should be no coercison in Islam...That man has free will is Allah's blessing; and that we should not depend [superstitiously] upon Allah (God) to intervene on the routine affairs of men, as he has already provided proper guidance [in Al Quran].

September 25, 2008

Ramamdan Mubarak! (Blessed Ramadan)

I'm in the last full week of Ramadan, Al Hamdulailah! [Praise be to Allah]. For me the first two weeks are always the toughest. Now I am coasting a little on the stregnth of my resolve, and my body's adaption to the routine I have fallen into. A brother who works where I do came up to me this morning to ask if I was Muslim. I confirmed it. He said he had heard this but was not sure. He said if he had known he would greeted me with salaams. [That was a manly and beneficent gesture on his part.] I agreed to do so in kind.

I decided to give to hurricane relief in Haiti after Ramadan as my charity. For me, Haiti holds a facinating place in the history of the New World. I want to write about it here some day soon. Tuesday, I purchased several jars of honey from an Islamic website I like, Soundvision. I plan to lable them with some favorite verses from the Quran, and use them for dawa (subtle exchange of islamic faith). As for Eidul Fitr (Islamic holiday commemorating the end of Ramadan), I am not sure what I will do to celebrate. Typically, I say home, perferring to forego the crowds and immersing myself in unfamiliar company... It is my nature too. [I do the same for New Years and most other holidays.] We will see.

Today I want to share one of my most favored iyats (verses) from the Quran. It is from Surah 4, An-Nisaa (The Women)
Verse 36.

"Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good – to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are of kin, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the way-farer (ye meet), and what your right hand possess; for Allah loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious."

(Transliteration from Yusuf Ali)

I favor this iyat because it crystalizes the moral imperative for Muslims. [It is one of the most often repeated exhortations in the Quran.] This verse explains what the obligation of Muslims are in the context of citizenship -- wherever they are in the world. It also establishes common ground for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Assalaamu Alaikum!

Book Review: Islam & the Blackamerican

I am recommending a book I read recently. If, like me, you are interested in sociology and religious issues, then Sherman A. Jackson wrote what I think is one of the more interesting books on Islam of late. In Islam and the Blackamerican: Looking toward the Third Resurrection, Jackson thoroughly addresses the influence Islam has made on African-American people.

Despite the prominent role of Muslims like Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and many others held in the popular conscience of America during the 1960's and 70's, the face of Islam today is no longer immediately synonymous with Black people. Vast immigration to the United States, especially by Arab and Pakistani nationals, have changed the image of Islam in America. It is this dynamic, and its consequences for the prototypical African-American Muslim, that Jackson writes about in his book.

Sherman Jackson describes the effective 'appropriation' of Islamic culture into a viable protest culture, and ultimately a contending religious movement by Black Americans. Forerunners of the prevailing Sunni Islamic movement, which most African-American Muslims identify with today, were Noble Drew Ali and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Sherman explains how these men were able to forge a new state of consciousness and activism among working class and poor urban Blacks in early 20Th century America. They accomplished this feat using only strains of what Islamic culture that were to survive slavery. Do largely to the vision and organizational brilliance of Elijah Muhammad, immaculately dressed, industrious, educated, disciplined black men became the most recognizable face of Islam in America by the 1970's.

This all changed with the coming of immigrant Muslims. With their [other-worldliness], facility with the Arabic language, social customs -- be they rooted in Islam or not -- and their penchant for non-assimilation, immigrant Muslims became the de-facto authenticators of Blackamerican Islam. This dynamic was made even more possible due to the demise of Elijah Muhammad and the radical changes undertaken by the Nation of Islam's new leadership, W. Deen Muhammad. Sherman reveals how one of the most influential religious movements of the twentieth century found itself fractured and adrift without a paddle in a sea of change.

There is more to Jackson's book than space will allow me to convey. In order to avoid a complete summary of the book, suffice it to say that the author refers, hopefully, to a new resurrection of Blackamerican Muslims. A resurrection that does not compromise either their authenticity as Muslims, or negate their own cultural heritage. This movement is possible without casting off the highest ideas of American style democracy and prosperity, contends Jackson. To this end the Author suggests that African-American Muslims give serious consideration to the wisdom and moral direction espoused through Sufism - an Islamic tradition with well established roots in the Muslim world. Jackson posits that Sufism serves dual possibilities for Black people. First, it reconnects naturally to cultural traditions in West Africa. Second, it can arrests recidivism is the Black Muslim community through its emphasis on piety. And it has a cannon of religious precepts that will stand against scrutiny.

Read Islam and the Blackamerican.